Dr. Collins admits that Daniel (the character we are reading about) is likely not a real person. Why is it unlikely that this Daniel is an historical figure? What clues about the text and historical context do we have?
What are different literary genres in the Book of Daniel? How do they shape the structure of this book?
In what ways is Daniel important for later tradition? How does his story feature in the larger Hebrew Bible canon, and the Christian Bible canon?
Applying the Text:
Is it a problem if the stories in Daniel are not literally true? How might this knowledge impact the way we read or teach the book of Daniel?
What does your faith tradition think about the interpretation of dreams? How can Daniel model this kind of gift for modern readers?