ABSTRACT
In formal settings, biblical study usually takes place at introductory levels of instruction. In college classrooms across the country, students take biblical classes, usually at an introductory level, as part of their humanities or liberal arts curriculum. It is precisely in these introductory courses that the hooks are often set for those who will eventually end up pursuing further study of the Bible, religion, or theology. Traditionally, introductory biblical courses have come in many forms. Sometimes they have taken a survey approach to the material; at other times certain bodies of biblical literature, say the Torah or the Prophets, have been the primary focus of attention. Sometimes introductory courses have highlighted religious and theological themes that can be traced throughout the canonical material. To the extent that introductory courses on the Bible successfully expose students to the new interdisciplinary character of biblical studies, they will foster intellectual integration rather than fragmentation.
