This course gets its name from the fact that when the ancient Israelites who produced our Bible expressed their belief in God, they did so by telling a story of their past.  Therefore, the Old Testament, also known as the Hebrew Bible, became a series of fascinating episodes along a time line beginning with creation, then Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah’s ark, the Tower of Babel, Abraham and his descendants, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, and so on until the destruction of Jerusalem, the exile in Babylon and the return of the Jews to Palestine.  In this course students explore how these stories may have originated, how they were passed down, and most importantly, what views such ancient stories may have expressed about God, human beings, nature, and their relationship with each other.  It is for students curious about the roots of Judaism and Christianity whether they are familiar with the Old Testament or know nothing about it at all.  The class will read portions of the Old Testament and discuss them.