Course Descriptions

RELS 101 Introduction to Religious Studies (1)
This course introduces key terms and concepts common to the study of religion, including myth, symbol, ritual, sacred/holy, belief, morality, scripture, and afterlife, by considering some of the core questions asked in the field of religious studies. Case studies from a variety of religious traditions will provide examples of religious thought and practices. HSS; J.Thrall;

RELS 113 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (1)
Comparative study of the three major monotheistic traditions in the West: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Selections from the classical texts of each tradition are studied, as well as the ways in which those texts have been interpreted through law, theology and ritual practice. HSS; DV; Cross Listing : HIST 113; J.Thrall; D.Fatkin;

RELS 114 East Asian Philosophy (1)
This course will introduce the three major philosophical systems of East Asian thought: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism through their canonical texts. This historical approach will be supplemented by contemporary readings in each tradition. When taught as a component of the Japan Term, this course will pay special attention to the development of Japanese Buddhism, specifically Pure Land Buddhism (Amida Buddhism), Esoteric Buddhism (Shingon Buddhism) and Zen Buddhism (Soto and Rinzai). Cross Listing : PHIL 114; W.Young;

RELS 153 The Gospels and Writings of Paul: Scriptural Sources of Christianity (1)
This course provides a basic introduction to the New Testament through the consideration of the Gospels and writings of Paul, including not only traditional elements of introduction, such as authorship, historical background, structure, content, and use of sources, but also the differing theologies of the various writings. The orientation is historical, linguistic and exegetical. The course focuses on the Gospels and writings of Paul and traces their origin, inter-relationship, theological distinctiveness and value. Some attention is given to the hermeneutic problem (interpretation) and critical analysis. The course commences with an overview of intertestamental history and philosophy. HUM; S.Hulett;

RELS 203 Classical Mythology (1)
The bewildering variety of the Greek and Roman myths defies explanation by a single theory. This course makes use of a variety of approaches, which should each yield some partial truth. The following questions are considered: What is the relationship between myth and science, religion or history? To what extent are myths the product of the unconscious or of society? How do myths define masculine and feminine gender roles? HUM; Cross Listing : CLAS 203; S.Fineberg;

RELS 205 Buddhism and Japanese Buddhism (1)
This course is an introduction to Buddhism, with specific emphasis on Japanese Buddhism. To these ends, it will canvass the principal tenets of Buddhism, namely, the four noble truths, the eight-fold path, dependent originations, the no-self, karma, etc., in the Theravada and Mahayana traditions. It will then consider the development of Japanese Buddhism from the Asuka (552-645 CE) through the Kamakura Periods (1185-1332 CE) by examining the rise of particular sects within Japanese Buddhism (Nara Schools, Tendai, Shingon, Pure Land, and Zen). Cross Listing : ASIA 205; W.Young;

RELS 220 History of Christianity (1)
This course narrates the social, institutional, and intellectual history of Christianity, paying particular attention to the experiences of Christian men and women living in specific places and times. Through a study of both individuals and institutions, the course looks at several points of dialogue, and often tension, between Christian communities and broader cultures, between official Christian teachings and popular beliefs, and between Christian traditions and forces of reform. The course also considers the roles Christianity has played in key world events, and builds awareness of Christianity’s expanding diversity as a global faith. Cross Listing : HIST 220; J.Thrall;

RELS 221 Global Christianity (1)
This course considers Christianity's roots and development as manifested in the contemporary lived experiences of practitioners in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America. The course pays particular attention to the impact of an expanding Christianity on preexisting cultural and religious forms, as well as their influences on Christianity. Inquiry is focused through the lens of local Christian practice-what Christians in specific regions believe and do. Topics include the complex relationship of Christian missions with imperialism, Christianity's role in post-colonial dynamics of power, and Christian engagement with other religions.DV; J.Thrall;

RELS 223 Islam and Social Change (1)
An examination of the historical roots of the Islamic faith, its changes over time, and its current manifestations in social, cultural and political life. Prereq : PS 220 or RELS 113; or permission of the instructor; Cross Listing : PS 223; R.Seibert;

RELS 241 Topics in Religion and Culture (1)
This course addresses various intersections of the concepts of "religion" and "culture," with particular attention to creative or communicative expressions of culture. Specific topics may include: religion and film, religion and media, religion and literature, religion and science fiction, religion and popular culture, and others.J.Thrall;

RELS 248 Teaching Assistant (1/2 or 1)
Prereq : Permission of instructor; May be graded S/U at instructor's discretion; Staff

RELS 260 Religion and Politics in the United States (1)
An examination of the role of religion in political activism. Among the topics covered are the Black Church and the civil rights movement, the Christian Right, the partisan politics of the "culture war", and religiously based terrorism. While the primary focus of the course is on the United States, we examine issues comparatively and conclude by looking at the political impact of transnational religious movements.HSS; DV; Cross Listing : AMST 260; D.Oldfield; S.Hulett;

RELS 265 Religion and World Politics (1)
An examination of the impact of religion on contemporary world politics. Topics covered may include: the rise of fundamentalist religious movements, religious challenges to secular states, transnational religious activism around human rights, peace and social justice issues, the "clash of civilizations," and religiously based terrorism. Prereq : PS 210, PS 220, or sophomore standing; DV; Cross Listing : PS 265; D.Oldfield;

RELS 268 Freud, Jung, and Religion (1)
This course uses close study of key texts on religion by Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung as an entry point for considering psychoanalytic explanations of religious experience and identity. Readings include theorists influenced by or responding to Freud and Jung, as well as other contributors to the sometimes troubled, sometimes fruitful, and often perplexing interplay between psychoanalysis and religion. Topics of study include the effects on religious theory of the objects relations school, developmental psychology, humanistic psychology, and existential psychology. Discussion themes include religious conversion, mysticism, ascetisism, aestheticism, sexuality, and religious doubt. Prereq : one course in Religious Studies or Psychology, or permission of the instructor; W; Cross Listing : PSYC 268; J.Thrall;

RELS 271 Topics in the History of Religion (1)
Topics will vary year to year, focusing on a specific area within the history of religion.HSS; Prereq : sophomore standing, previous course work in history or permission of the instructor; May be repeated for credit.; Cross Listing : HIST 271; Staff

RELS 283 Philosophy of Religion (1)
An examination of the rational basis of theistic belief including a study of the teleological, cosmological, moral, and ontological arguments for the existence of God. Special attention is given to the problems of religious knowledge, the differences between evidentialists and reliabiliasts accounts of religious experience, the nature and description of mysticism, religious experience, and religious authority. Prereq : sophomore standing or permission of the instructor; Cross Listing : PHIL 283; B.Polite;

RELS 295 Special Topics (1/2 or 1)
Course offered occasionally to students in special areas of Religious Studies not covered in the usual curriculum.Staff

RELS 313 Christianity and Politics (1)
This course studies Christianity as it relates to politics, culture, society and values formation. Topics include the philosophical origins of the First Amendment protection of religious liberty; Supreme Court interpretations of the meaning of the First Amendment; the history of religion in the U.S.; the 20th century politicization of U.S. fundamentalist and main line churches as they debated intervention in government and social justice policy; the ethics of war vs. pacifism; and the debate over liberation theology. Prereq : sophomore standing; Cross Listing : IDIS 313; S.Hulett;

RELS 322 Black Religion (1)
An interdisciplinary approach to African American religion, focusing on its history and sociology, but also including its social psychology and how it has affected politics, economics, music, theology and biblical scholarship. It begins with a consideration of the invisible slave church as the first instance of collective black self-determination in America, and continues to examine black religious ideas as the independent black church expanded in the 1800s and 1900s within the wider context of race discrimination and white-over-black social and economic oppression. We analyze ways in which the black church as an institution has responded to the various conditions of African American life, and how it has shaped those conditions. Alternate years. Cross Listing : ANSO 322; F.Hord;

RELS 348 Teaching Assistant (1/2 or 1)
Prereq : Permission of instructor; May be graded S/U at instructor's discretion; Staff

RELS 371 Topics in the History of Religion (1)
See RELS 271. A major component of RELS 371 will be a long research paper based on primary sources. Prereq : HIST 285 or permission of the instructor; DV; W; Course may be repeated for credit; Cross Listing : HIST 371; Staff

RELS 395 Special Topics (1/2 or 1)
Courses offered occasionally to students in special areas of Religious Studies not covered in the usual curriculum. Staff

RELS 395T (1)
A study in Jewish-American literature, considering themes such as language, family, gender, assimilation, religion vs. secularism, modes of religious [self-]expression. Prerequisite: junior standing. English 120 recommendedHUM;

RELS 399 Seminar in Religious Studies (1)
Specific seminar offerings vary year to year. Topics may include: "Freud, Jung, and Religion," and "Death and Afterlife." Prereq : See specific offerings for prerequisites; W; Staff

RELS 400 Advanced Studies (1/2 or 1)
See College Honors. Staff