The 36 lectures are organized thematically and chronologically, moving from oral traditions to printed scriptures.
as "secular scripture" to demonstrate how texts can hold ultimate authority in a non-religious context. Available Materials Sacred Texts of the World - The Great Courses TTC - Sacred Texts of the World
Additionally, some devout believers might find Professor Hardy’s even-handedness uncomfortable; he treats the Qur’an with the same historical-critical method he applies to the Hebrew Bible, which can feel reductive to a person of faith. However, this is the price of academic integrity. However, this is the price of academic integrity
The journey often begins in the cradle of civilization. The course explores the Epic of Gilgamesh , perhaps the world’s oldest surviving great work of literature. While not a "religious text" in the strict liturgical sense, it grapples with mortality and the divine, setting the stage for later revelations. While not a "religious text" in the strict
The course shines in its inclusion of Zoroastrianism’s Gathas (ancient hymns), the Sikh Guru Granth Sahib (treated as a living guru), and the Jain Agamas . It also bravely includes modern scriptures: the Book of Mormon (LDS), Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (Christian Science), and the Baha’i writings. Hardy reads these not as “false” scriptures but as genuine attempts to extend the prophetic chain into modernity.
This article explores the significance of this course, the texts it examines, and why understanding these ancient writings is more relevant today than ever before.