JUS 160D1 - Introduction to Jewish Thought and Culture

This course explores Jewish thought and culture, religious ideas and practices through multidisciplinary perspectives including biblical studies and rabbinics, theology, philosophy, history, law and medical ethics. Students learn foundational concepts of Judaism and apply them to larger philosophical questions about the evolution of religion and morality in today's world. What are Jewish understandings of virtue, of man's status, role and responsibility to the earth? What are the attributes and nature of God in Judaism and how do they differ from Christianity and Islam? How did Jewish notions of politics, social construct, and the covenant impact the structure and nature of the United States? How does Judaism view abortion, organ transplantation and genetics engineering?