CBS Recommends—A Survey of the Books of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible

The Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) is the basis for Christian Scripture, liturgy, and theological reflection, but remains for most Christians a closed and intimidating library of books. This course will survey the books of the Old Testament through group instruction and discussion of assigned readings to be completed between each session.

Readings will be assigned between meetings from Michael D. Coogan’s, The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures. Copies of Coogan’s book will be available for purchase at the first session at a cost of $45.00 each.

Presenter:  Paul Sansone
Place: St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish, Hartford
Dates: Saturdays 1:30-3:45 p.m. - September 25, October 30, November 20, January 22, February 26, April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16
Suggested Offering per session:  $15-$20

Mr. Paul D. Sansone studied Scripture at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. and has been active in adult education and faith formation for many years.

Contact Ms. Pat Curtis for more information or to register.

This event is not sponsored by the Catholic Biblical School, but is authorized as a "make-up" for certain missed requirements. Specifically, sessions in this series could substitute for a Scripture Day that covers the same topic. Contact BJ Daly Horell to pursue this option.

CBS Seminar Registrations Due

Canaanite Mythology and the Old Testament

Mr. Paul Sansone

Sunday, September 12, 2010
Caritas Christi Center, 295 Benham St., Hamden, CT
1:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.

The people who lived in the ancient Canaanite city of Ugarit are related to the Canaanites among whom ancient Israelites lived and with whom they interacted. The writings of Ugarit shed considerable light on the religious symbolism and language of the Old Testament (and indirectly on some important New Testament imagery). During this session, we will explore some of the mythological imagery that appears in these texts and illustrate how the Old Testament authors, while rejecting Canaanite beliefs, nevertheless took over the imagery of these ancient Canaanite texts to create a theological language by which they expressed their own beliefs about God, God's majesty, and God's relationship to Israel.

Reminder: If you plan to join us for this fascinating seminar on how the mythology of ancient Canaan impacted the formation of Israel's religion and the Hebrew Scriptures, you must register by Friday, September 3. Forms were sent out this summer in the ORE Connections. You can get another copy of the form by contacting Jill Costa at the Office of Religious Education (jcosta@adh-ore.org - 860-243-9465).

*The image above is a sketch of an ancient statue of Ba'al that is currently housed at the Louvre in Paris.

It's in There... NOT!

(Since the number seven symbolizes completion in the Bible, this seventh entry will complete our summer series.)

Proverb: "God helps those who help themselves"

This common saying is definitely NOT one of the Biblical proverbs. The phrase was popularized by Benjamin Franklin in 1757 in Poor Richard's Almanac.

While Scripture encourages us to discern and then act upon our discernment of what we believe what God is calling us to in any given situation (I think especially of Judith taking action to defeat Holofernes), this saying implies that God might NOT help those who don't or can't help themselves! In this sense Ben Franklin's proverb is misleading; Scripture insists that God does help those who cannot, for many reasons, help themselves. That's one reason we engage in petitionary prayer.

This question is at the heart of Christian faith. The New Testament affirms beyond question that God helped all humankind by coming to us in the person Jesus of Nazareth precisely because we could not help ourselves. As St. Paul wrote in his Letter to the Romans: "For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly." (New American Bible, Romans 5:6)

Library Open for Scripture Study

Did you know that students and graduates of the Catholic Biblical School are eligible for a library card at the Archbishop O'Brien Library at St. Thomas Seminary? The library keeps copies of Biblical School texts, along with hundreds of other Scripture resources for cardholders to use. The librarian, Ms. Karen Lesiak, is a graduate of the Biblical School and would be happy to help you find what you're looking for.

Beginning on September 7, 2010, the library will be open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Wednesdays the library will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (The library is closed on Monday, Sept. 6, for Labor Day.)