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Watts with Mestrovic's Moses at SU

Book monument at RU Bochum

Jim at Sacred Texts conference
                2013

Ark on lintel from Capernaum

Jim at Bethsaida

Sargeant's Cherub with Decalogue

Iconic Books Symposium 2009

Egyptian Scribe

Jim teaching

Fons Sapientia, Leuven, Belgium

Jim on
                book in British Library

at Pergamaum alter

Akhenaton Private Shrine

Professor
James W. Watts

 
office: 501 Hall of Languages
phone: 315-443-5713
e-mail: jwwatts at syr dot edu

Jim
                              Watts 2016


Research: I am professor of Hebrew Bible and ancient Near Eastern textual traditions. My research involves the overlaps between rhetoric, ritual and scriptures. An assignment to write a large commentary on Leviticus has me focused on very detailed texts in their ancient Near Eastern and later Jewish and Christian contexts, while the Iconic Books Project provides me a way to analyze the functions of scriptures in cross-cultural and trans-historical perspectives. Teaching: My undergraduate courses range from biblical studies to ancient religion and culture to comparative scriptures studies. At the graduate level, I teach mostly in the Texts & Contexts concentration of the Religion MA and PhD programs. I am interested in directing student research on iconic books, biblical ritual texts, normative texts, and scripturalization.

Watts' Courses -- Publications -- Education & Career -- Lectures -- Iconic Books Project -- SCRIPT -- Banning Books

Courses:  

 

 

REL/JSP 114 The Bible in History, Culture, and Religion
REL 301 Ancient Near Eastern Religions and Cultures
REL/JSP 307 The Temple and the Dead Sea Scrolls
HON 340 The Invention and Power of Writing (pdf)
REL 610 Textual Practices: The Torah/Pentateuch
REL 620 Textual Scripts:
Iconic Books and Performative Texts
REL 620 Textual Scripts: Rhetoric and Ritual in Religious Practice
REL 630 Textual Bodies: Pollution and Purity in Leviticus
REL 690 Textual Archives: The Functions of Scriptures

Publications:
Books

Leviticus 11-20, Historical Commentary on the Old Testament, Leuven: Peeters, 2023.

(Co-author with Yohan Yoo) Cosmologies of Pure Realms and the Rhetoric of Pollution, New York: Routledge, 2021.

Understanding the Bible as A Scripture in History, Culture, and Religion, Oxford: Wiley Blackwell, 2021. (sample syllabus)

(Co-editor with Yohan Yoo) Books as Bodies and as Sacred Beings, Sheffield: Equinox, 2021.

How and Why Books Matter
: Essays on the Social Function of Iconic Texts, Sheffield: Equinox, 2019. (review)

(Editor) Sensing Sacred Texts, Sheffield: Equinox, 2018. (reviews here and here).

Understanding the Pentateuch as A Scripture, Oxford: Wiley Blackwell, 2017. (sample syllabus)  (reviews here and here)

Leviticus 1-10, Historical Commentary on the Old Testament, Leuven: Peeters, 2013. (reviews here and here)

(Editor) Iconic Books and Texts, Sheffield: Equinox, 2013. (review)

Ritual and Rhetoric in Leviticus: From Sacrifice to Scripture, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007. (reviews here, here, and here)

(Editor) Persia and Torah: The Theory of Imperial Authorization of the Pentateuch, SBL Symposium Series, Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2001. (review)

(Editor with Corrine Patton and Steven Cook) The Whirlwind: Essays on Job, Hermeneutics and Theology in Memory of Jane Morse, JSOTSup Series 336, London: Sheffield Academic Press, 2001.

Reading Law: The Rhetorical Shaping of the Pentateuch, Biblical Seminar 59, Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1999.  (review)

(Editor with Paul R. House) Forming Prophetic Literature: Essays on Isaiah and the Twelve in Honor of John D. W. Watts, JSOTSup Series 235, Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996.

Psalm and Story: Inset Hymns in Hebrew Narrative, Journal for the Study of the Old Testam
ent Supplement Series 139, Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1992.
                                                               

Leviticus 11-20 (2023)

Watts, How and Why Books Matter

Watts Ritual & Rhetoric 2007

Books as Bodies cover

Whirlwind
                                2001

Understanding the
                                Bible as A Scripture in History,
                                Culture, and Religion

Understanding the Pentateuch as A
                                Scripture

Reading Law

Sensing Sacred Texts

Persia
                                and Torah

Cosmologies of Pure Realms 2021

Leviticus 1-10 HCOT 2013

Psalm
                                & Story 1992

Iconic Books & Texts

Forming Prophetic
                                Literature 1996


Articles & Chapters
(click here for my open access articles grouped by topic

Book Reviews:

  • Review of Biblical Literature (2019), (2019), (2012), (2008), (2008), (2007), (2007), (2006), (2003), (1999)
  • Entangled Religions 3 (2016), #14.
  • Catholic Biblical Quarterly 78 (2016), 134-36.
  • Reflective Teaching (2015).
  • Interpretation 67 (2013), 80-81; 65 (2011) 91-92, 61 (2007) 98.
  • Journal of Hebrew Scriptures (2012)
  • Religion 41 (2011) 105-107, 39 (2009) 300-302.
  • Biblica 91 (2010) 595-98.
  • The Journal of Biblical Literature 120 (2001) 348 [= RBL 2000 online] , 118 (1999) 128-28 [= RBL 1999 online] , 116 (1997) 541-43 [= RBL 1997 online]
  • Horizons in Biblical Theology 24/1 (2002) 129-31
  • Jewish Quarterly Review 91/3-4 (2001) 526-29
  • Theology Today 55 (1999) 586-88
  • Hebrew Studies 39 (1998) 236-38, 37 (1996) 166-68
  • Perspectives in Religious Studies 23 (1996) 75-86, 22 (1995) 87-91
  • Religious Studies Review 23 (1997) 388, 24 (1998) 59, 283-284, 405, 25 (1999) 71
  • Paradigms 1 (1985) 50-52, 118-20, 2 (1986) 136-37, 5 (1989) 68-69, 156-57 
Education:    
 
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, Yale University, 1990
  • Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Theology (Th.M.) in New Testament, Southern Seminary, 1985, 1986 
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Philosophy, Pomona College, 1982 
 

Career:

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Syracuse University, 1999-present:
    • Professor, 2007-present
    • Chair, SU Department of Religion, 2009-2015
    • William P. Tolley Professor in the Humanities 2011-2013
    • Chair, SU Humanities Council, 2010-2012
    • Director of Graduate Studies, SU Department of Religion, 2006-2009
    • Associate Professor, 1999-2007 
    • Core Faculty, Renée Crown Honors Program, 2004-07
    • Director of Undergraduate Studies, SU Department of Religion, 2000-2004
    • Director, SU Religion & Society Program, 2002-2004
  • The Society for Comparative Research on Iconic and Performative Texts (SCRIPT): Secretary-Treasurer, 2010-present
  • Equinox book series, Comparative Research on Iconic and Performative Texts: Editor, 2017-present
  • Käte Hamburger Kolleg, Ruhr Universität Bochum: Visiting Research Fellow, 2015-16
  • Pentateuch Section of the Society of Biblical Literature: Chair, 1998-2003 
  • Hastings College, 1993-1999:
    • Associate Professor, 1998-1999
    • Assistant Professor, 1993-1998
  • Stetson University, Barry University, Valencia Community College: Adjunct 1991-1993
  • Stetson University: Visiting Assistant Professor 1990-1991
  • Yale Divinity School: Instructor, 1989
 

 

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