Academic Bulletin Religion - Course Descriptions - 2008-09

The first part of the course studies the history, beliefs, and practices of Islam in the Middle East from Mohammad to the present day. The second part of the course studies the history, beliefs, and practices of the ancient religions of India (Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism), down to the coming of Islam in the 8th century. The third part of the course deals with the religious developments in India resulting from the interaction of Islam and Hinduism in the modern period. Emphasis is upon readings in primary texts of these religions. This course is offered in the fall semester.

A study of the indigenous beliefs of East Asia (Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto) and the development of Buddhism in China and Japan. Readings will be from the works of Confucius, Laozi, and other Chinese and Japanese philosophers/theologians. The last part of the course considers the ways traditional China and Japan have changed in the modern period. This course is offered in the spring semester.

An introduction to the Tanakh, or Hebrew Bible. The format of this course will be reading and discussion of primary texts from the Torah, Prophets, and Writings of the Hebrew Bible. The emphasis will be reading for literary and narrative themes and theological issues in the text, with some discussion of historical context. This course is offered in the fall semester.

This course will address, at the introductory level, various topics in Jewish history, such as Second Temple Judaism, Rabbinics, or Medievel Jewish thought. Topics will vary from year to year. (REL 150 applies to requirement B for the major.)

Credits: 1 or 1/2

This course will address, at the introductory level, various aspects of Jewish thought and theology, such as contemporary Jewish thought, Jewish-Christian dialogue, and responses to the Holocaust. Topics will vary from year to year. (REL 151 applies to requirement C for the major.)

Credits: 1 or 1/2

An introduction to the social-historical study of the writings that come to be the New Testament of the Christian churches. We will survey the social, political, and religious contexts of the Jewish and Greco-Roman worlds of the first century, the actions and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, and the missionary activity and theology of Paul of Tarsus. We will study most of the texts included in the New Testament as well as other ancient Jewish and early Christian writings to learn about the development of the various beliefs and practices of these first Christian communities.

An historical survey of the origins of Christianity, the development and meaning of orthodox Christian beliefs, the social environment of the Christian Church, the great age of Medieval thought, and the background of the Reformation. This course is offered in the fall semester.

An introduction to the history of Christianity from the sixteenth-century Reformation to the present. The course primarily focuses on western church history, but also examines the global spread of Christianity.  Principal themes include theological movements, the challenges of modern thought, religious innovation and pluralism, missionary movements, and the ways social and cultural environments have shaped the development of Christianity. This course is offered in the spring semester.

An introductory course on Christian theology. Topic will vary from year to year. In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.

An introduction to the religious history of America. This course will explore the historical development of the primary religious traditions in America, especially Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism, as well as the formative influence of religion among women, African Americans, and American Indians. Principal themes include pluralism, the impact of religious disestablishment, revivalism and reform, theological movements, and religious innovation. This course is offered in the fall semester.

An examination of the arts of a particular period and place with a view to discovering the religious insights and attitudes that they embody. Most recently, the course involved a close reading of Dante’s Divine Comedy. 

Credits: 1 or 1/2

Reading a number of novels and short stories dealing with religious themes. Authors covered will vary from year to year but usually include Flannery O'Connor, Graham Greene, C.S. Lewis, Anne Tyler, Marilynne Robinson, and others.

A seminar on some topic in Islamic history or thought. Recent topics have included approaches to reading in the Qu’ran, Sufi mysticism, and issues in contemporary Islam. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.)

Prerequisite: Religion 103

A seminar on some topic in the religions of South Asia. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.)

Prerequisite: Religion 103.

A seminar on some topic in the religions of China and Japan. Recent topics have included Confucianism, Zen Buddhism, and Daoism. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.)

Prerequisite: Religion 104.

A seminar on some topic related to the history and literature of ancient Israel. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.)

Prerequisite: Religion 141.

A seminar course on Jewish history.  Recent topics have included Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Jewish War with Rome, and Second Temple Judaism. (REL 250 applies to requirement B for the major. (In some years a course may be offered for one-half credit.)

Prerequisite, if any, will vary depending on the topic.

A seminar course on Jewish thought and theology, such as contemporary Jewish thought, responses to the Holocaust, and the Jewish Christian Dialog. (REL 251 applies to requirement C for the major.)

Credits: 1 or 1/2

Prerequisite, if any, will vary depending on the topic.

A seminar on some topic in the history and literature of the early Christian church. Recent topics have included apocalyptic, the letters of St. Paul, and the Historical Jesus. This course is offered in the fall semester. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit, and in some years Religion 360 may be offered instead.)

Prerequisite, if any, will vary depending on the topic.

The course examines the relationship between religion and ethics from many different perspectives, beginning with theological models of talking about God, the self, and ethical goods and ending with discussions of specific ethical problems. American realism, Latin American liberation theology, Roman Catholic natural law theory, and environmental theology will be covered. Issues discussed include medical ethics, theology and economics, the problem of war, the role of the church in social change, and the nature of sin. This course is offered in the spring semester.

A seminar will consider some topic or figure in the history of Christianity. Topics in recent years have included 4th Century Christianity, Luther, and Calvin. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.)

Prerequisite: either Religion 171 or Religion 172 depending on the topic.

A seminar will consider some topic or figure or movement in Christian theology. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.)

Prerequisite, if any, will vary depending on the topic.

A seminar will consider some particular issue in contemporary ethics. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.)

A seminar examining some topic or figure in American religion. Topics in recent years have included Health and Religion in America and African-American Religious History. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.)

Prerequisite, if any, will vary depending on the topic.

Available to students with consent of the department chair. (REL 287 applies to requirement B for the major. REL 288 applies to requirement C for the major.) Independent study at a more advanced level will be numbered 387 or 388. One-half or one course credit.

Available to students with consent of the department chair. (REL 287 applies to requirement B for the major. REL 288 applies to requirement C for the major.) Independent study at a more advanced level will be numbered 387 or 388. One-half or one course credit.

An examination of some topic in the arts with a view to religious implications. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.)

A study of religious themes and theological issues in literary works and films.

A study of religious themes and theological issues in literary works and films. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.)

A seminar examining the various ways anthropology describes and interprets religious phenomena. The course investigates anthropological theories of religion, and examines how these theories apply to specific religions in diverse contexts. Particular attention is paid to the social and symbolic functions of beliefs and rituals and to the religious importance of myths, symbols, and cosmology.

This course focuses on learning about sociology and social history as non-theological methods for studying problems in the study of religion. Recent topics have included the expansion of early Christianity; religious persecution and violence; conversion in colonial India; religious diversity in contemporary American society; and post-colonial approaches to the study of religion and society.

An advanced seminar on some topic in Islamic history or thought. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.)

Prerequisite: Religion 103.

An advanced seminar on some topic in the religions of South Asia. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.)

Prerequisite: Religion 103.

An advanced seminar on some topic in the religion of China and Japan. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.)

Prerequisite: Religion 104.

An advanced seminar on some topic related to the history and literature of ancient Israel. (In some years the course may be offered for one-half credit.)

Prerequisite: Religion 141.

An advanced seminar on Jewish history, such as Second Temple Judaism, Rabbinics, or Medieval Jewish thought. (REL 350 applies to requirement B for the major.)

Credits: 1 or 1/2

Prerequisite will vary depending on the topic.

An advanced seminar on Jewish thought and theology, such as contemporary Jewish thought, responses to the Holocaust, and Jewish-Christian dialogue. (REL 351 applies to requirement C for the major.)

Prerequisite will vary depending on the topic.

An advanced seminar in the study of the New Testament and early Christianity. Recent topics have included Apocalypse and apocalyptic, Gnostic writings, and the construction of orthodoxy and heresy. This course is offered in the fall semester. (In some years Religion 260 may be offered instead.)

Prerequisite will vary depending on the topic.

Seminar discussions of selected works of some significant theologians of the 20th century: Barth, Tillich, Niebuhr, Ricoeur, von Balthasar, and others. Special attention will be given to issues raised by feminism and theologies of liberation and to theology’s special contribution to contemporary issues. This course is offered in the spring semester.

Prerequisite: Religion 172 or Philosophy 242 (old 142) or consent of the instructor.

Advanced seminar discussions of one significant individual, movement, or period in the history of Christianity. 

Prerequisite: Religion 171 or 172, depending on the nature of the topic.

Advanced seminar discussions of an individual, figure, or movement in Christian theology.

Prerequisite will vary depending on the topic.

Advanced seminar discussions of an individual writer or topic in contemporary ethics.

Prerequisite: Religion 270 (Theological Ethics) or permission of instructor.

An advanced seminar on some topic or figure in American religion.

Prerequisite will vary depending on the topic.

Available to students with consent of the department chair. (REL 387 applies to requirement B for the major. REL 388 applies to requirement C for the major.)

Available to students with consent of the department chair. (REL 387 applies to requirement B for the major. REL 388 applies to requirement C for the major.)

An examination of the different ways of studying the phenomenon of religion. Required of all religion majors, normally in their senior year, and open to other students with consent of the instructor. This course is offered in the fall semester.