I just came across this very stern course description from NYU Law. Professor J.H.H. Weiler is not interested in teaching the Passion of the Christ to gawkers or those merely interested in dabbling.
The Passion of the Christ: The Trial of Jesus. Course Code: L06.3704.001 Tu 4:00 - 5:50 Furman 310
The Seminar will examine the historical context, the factual matrix and the legal issues concerning the trial(s) of Jesus by the Jewish and Roman authorities. Readings will include some of the principal primary sources and a selection from the vast seondary literature. For serious learners. Tons to read and plenty of hard work. Do not enroll just for curiosity.
Maybe I'm a little nuts, but I'd be happy to welcome the merely curious to my courses. Send them my way, Professor Weiler!
Image: Two Scenes from the Passion of Christ: The Flagellation and The Crowning ofThorns, M.H. de Young Memorial Museum.
I'm just curious to learn what "seondary literature" is. But I dare not ask Prof. Weiler.
Posted by: eric | February 22, 2009 at 04:56 PM
I'm sure the professor just means he doesn't want people to show up who's interest stops at idle curiosity, but who won't be prepared for the heavy coursework. At least, I hope that's what he means. I wouldn't want a classroom full of people who weren't at all interested in the topic!
Posted by: PookyBear | February 23, 2009 at 12:41 PM
I kind of agree with the Professor. While I do agree that college should be a place to broaden your horizon, some courses are also to be specialized enough that mere attendance and doing your best is not sufficient for a 'C'. The Professor quite correctly put them on notice.
Seeing that this is the Law School, I take that first part back: broadening your knowledge is not applicable.
Last thing, does this qualify as a politically INcorrect course?
Posted by: kingronjo | February 23, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Hmmm, is it possible that over the millenia, many authors have written books about the trial and crucifixion of Christ based on the gospels?
Could that be the secondary literature Prof. Weiler is talking about?
Just a wild guess.
Posted by: Wilbur | February 23, 2009 at 12:49 PM
I think the main thrust was to discourage those who think that being Christian would ensure an easy "A".
Reminds me of the time I took a basket weaving elective but a damn Navajo showed up and blew the curve for the rest of us.
Posted by: submandave | February 23, 2009 at 01:05 PM
Believe me, a course like this can be very challenging. Studying the meditative traditions of the Passion is a complex task. I've been through a similar class, myself, and it's a word to the wise when we say be prepared for a heavy workload.
Posted by: Adam D. Jones | February 23, 2009 at 01:06 PM
If you just look at it from the professor's POV, it's easy to see that many students, thinking they already know this story, might see this as an easy source of course credits. Obviously, he's sending the message that this is NOT basket weaving 101.
Posted by: Mister Snitch | February 23, 2009 at 01:19 PM
You here similar things from all departments. In Computer Science, there are usually courses in 'Artificial Intelligence' or 'Video Games' in the course books, but in practice these courses aren't taught very often. I've spoken with the professors who supposedly teach the course, and the excuse that they offer is that when they do teach the course, it fills up with a bunch of people who believe that they are interested in the subject but who lack the skills and the desire to do the rigorous work involved with study such topics in an academic setting.
Posted by: celebrim | February 23, 2009 at 01:22 PM
Bravo to Prof. Weiler for demanding actual effort from his students.
Gee...you think that warning was prompted by a legion of past students looking for a nice "gut" course to separate the day between "Underwater Basketweaving 201" and "History of the Oppression of Native Esperanto-speakers" ?
Posted by: Seamus Shapiro | February 23, 2009 at 01:42 PM
I know what you mean about welcoming curiosity and I agree. But as much as I dislike the changes which have produced "educators" in the place of teachers, here I think I have to side with the Passion-ate professor. It seems to me he's warning prospective students he expects and will require serious effort; although I'm afraid his course description may frighten away perfectly competent and curious students who fear a course which monopolizes their study time. 35 years ago it went without saying that the majority of college courses required serious and mature effort. But I suppose in this day of "Caution! Fire is hot!"-style idiot labels, such warnings are necessary for that increasingly rare corse that isn't a walkover.
Also, I'm pleased to see the course subject addressed from what appears to be an objective perspective and not as a stalking horse for some trendy political or cultural agenda. Plus, the syllabus includes ancient documents, which are treated as valuable sources of knowledge and insight. That is a coup. All in all, it's beginning to look like a bravura performance.
Posted by: Jumbo | February 23, 2009 at 02:04 PM
I had a prof like this in college -- first day he stood in front of the class and told us that a third of us would withdraw. There was nervous laughter.
He was wrong. It was more like half. I believe that was the toughest "B" I've ever earned in my life.
When a professor says something like that, BELIEVE HIM.
Posted by: jvon | February 23, 2009 at 03:50 PM
Huh. I've been saying for years that it was "the rule of law" - the most idiotic evil ever foisted on humanity by lawyers (Well, after the rule-by-fool system known as democracy) - that killed The Christened Son of The Living God, not the Jews or the Romans, and all this time there's been a law professor proving my point for me.
Excellent.
I'd take that course, actually. Heck, I'm positive I could teach it.
Posted by: Hucbald | February 23, 2009 at 04:05 PM