Professors: E. Burke Rochford, Robert Schine, Larry Yarbrough (chair); College Professor: John McWilliams; Associate Professor: James Calvin Davis, Rebecca Kneale Gould, William Waldron; Assistant Professors: F.B.A. Asiedu (on leave winter and spring 2009), Elizabeth Morrison, Justin Stearns; Visiting Assistant Professor: Mary Kay Cavazos; Visiting Instructor: Maria Hatjigeorgiou. Department Coordinator: Charlene Barrett
The Department of Religion allows students to become acquainted with the major world religions and with various approaches to religious topics and questions. In addition to the traditions of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, the department has special strengths in the areas of American Religion, Sacred Texts (including Biblical Hebrew in the Department of Classics), and Ethics. Members of the department also have close ties to environmental studies, women’s & gender studies, classical studies, and international studies; they are available to work with students pursuing majors in these programs.
Requirements for the major: Students must take a minimum of eleven fall or spring courses. The major is designed to provide depth and breadth in, as well as systematic reflection upon, the study of religion. To facilitate this, religion courses are required from three Categories: A.) Western traditions (i.e., Judaism, Christianity, and Islam); B.) Asian traditions (e.g., Buddhism and Taoism); and C.) Areas (i.e., American religion, Ethics, and the study of Sacred Texts). Note that although some courses could fall into two categories, no single course will fulfill more than one requirement for a particular student. Courses are keyed as follows:
AR = American Religions
AT = Asian Traditions
ET = Ethics
ST = Sacred Texts
WT = Western Traditions
Requirements for the major may be calculated following the simple formula: 5-4-3-2-1.
5. To provide depth to their study in religion, students will have a major concentration of five courses in one of the Categories listed above. This concentration will include at least one 300-level seminar and a senior Project (RELI 0601). A student may choose to develop the senior project into a year-long senior thesis (RELI 0700) in consultation with his or her advisor. Note: Students fulfilling their major concentration in an Area listed in Category C must take all five courses within that specific area (i.e., five courses either in American Religion, in Ethics, or in the study of Sacred Texts).
4. To provide sustained, systematic reflection on the academic study of religion, students will take RELI 0400 , preferably during their junior year.
3. To provide breadth and depth, students will have a minor concentration of three courses in a second of the Categories listed above. Note: Students fulfilling their minor concentration in an Area listed in Category C must take all three courses within that specific area (i.e., three courses in American Religion, or in Ethics, or in the study of Sacred Texts).
2. To provide breadth, students will take two courses in the third Category (i.e., the Category not fulfilling either #5 or #3).
1. Students must take at least one 100-level introductory course in an Asian and one in a Western tradition. These courses may also fulfill the other major requirements outlined above.
The Chair of the Department, in consultation with the student's advisor, will determine how transfer credits and courses taken during study abroad will be applied toward Departmental requirements.
Joint major: For the Religion component of a joint major, students will complete seven Religion courses plus a senior project (RELI 0601) which utilizes the training and content of both fields. These seven courses include: 4. RELI 0400. 3. A concentration of three courses in one of the Categories (including at least one 0300-level seminar). Note: Students fulfilling this concentration in an Area must take all three courses within that specific area (e.g., in American Religion, or in Ethics or in the study of Sacred Texts). 2. A minor concentration of two courses in a second category. 1. An elective of one course in the third and last category.
Religion Minor: The religion minor consists of at least five courses. Students should have a concentration of three courses (including at least one 0300-level seminar) in one of the categories listed above. Students concentrating their minor in an Area must take all three courses within that specific area (e.g., Ethics).
The Minor in Jewish Studies: Refer to Jewish Studies in the General Catalog for description, or if searching the on-line catalog, please refer to Interdisciplinary Programs.
Departmental Honors: Graduation with departmental honors requires at least a B+ on the senior project and a B+ average in courses counted toward the major. Only students who have completed a thesis are eligible for highest honors, which requires an A on the thesis and at least a B+ average in other courses counted toward the major.
INTRODUCTORY COURSES RELI 0120 Introduction to Asian Religious Classics (Spring) AT
An introduction to the classics of the major religious traditions of Asia: Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Central themes from these traditions will be studied through the selected scriptures and texts of each tradition. 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. PHL AAL CMP (W. Waldron and E. Morrison)
RELI 0130 The Christian Tradition (Fall) WT
An introduction to the ecclesiastical and theological development of Christianity. The course will begin with the formation of doctrine in the first five centuries. Attention will then be given to the development of Roman Catholicism, the Reformation, and the rise of Protestantism. The latter part of the course will deal with the changes that have occurred in the post-Enlightenment period and end with some contemporary issues. 2 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. PHL EUR (F. Asiedu)
RELI 0140 Hindu Traditions of India (Not offered 2008-09) AT
An introduction to Hindu religious traditions of India, this course will trace the development of Hindu mythology, philosophy, and society from Vedic times to the present, with special reference to the law of karma, dharma, yoga, and liberation. Emphasis will be placed on gaining an appreciation of the rich multiplicity of Hindu religious thought and practice within the Hindu worldview through a study of its classical literatures, major sectarian divisions, and diversity of expressions. 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. PHL AAL
RELI 0150 The Islamic Tradition (Not offered 2008-09) WT
This is a historical and thematic introduction to the Islamic tradition and the worldwide Muslim community, with a special emphasis on the medieval period. Stressing sources, doctrines, religious institutions and practices, topics will include: Arabia and the Near East before Islam; the life and times of Prophet Muhammad; the Qur'an, Islam's scripture; the spread of Islam and the formation of Islamic identities; the development of the traditions of Hadith and Shariah; the major sects, schools of law and theology including Mu'tazila, Sunna, Shi'a, and the mystical movement (Sufism); the diversity in Islamic beliefs and practice; art and architecture; and the intricate relation between religion and politics in shaping religious doctrines. 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. HIS PHL AAL
RELI 0155 Islam in America (Fall) AR, WT
In this course students will examine the history of Muslims in the United States. We will begin with the experiences of the African Muslims who were brought to America as slaves, and then turn to the role played by Islam in African-African communities during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries (including the Nation of Islam and Malcolm X). Subsequently, we will examine the historical experience of Muslim immigrants in America and the concept of an "American Islam". Finally, we will look at how various aspects of Islam, such as Sufism, have been appropriated by American popular culture and New Age movements. (Not open to students who have taken RELI 1011 during winter term) 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. PHL HIS NOR (J. Stearns)
RELI 0160 The Jewish Tradition (CW 8) (Fall) WT
An introductory course on central themes and problems in Judaism and the life of "the People of the Book," with the goal of understanding contemporary ideas, institutions, and problems of Jewish life and thought in historical perspective. Topics will include: the formative ideas in Jewish thought monotheism, commandment, Torah; liturgy, ritual, and rhythm of Jewish life; theory and practice of the commandments; the tension between textual tradition and innovation; the origins and contemporary denominations of Judaism (Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Orthodox); Zionism and the meaning of Israel. Limited places available for students to satisfy the college writing requirement. 2 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. PHL EUR (R. Schine)
RELI/CLAS 0162 The Formation of Judaism in Antiquity (Not offered 2008-09) WT
In 586 BCE, Judah fell to Babylonia; in 638 CE, Byzantine Jerusalem surrendered to the Muslims. During the centuries between these two important dates, Israelite culture transformed into "Judaism." In this course we will examine early Jewish society from a variety of topical perspectives. We will consider Hellenistic novellas and canonical works; see Jewish culture through the eyes of Greeks and Romans; consider sectarian movements, such as Samaritans, Essenes, and early Christian communities; discover the origins and art of the early synagogue; and learn about Judaism as it was lived by Jews throughout the ancient world. 3hr. lect. PHL HIS AAL
RELI/HIST/AMST 0170 Religion in America (CW 8) (Fall) AR
America often has been defined paradoxically as both the "most religious" and "least religious" of nations. This course, a historical survey of American religious life, will trace the unique story of American religion from colonial times to the present. Guiding our exploration will be the ideas of "contact," "conflict," and "combination." Along the way, we will examine the varieties of religious experiences and traditions that have shaped and been shaped by American culture such as, Native American traditions, Puritan life and thought, evangelicalism, immigration, African-American religious experience, women's movements, and the on-going challenges of religious diversity. Readings include sermons, essays, diaries and fiction, as well as secondary source material. Limited places available for students to satisfy the college writing requirement. 2 hrs. lect. 1 hr. disc. (formerly RELI/HIST/AMCV 0170) PHL HIS NOR (M. Cavazos)
RELI 0180 An Introduction to Biblical Literature (Not offered 2008-09) ST, WT
This course is a general introduction to biblical history, literature, and interpretation. It aims to acquaint students with the major characters, narratives, and poetry of the Jewish and Christian scriptures, with special emphasis on the ways scripture has been used and interpreted in Western culture. Students interested in more detailed analysis of the material should enroll in RELI 0280 and RELI 0281. 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. LIT PHL
RELI 0185 Art and the Bible (Not offered 2008-09) ST, WT
This course will explore the biblical tradition as embodied in both the Old and New Testaments and as interpreted by a variety of major artists through painting, sculpture, prints, tapestries, and stained glass. By studying the work of art within its biblical and textual setting, we will explore the differences between biblical illustration and artistic interpretation. In addition to textual analysis, we will also consider the biblical work of art from a variety of broader perspectives, including historical, political, social, and autobiographical. No prerequisites in either Religion or History of Art. 3 hrs. lect., 2 hrs. screening. ART PHL EUR
RELI 0190 Introduction to Religious Ethics (Fall) ET, WT
This course is an introduction to the insight that western religious traditions lend to the evaluation of contemporary moral problems. To begin we will explore the methods and authorities by which Protestantism, Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam approach ethics, by focusing on the issue of abortion. The second part of the course deals with specific moral issues including war, capital punishment, and sex. Attention will be paid to what selected authorities and thinkers in these traditions say about these issues, but through the use of case studies the course also will provide students with the opportunity to develop their own approach to ethics. 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. PHL (J. Davis)
TEXT, TOPICS, AND TRADITIONS
RELI 0200-level courses are open to all students without prerequisite or permission.
RELI/SOAN 0208 The Sociology of American Religion (CW 5) (Fall) AR
See Department of Sociology/Anthropology for course description. PHL SOC NOR (B. Rochford)
RELI 0220 Buddhist Traditions in India (Fall) AT
An introduction to the development of Indian Buddhist thought, practice, and institutions. The course will begin with an examination of the life of the Buddha and the formation of the early tradition. It will then explore developments from early Nikaya Buddhism, through the rise of the Mahayana, and culminating in Tantric Buddhism. Attention will be given throughout to parallel evolutions of doctrine, practice, and the path to Nirvana. 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL AAL (W. Waldron)
RELI 0223 The Buddhist Tradition in East Asia (Not offered 2008-09) AT
An introduction to the development of Buddhism within the East Asian cultural sphere of China, Korea, and Japan. We will consider continuities of thought, institution, and practice with the Indian Buddhist tradition as well as East Asian innovations, particularly the rise of the Chan/Zen and Pure Land schools. (Follows RELI 0220 but may be taken independently). 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL AAL
RELI 0224 Tibetan Buddhism (Not offered 2008-09) AT
As an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, we will follow how a small shrine in Central Tibet called, "Lhasa (the place of the gods)" developed into the "navel" of Tibetan culture as well as a burgeoning metropolis and tourist destination. We will trace major features of Tibetan religion as they have been expressed in relation to Lhasa including etiological myths, religion and the state, pilgrimage, and monasticism. At the end of the semester, we will consider Western constructions of Tibetan culture by surveying various media including Lhasa in film. 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL AAL
RELI 0225 Chinese Religions (Not offered 2008-09) AT
An introduction to the rich religious history of China, with an emphasis on primary sources. Topics will include: the ideas and practices of ancient China, the teachings of Confucius and early Taoist (Daoist) thinkers, the introduction of Buddhism to China and its adaptation to Chinese culture, the complex interaction of Buddhism with the Confucian and Taoist traditions, the role of the state in religion, the "popular" Chinese religion of local gods and festivals, and the religious scene in modern Taiwan and mainland China. 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL AAL
RELI 0226 Modern Chinese Religions (Not offered 2008-09) AT
In this course we will explore the various religious traditions of modern China, including varieties of Buddhisms, Christianity, Islam, Daoism, and Confucianism. We will pay particular attention to sociological and ethnographic issues such as religion and the state, colonialism, ethnicity, gender and alternative modernities. We will study primary and secondary sources including popular literature, music and film. 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL AAL
RELI 0227 The Taoist Tradition (Not offered 2008-09) AT
In this course we will examine the history, practices, and concepts of Taoism (or Daoism), the "unofficial high religion of China." We begin with the Tao te ching and Chuang tzu, seminal texts for the Taoist tradition. We then read a series of dramatic "revealed" texts to trace the emergence of significant features of Taoism. These include the pantheon of gods and celestial officials, inner alchemy, messianic and apocalyptic thought, and the quest for immortality. We conclude with brief consideration of contemporary Taoism. 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL AAL
RELI/JAPN 0228 Japanese Religions (Fall) AT
We will begin our study of Japanese religions with the ancient mythology that forms the basis of Shinto (the way of the kami, or gods). We will then consider the introduction of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism to Japan and examine how these traditions were accepted, absorbed, and adapted. We will also investigate Japanese reactions to Christianity in the sixteenth century and the appearance of "new" Japanese religions starting in the nineteenth century. Throughout, we will ask how and why Japanese have both adhered to tradition and been open to new religions. 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL AAL (E. Morrison)
RELI 0230 Sinners, Mystics, and Skeptics: Medieval Intellectuals (Not offered 2008-09) WT
The European Middles Ages are generally acknowledged as an age of Christian devotion and piety but not often as an age of great intellectual prowess. Some of the great theorists of Christian devotion also made major contributions to the intellectual heritage of the Middle Ages. Occasionally, some of these thinkers engendered certain forms of skepticism. In this course we will probe the confluence of sanctity and skepticism as interrelated elements in medieval intellectual life from the late eleventh to the fourteenth century. We will read works by Anselm, Abelard, Bonaventure, Aquinas, Duns Scotus, and Ockham. We will examine not only how medieval intellectuals conceived their vocations but also how their various conceptions contributed to the emergence of the university as an institution in thirteenth-century Europe. 2 hrs. lect./disc. PHL EUR
RELI/RUSS 0231 The Russian Religious Experience (in English) (Not offered 2008-09) WT
See Department of Russian for course description. HIS PHL AAL CMP
RELI/PHIL 0232 Philosophy of Religion (Not offered 2008-09) WT
See Department of Philosophy for course description. PHL
RELI 0234 Christianity, Colonialism, and Empire (Not offered 2008-09) WT
From its inception Christianity has had a strange relationship with power and empire. In this course we will explore this relationship within the context of European forays into the Americas and Africa, from the voyages of Columbus to the abolition of slavery in the mid-nineteenth century. Reading works by Columbus, Las Casas, De Acosta, Vitoria, Locke, Blake, and Equiano, among others, we will try to come to terms with the idea and reality of Christianity as a religion of empire and colonization. We will also consider how some of the themes that emerged out of this period influenced formulations of international law. 3 hrs. lect. PHL AAL
RELI 0235 Christianity and Modern Culture (Not offered 2008-09) WT
We live in a world at once intensely religious and intensely secular. Western culture calls on a secular science and technology to master our world; it turns to a secular history to interpret its past. Philosophy, psychology and literature have been emancipated from their Christian apprenticeship. And yet, few periods in Western history have produced Christian thinkers and movements as creative and lasting as our own. The nineteenth and twentieth centuries have given us great system-builders and leaders indebted to Christianity. The rise of this world, so critical of religion yet so devoted to it, is the subject of this course. 3 hrs. lect. PHL
RELI 0236 The Tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church (Not offered 2008-09) AT, ST, WT
This course is an introduction to Orthodox Christianity as reflected in the Greek, Slavic, and Near Eastern churches. We will examine the origins of the Orthodox tradition in the early Church, its centrality in the Byzantine empire, and the division between East and West. We will study key doctrinal and theological issues such as Christology and Incarnation, the Holy Trinity and the Theotokos (Mother of God), and the divine potential of human nature. We will also look at the liturgical experience that defines Orthodoxy as a living tradition, including the veneration of icons, the role of saints and monasticism, the significance of prayer and the sacraments. Readings include both church Fathers and mystics, as well as modern theologians and philosophers. 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL EUR
RELI 0253 Sufism: The Heritage and Practice of Islamic Mysticism (Fall) WT
Mysticism is an integral aspect of every religious tradition. In recent years, however, Sufism or Islamic mysticism has often been described as somehow separate from Islam itself. In this course we will investigate the historical origins of Sufism and the nature of the long-standing tension between certain Sufi practices and the Muslim legal establishment. We will also chart the evolution of Sufism from personal spiritual practice and experience to the establishment of mystical brotherhoods in which, depending on time and place, a large portion of Muslim society participated. Finally, we will turn to the continued importance that Sufism has played in the Muslim World and the United States during a period in which its practices have come under criticism. Authors will include Rumi, al-Hallaj and Ibn al-Arabi. 3 hrs. lect. PHL AAL (J. Stearns)
RELI 0255 Islam in the Modern World (Not offered 2008-09) WT
In this course we will provide an introduction to the intellectual movements of the Islamic world during the last two centuries. The course readings will reflect how Muslim thinkers in Egypt, the Indian subcontinent, the Ottoman Empire and Iran responded to political and cultural challenge and change. The course will examine what it means for a religious tradition to consciously attempt to redefine itself, and will address the contribution of Muslim scholars living in the West. Finally, we will examine the emergence of the jihadist movement, and will situate organizations such as al-Qaeda within trends already present in the 19th and 20th centuries. PHL AAL
RELI 0257 Shi'ism: Origins and Contemporary Practice (Not offered 2008-09) WT
Beginning with the formation of a Shi'i identity in the first century of Islam, we will trace the gradual articulation of distinct Shi'i and Sunni communities and the subsequent emergence of a variety of Shi'i political, religious and cultural manifestations. From the revolutions against the Umayyad dynasty, to the establishment of the Buyid, Fatimid and later, the Safavid Empire, Shi'ism has always played an important and vibrant role in the Muslim world. The course will end with a consideration of the role of religion in the Iranian revolution and the contemporary debates between Sunnis and Shi'is in the Muslim world. 3 hrs lect. PHL HIS AAL
RELI 0260 Classical Jewish Texts (Not offered 2008-09) ST, WT
How has a 3,000 year-old collection of love poems, the Song of Songs from the Jewish Bible, continued to give rise to vigorous and dynamic religious traditions? By interpretation! This course will introduce a wide variety of classical post-biblical Jewish interpretations of these poems, focusing on ethics, spirituality, self-identity, and poetics. While this collection of love poems seems very "secular" to most modern readers, it was called "the holy of holies" by the Rabbis. In this class, we'll see exactly why. Readings will consist of a combination of primary texts (in translation) and secondary sources. (Students seeking a general introduction to Judaism are encouraged to take RELI 0160.) 3 hrs. lect. PHL
RELI 0263 Varieties of Modern Judaism (Not offered 2008-09) WT
This course is a study of the thinkers and movements that have shaped divergent forms of Jewish life since the Enlightenment: the emergence of denominations in Europe and North America (Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist), the controversies over Zionism, the Hassidic movements, the challenge of feminism, and the nature of Jewish thought after the Holocaust. We will thus approach contemporary ideas, problems, and modes of religious life by examining their origins in the thinkers, movements, and social and political processes which have shaped Judaism in the "modern" period--from the eighteenth century on. 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL HIS
RELI/HIST/AMST 0271 The Puritans and Their Cultured Despisers (Not offered 2008-09) AR, WT
The Puritans were narrow-minded fundamentalists who hated sex, beauty, and anything fun. Right? Wrong! In this course we will examine voices in American literature and culture from Hawthorne to Arthur Miller who bequeathed to us this stereotype. Then we will look beyond the popular impressions to recover the "real" Puritans-the sensitive moralists, imaginative poets, sophisticated political scientists, and innovative philosophers who emerged from colonial New England. By rediscovering these creative thinkers and social visionaries, students will be equipped to better understand American society's indebtedness to its Puritan past. (formerly RELI/HIST/AMCV 0271) 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL HIS NOR
RELI 0272 African American Religious History (Spring) AR
This course offers an introduction to African American religious experiences in the United States. We will look at religious practices "imported" from Africa, slave religion, the growth of independent black denominations, the Back to Africa movement, black “new religious movements” (such as Garveyism and the Nation of Islam), and the religious dimensions of the Civil Rights Movement. As we explore the influence of forced immigration, slavery, gender, segregation and freedom movements on the shape of African Americans' religious experiences, three questions will inform our discussion. What is "African" about African American religions? As a group excluded from many of the freedoms of American society, what is "American" in African American religious experiences? How are notions of religion and religious practice nuanced when applied to these particular cultural contexts? 3 hrs. lect. PHL HIS NOR (M. Cavazos)
RELI/SOAN 0273 American Religious Communities (Not offered 2008-09) AR
The course considers the emergence and development of a variety of religious communities and movements within the North American context, including the Shakers, the Oneida community, Evangelical Christians, Mormons, the Amish, Orthodox Jews, Conservative Catholics, practitioners of Witchcraft, Hare Krishna, and the Children of God/Family. In addition to tracing the history of each group, the course considers a number of sociological issues and questions, focusing on how religious communities struggle with the problem of linking religious belief and practice to members' everyday lives. How do religious communities seek to resist mainstream American culture in a collective effort to avoid accommodation and secularization? What forms of social organization facilitate resistance, or, alternatively, result in community fragmentation and accommodation? Why have some American religious communities been more enduring across time, while others have failed? PHL SOC NOR
RELI/AMST 0274 The Simple Life in American Culture (Fall) AR
The pursuit of the simple life is rarely simple. Nevertheless, it has been a longstanding impulse in American culture. This course will explore the history and sociology of the American quest for the simple life, paying particular attention to the religious and spiritual contexts and dimensions of this pursuit. In the first half of the course, our approach will be historical, examining the emphasis on simplicity from Puritan beginnings to Progressive Era reformers. The second half of the course will examine more recent efforts, including those thinkers whose emphasis on simplicity includes religious, environmentalist and anti-consumerist visions of social change. (formerly RELI/AMCV 0274) 3 hrs. lect. PHL NOR (R. Gould)
RELI 0275 Separation of Church and State: Religious Foundations for an American Idea (Fall) AR, ET
This course will consider the meaning of the religion clauses of the First Amendment, with special attention given to the ways in which different definitions of "religion" and "politics" can affect the interpretation of their relationship. Our study of this American doctrine will begin with its historical foundations in the thought of Roger Williams, William Penn, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. We then will trace the evolution of interpretation through Supreme Court jurisprudence on church/state relations, primarily from the twentieth century. Finally, we will pay specific attention to the consequences of our interpretation on current debates over issues like school vouchers, faith-based initiatives, and the tax-status of religious organizations. 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL SOC NOR (J. Davis)
RELI/ENAM 0279 The Bible and American Literature (Spring) AR, ST, WT
This course surveys American literary responses to the spiritual demands of Christianity expressed in select Biblical passages and narratives, as reflected in the evangelical protestant tradition of Jonathan Edwards and writers who have bitterly criticized it. We will examine how writers of different times and regions responded to this tradition, raising and exploring such questions as: How can Christian belief and conduct be defined in a continually changing America? Can a life "in imitation of Christ" result in more than victimization? How can a minister, serving a worldly congregation, know the degree to which his words are sacred or profane? Writers will include Edwards, Hawthorne, Stowe, Melville, Eliot, West, Baldwin and Robinson. (formerly RELI/AMLT 0279) 3 hrs. lect. PHL LIT NOR (J. McWilliams)
RELI 0280 Studies in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (Fall) ST, WT
Studies in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament is an introductory course that focuses on a major religious text in the Western tradition. We will closely read diverse selections from the Pentateuch, the Prophets, and the Writings in English translation; no familiarity with the Bible or background is presumed. Special attention will be paid to matters of genre and methods of modern biblical scholarship, as well as Jewish and Christian traditions of interpretation. 2 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc. PHL HIS (L. Yarbrough)
RELI 0281 Studies in the New Testament (Spring) ST, WT
Studies in the New Testament is an introductory level course that focuses on select themes and methods in the study of early Christian history, literature, and practice. This year the course will focus on Luke-Acts, Paul's letters to the Galatians and Corinthians, Hebrews, James, and Revelation. Recent secondary literature will augment reading of the texts. 3 hrs. lect./disc. HIS PHL (L. Yarbrough)
RELI 0287 Greco-Roman Religions (Not offered 2008-09) WT
This course examines the diversity of religious thought and practice in the Greco-Roman world. After a brief treatment of early Greek and Roman religions, it will focus on the Hellenistic, late Republic, and early Imperial periods. Topics to be considered include: adaptation of early Greek and Roman "myths," sacrificial practices, the emergence of "oriental" religions, the Imperial cult, and critiques of religion. 3 hrs. lect. PHL EUR
RELI 0289/HIST 0243 The Mediterranean World, 400-1600 (Spring) WT
See Department of History for course description. HIS CMP (L. Burnham)
RELI/WAGS 0290 Women's Religious Life and Thought (Fall) ST, WT
This course will explore the female religious experience in Greco-Roman antiquity and Early Christianity. We shall trace the transition from the mystery religions of Demeter and Isis in the Eastern Mediterranean to the cult of Mary the Mother of God (Theotokos) and the worship of female saints. Drawing on a wide range of sources (hymns, saints' Lives, Apocryphal Gospels, Patristic texts, and icons), we shall study the varieties of female devotion and examine the roles available to women in the early Church: deaconesses and desert mothers, monastics and martyrs, poets and rulers. Different theoretical approaches will enable us to ask a series of questions: were women in the early Church considered capable of holiness? To what extent did the female 'gifts of the spirit' challenge church authority? What is distinct about the feminine experience of the divine? Finally, we shall consider the vision and poetics of female spirituality in select modern poets. 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL HIS EUR (M. Hatjigeorgiou)
RELI 0292 Psychology of Religion (Not offered 2008-09) WT
Western religions are often defined as sets of beliefs, propositions considered true by their adherents. But what of the holder of those beliefs, the inner experience of the faithful person? The psychology of religion asks and explores those questions. This field of study draws upon the European heritage of philosophy and depth analysis of human personality. We will study both American and European contributions, from the theologians and psychologists, some hostile and some friendly to religious belief. Authors include: William James, Gordon Allport, Rudolf Otto; Freud, Jung, Rikson, and Kierkegaard. 3 hrs. lect. PHL SOC
RELI 0293 Religion and Bioethics (Spring) ET
This course is an introduction to bioethics, or the principles, virtues, and other moral norms that guide decision-making in the health sciences. We will focus on moral norms accepted by Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and humanistic traditions and embedded in a liberal, pluralistic society. We will consider the implications for euthanasia and assisted suicide, abortion, assisted reproduction, genetics, research on human subjects, and other health care issues that occupy public debate. Popular films and numerous actual and hypothetical cases that raise important issues in bioethics will be used throughout the course. 3 hrs. lect./disc. PHL NOR (J. Davis)
RELI 0295 Faith, Freedom, and Ecology (Not offered 2008-09) ET
This course will introduce students to some of the prevailing questions in environmental ethics, ecotheology, and the emerging field of ecocriticism. What is the proper relationship between humans, the natural world, and the divine? What is our moral responsibility to ourselves and to the planet? How do freedom and constraint play a role in our choices? Do men and women experience nature (and responsibilities toward nature) differently? Lectures and readings will approach these questions from a variety of philosophical, historical, and religious perspectives (primarily Western) and will include Jewish, Christian, feminist, pragmatist, scientific, and Native American voices. 3 hrs. lect. PHL
SEMINARS IN RELIGION
RELI/SOAN 0303 Cults and New Religions (Fall) AR, AT
Religious outsiders have been persistent yet controversial. Mystics and messiahs preaching a variety of radical beliefs and ways of life have provoked strong responses from mainline traditions as well as from publics concerned about the "cult" menace. Yet new religions have also been a source of religious experimentation and revival. In this course we will explore the unique characteristics of new religions, the historical circumstances that give rise to them, who join and why, the societal reaction they generate, questions of authority and leadership, violence, and the factors that influence their success, decline and failure. A variety of new religions from North America and the West, as well as from Japan and China, will be considered. These may include the Shakers, the People's Temple, Hare Krishna, Soka Gakkai, the Children of God/Family, Solar Temple, Aum Shinrikyo, Falun Gong, the Branch Davidians, and the Raelians. 3 hrs sem. SOC PHL CMP (B. Rochford)
RELI 0305 Religion and Law: Between Scripture and Constitution (Not offered 2008-09) AR, ST, WT
The seminar is designed as an inquiry about the similarities and differences in the interpretation of two types of canonical texts: 1) Scripture in Judaism in Christianity , and 2) constitutions, especially US. Does the notion of the "sacred" transcend religious texts, traditions, and cultures, and apply in secular contexts as well? We will ask how such an approach to the secular and the sacred affects other aspects of law and jurisprudence, and how religious people and secularists can both be good and bad interpreters of scripture and constitution. Our readings will include works on theories of hermeneutics, biblical interpretation, social criticism, philosophers of law, and theories of constitutional law. 3 hrs. sem. PHL EUR
RELI/PSYC 0308 Seminar in Religion and Science (Not offered 2008-09) ET
Topic to be determined by the Instructor
RELI 0310 Issues in Modern Religious Thought: “Don’t Touch that Dial!” American Religion and Mass Media (Spring) WT
From silent movies to Jesus Christ Superstar, from radio gospel hours to The Simpsons, American religion has infiltrated the air waves. What does that mean for religion? What does that mean for media? What does the interplay of religion and mass media tell us about our experience of each? This course will explore the convergence of mass media and religion in the twentieth century through the use of interpretive texts and visual primary sources. We will consider not just how religion and mass media influence each other as separate cultural entities, but more particularly how the practice of religion has emerged and is reflected in media culture. 3 hrs. sem. PHL NOR (M. Cavazos)
RELI 0315 Comparative Themes in Religious Studies: Augustine’s City of God and Contemporary Thought (Not offered 2008-09) WT
Augustine's City of God was written in the early fifth century as part of his general critique of Roman society and political theology, and has had a lasting influence in the Western tradition. The notion of the "city of God" also represents Augustine's fundamental idea about history and society. Taking this notion as a point of departure, we will examine how contemporary thinkers have engaged Augustine's thought on various subjects. We will consider: the relevanace of Augustine's thought to contemporary social reality; the extent to which Augustine's contemporary interlocutors sustain or challenge his critique of human institutions; and the role religion plays in that critique. 3 hrs. sem. PHL EUR
RELI/HIST 0318 The Crusades: Judaism, Christianity and Islam in Contact in the Middle Ages (Not offered 2008-09) WT
The course explores the phenomenon of the Crusades and its religious and political effects on Europe, Byzantium and the Near East, with special emphasis on the last. It also examines the differing and conflicting histories and personal accounts of the Crusades from that period, as well as the Crusaders' religious, social, medical and military networks in the eastern Mediterranean. Required readings include excerpts from the works of Jewish, Christian and Muslim historians and religious scholars of the time. 3 hrs. sem. PHL HIS
RELI 0319 Jerusalem: Its Sanctity According to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (Not offered 2008-09) WT
Jerusalem is a unique city in that the three monotheistic traditions-Judaism, Christianity and Islam-share in creating its glorious heritage. Over three millennia, their respective impact on its religious and spiritual significance are as noticeable as their historical and archaeological traces are on its landscape. This seminar will examine the status of Jerusalem according to each religion in ancient, medieval and modern times. The interplay of religion and politics ultimately helped form Jerusalem's legacy. (RELI 0110 or RELI 0130 or RELI 0150 or RELI 0160) 3 hrs. sem. PHL
RELI 0320 Seminar in Buddhist Philosophy: Yogacara Depth Psychology and Philosphy of Mind (Fall) AT
In this seminar we will survey the basic ideas of Yogacara Buddhism (4-6th c. CE), one of two major schools of Indian Buddhism, in relation to cognitive science and philosophy of mind. We will examine these ideas historically, philosophically and comparatively. We focus on the Yogacara analyses of the largely unconscious ‘construction of reality’ and its systematic deconstruction through forms of analytic meditation. We will read primary and secondary texts on Indian Buddhism and texts espousing similar ideas in modern philosophy and the social and cognitive sciences. (one course on philosophy or RELI 0120, RELI 0220, RELI 0223, RELI 0224, RELI 0225, RELI 0226, RELI 0227 or RELI 0228) 3 hrs. sem. PHL AAL CMP (W. Waldron)
RELI 0325 Seminar in Buddhist Studies: Chinese Buddhism (Not offered 2008-09) AT
We will study the introduction of Buddhism to China and its development in that cultural setting. We begin by considering the profound differences between Buddhism and Chinese culture and possible reasons for the widespread acceptance of Buddhism in China. We then address Chinese innovations in Buddhist thought and practice, relations between Buddhists and the state, and the interaction of Buddhism with Confucianism, Taoism, and popular religion. We will conclude with a brief investigation into the current state of Buddhism in mainland China, Taiwan, and Chinese diaspora communities. (RELI 0120 or RELI 0220 or RELI 0225) 3 hrs. sem. PHL OTH AAL
RELI 0326 Seminar in Buddhist Ethics (Not offered 2008-09) AT, ET
In this course we will explore the nature of Buddhist ethics in canonical texts as well as contemporary interpretations of Buddhist ethics by both Asian and Western practitioners and students of Buddhism. We will consider how Buddhist ethics offer rationales for moral action and models of ethical personhood in an increasingly fractious and conflicted world. This course will include an introduction to ethical thinking in the Buddhist tradition, ethnographic and narrative considerations of the formation of the moral self, fictional accounts of moral life in the modern world, and possible responses to contemporary moral problems. 3 hr. sem. PHL AAL
RELI 0327 Seminar in Taoism (Not offered 2008-09) AT
Topic to be determined by the Instructor
RELI 0328 Seminar on Japanese Religions (Not offered 2008-09) AT
Topic to be determined by the Instructor
RELI 0330 Seminar in Christian Studies: Justice, Forgiveness, and Political Virtue (Fall) WT
The recent histories of countries like South Africa, Rwanda, and East Timor have given warrant to rituals and expressions of forgiveness after periods of sustained violence and political conflict. The political uses of forgiveness appropriate a deeply religious and specifically Christian idea of forgiveness as the way towards a constitutional and democratic future. The goal of the course is to consider whether this approach is viable, and whether it is prudent or even legitimate to advance such a religious notion of forgiveness as a political virtue in societies that consider themselves avowedly secular. Does this imply the emergence of a new post-secular conception of politics? 3 hrs. sem. PHL CMP AAL OTH (F. Asiedu)
RELI 0335 History of Christian Thought (Not offered 2008-09) WT
Topic to be determined by the Instructor
RELI 0350 Seminar in Islam: The Qur'an (Spring) ST, WT
The Qur'an, according to the majority of Muslims, is God's word revealed to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel over a period of 22 years. This seminar will examine the way Muslims, past and present, have approached the text of the Qur'an and the role it has played in the formulation of Islamic religious thought, practices and rituals, and legal theory. The seminar will also discuss the debate over the Qur'an's date and composition, and the stories of the Biblical prophets according to the Qur'an and Qur'anic interpretation, in particular Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, and Jesus. (RELI 0110 or RELI 0150) 3 hrs. sem. PHL OTH AAL (J. Stearns)
RELI 0352 Paradise Lost: Muslims, Christians, and Jews in al-Andalus (Not offered 2008-09) WT
From the beginning of the eighth to the end of the fifteenth century, Islam played a crucial role in the history of the Iberian peninsula. Today this period is often portrayed as one of inter-religious harmony, while al-Andalus is simultaneously mourned in contemporary Islamist discourse as a lost paradise. Within a background of continuity and change, the course will highlight specific moments of interaction between religions. In this course we will investigate the rich and complex history of al-Andalus, focusing on the changing relationships between Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities. (RELI 0110, RELI 0130, RELI 0150 or RELI 0160) 3 hrs. sem. PHL
RELI/SOAN 0353 Islam in Practice: Anthropology of Muslim Cultures (Spring) WT
See Department of Sociology/Anthropology for course description. PHL SOC AAL CMP (S. Closser)
RELI/SPAN 0358 Catholic Culture in Hispanic Cinema - In Spanish (Fall) WT
See Department of Spanish for course description. ART LNG AAL (E. Garcia)
RELI 0359 Issues in Islamic Law and Ethics: Questions of Life and Death (Not offered 2008-09) ET, WT
From the Rushdie affair to the controversy over the veil in France and the sentencing of a Nigerian woman to death by stoning, Islamic Law has been portrayed in the West as archaic, barbaric, and inflexible. In this course we will provide an introduction to Islamic Law and its continuing relevance to millions of Muslims in the twenty-first century. Concepts of legal authority, cultural influence, and the varieties of legal interpretation will be examined in an Islamic context. We will examine the origins and development of Islamic law during the pre-modern period before focusing on contemporary issues that have attracted attention in recent years. (RELI 0150) 3 hrs. sem. PHL AAL
RELI 0360 Seminar in Jewish Thought (Not offered 2008-09) WT
Topic to be determined by the Instructor
RELI 0361 Seminar in Ancient Judaism (Not offered 2008-09) WT
Topic to be determined by the Instructor
RELI/GRMN 0365 The German Jews: From Moses Mendelssohn to the Holocaust (Spring) WT
German Jewry was the well-spring of modern Judaism, giving rise in the two centuries of its flourishing to the modern branches of Judaism, to modern Jewish studies, and also to Judaism's crises of identity: ambivalence about assimilation and about Zionism, Jewish "self-hatred", and the debate, after the demise of German Jewry, whether a "German-Jewish symbiosis" had ever really existed. We will study these themes through the writings, letters, and memoirs of Mendelssohn, Lessing, Abraham Geiger, Solomon Maimon, Heine, Hermann Cohen, Gershom Scholem, Hannah Arendt, among others. (Original texts will be provided for those students with knowledge of German) 3 hrs. sem. HIS PHL EUR (R. Schine)
RELI/AMST 0370 Seminar in American Religion: African American Women and 20th Century Christianity (Fall) AR, WT
African American women have stood at a unique intersection of race and gender in America. This course examines how African American women in the Christian tradition have negotiated this intersection and dealt with the multiple forms of oppression that grew out of the various socially constructed hierarchies related to race and gender. Through a combination of secondary, primary and biographical sources, the course explores the lives of African American women from the opening of the 20th century through the Civil Rights Movement with the aim of gaining insight into how religious experiences aided them in overcoming oppression and creating new opportunities. Drawing on insights drawn from these sources, the course will also ask how the past informs our understanding of women and race in contemporary American society. 3 hrs. sem. PHL HIS NOR (M. Cavazos)
RELI 0371 From Puritanism to the Gospel of Wealth (Not offered 2008-09) AR, ET, WT
Scholarship and popular rhetoric alike often claim that the American obsession with economic advancement is a manifestation of our "Puritan spirit." In reality, however, the Puritans understood both personal industry and a commitment to the larger social good to be mutually binding, and sometimes competing, moral values. This course contends that the tension between personal wealth and the common good is the true "Puritan spirit." We will examine the ways in which this tension was reinterpreted in successive generations of American Christianity, culminating in the stand-off between the Social Gospel and Carnegie's "gospel of wealth" at the turn of the twentieth century. (RELI 0170 or RELI 0271) 3 hrs. sem. PHL HIS NOR
RELI 0376 Religion and American Politics (Not offered 2008-09) AR, ET
Does religion belong in politics? Should religious reasons be permitted in public political debate? Should candidates for office publicly declare their religious beliefs? Are orthodox Christianity, Judaism, and Islam fundamentally incompatible with democratic principles? This course examines these and similar questions regarding the relationship between religion and American democracy. We will study the role religion does in fact play in American politics, but primarily we will ask what role, if any, religion should play in politics. We will consider this last question by consulting a number of important contemporary political philosophers and theologians. (RELI 0190 or RELI 0275 or RELI 0293 or any course in Political Science, Philosophy or American Civilization) 3 hrs. sem. PHL SOC NOR
RELI/SOAN 0379 Indigenous Religions of the Americas (Spring) AR WT
See Department of Sociology/Anthropology for course description. PHL SOC AAL CMP (J. Fitzsimmons)
RELI 0380 Seminar in Biblical Studies (Not offered 2008-09) ST
Topic to be determined by the Instructor
RELI 0381/CLAS 0308 Seminar in the New Testament: Pauline Letters (Fall) ST, WT
In this seminar we will examine Paul and his letters. After an opening survey, we will focus on two themes, one theological and the other sociological. The theological theme will be Paul's interpretation of the death of Jesus. The sociological theme will be the organization and structure of the Pauline mission, giving special attention to its financing. Though seemingly quite distinct, the two themes were closely related in Paul's mind. We will try to determine why he linked them so closely. CLAS 0308 students will prepare selected texts in Greek for an additional one-hour section. (RELI 0180, RELI 0280, RELI 0281, CLAS 0104, or GREK 0102) 3 hrs. sem. PHL HIS (L. Yarbrough)
RELI 0385 Seminar in Christian Origins: Defining Jesus (Spring) WT
Participants in this seminar will explore the diversity of early Christianity by examining the multiple ways its constituent groups defined Jesus of Nazareth. In addition to the works of the New Testament (gospels, letters, and Revelation), we will read early Gnostic literature, the second century apologists, creeds (e. g. Nicene and Chalcedonian), episcopal letters, and theological treatises arguing the interpretation of the creeds. We will also examine hymns, liturgies, and works of art. Recent secondary literature will be used to supplement primary sources. 3 hr. sem. HIS PHL (L.Yarbrough)
RELI 0387 Seminar on the Religions of Rome (Not offered 2008-09) WT
This seminar will examine the public religions of the late Republic and early Empire, the private religions of Roman households, and the emergence of religions from the east-including Mithraism, Judaism, and Christianity. Readings will deal with both theology and practice, with a view to discovering what was common and what unique. Primary readings will be drawn from histories, drama, novels, satires, philosophical treatises, and inscriptions; secondary readings will treat individual religious traditions and attempts to understand the period as a whole. Prior study of the history or religions of the period strongly recommended. 3 hrs. sem. HIS PHL
RELI 0390/WAGS 0392 Seminar in Religious Ethics: Sex, Marriage, and Family in Jewish and Christian Ethics (Spring) ET, WT
In this course, we will study the theological significance of sex, marriage, and family within contemporary Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant ethical discourse. Through a close reading of official statements and works by prominent theologians, we will consider how different voices within these communities balance loyalty to historical tradition with attention to modern social and scientific understandings of sexuality, reproduction, and child-rearing. We will study conservative and progressive perspectives, with special attention given to women's voices. Specific topics may include extramarital sex, contraception, homosexuality, adoption, and reproductive technologies. (RELI 0190, RELI 0293) 3 hrs. sem. PHL (J. Davis)
RELI/WAGS 0391 Seminar on Women and Religion (Not offered 2008-09) ST, WT
Topic to be determined by the instructor.
RELI 0395 Religion, Ethics, and the Environment (Spring) ET
We will explore the relationship between religion and ecology through two general approaches. Firstly, we will examine what religious traditions (especially, Jewish and Christian, but also Hindu and Buddhist) have had to say about the human-nature relationship by studying such dominant themes as: doctrines of creation and stewardship, restraints on human impact, concepts of interdependence, and ideas of sacred space. Secondly, we will turn our attention to contemporary religiously-based environmental activism, examining the possibilities and problems that emerge when religious traditions are mobilized on behalf of the environment. Students may write research papers using one or both of these approaches. (RELI 0110 or RELI 0130 or RELI 0160 or RELI 0190 or RELI 0295 or ENVS 0215) 3 hrs. sem. PHL (R. Gould)
RELI 0396 War and Peace in Christian Thought (Not offered 2008-09) ET, WT
Both pacifism and just war thinking have deep roots in the Christian tradition. Important figures in Christian history have argued that in certain circumstances war may be a regrettable but justifiable engagement, while others have maintained that killing of any kind, even in the name of the state, is wrong. This seminar will look at the historical development of both approaches to war and peace in Christian thought, from the early church to the present day. Figures and movements we will encounter will include Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, the Quakers, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Martin Luther King. 3 hrs. sem. (RELI 0110, RELI 0130, RELI 0190, RELI 0238) PHL HIS
RELI 0400 Seminar on the Study of Religion (Spring)
This seminar for advanced religion majors examines important and influencial theories and methods in the study of religion. (Open to junior and senior religion majors or by waiver.) 3 hrs. sem. (W. Waldron)
RELI 0411/HIST 0400 Readings in Medieval History: Saints or Sinners in Medieval and Early Modern Europe (Fall) WT
See Department of History for course description. HIS EUR (L. Burnham)
RELI/SPAN 0439 Hispanic Religious Painting in the Golden Age - In Spanish (Fall) WT
See Department of Spanish for course description. ART PHL (P. Saldarriaga)
RELI/SOAN 0447 Moral Economy (Not offered 2008-09) ET
See Department of Sociology/Anthropology for course description. SOC AAL CMP
RELI/INTL/HIST 0472 "The Religious Life": Buddhist and Christian Monastic Traditions Compared (Spring) AT WT
See Program of International Studies for course description. This course is equivalent to INTL 0472 and HIST 0472.(Approval required) 3 hr sem. HIS PHL CMP (E. Morrison, L. Burnham)
RELI 0500 Independent Research (Fall, Winter, Spring)
(Approval required) (Staff)
RELI 0601 Senior Project (Fall, Winter, Spring)
(formerly RELI 0600) (Approval Required) (Staff)
RELI 0700 Senior Research for Honors Candidates (Fall, Winter, Spring)
(Approval Required) (Staff)