Academic Bulletin Religion - 2011-12

Currently viewing 2011-12 bulletin

Faculty: D. Blix (chair) J. Baer, N. Pence, R. Royalty, S. Webb

In keeping with the mission of Wabash College to educate men to “think critically, act responsibly, lead effectively, and live humanely,” the Religion Department promotes the academic study of religion as part of a rich, well-rounded liberal arts education. We recognize that learning how people have understood and practiced religion throughout history and around the globe is not only important for understanding our world, but also intellectually exciting and personally enriching. In our courses, we encourage broad and rigorous critical thinking about, and engagement with, religion and theology. We use lectures, discussions, and immersion learning, as well as a wide diversity of methods, including those of theology, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, literature and the arts, and history. We invite students to study everything from ancient texts to contemporary issues, from religious traditions that they likely know well to those that are new to them. As such, our courses are intended for all students, including believers, skeptics, and seekers of all kinds. They typically challenge and complicate students’ religious beliefs, while at the same time giving students the tools to broaden and deepen their beliefs. We thus prepare our graduates for success in graduate school, in religious vocations, as teachers of religion, and in all the career options open to liberal arts college graduates. As it has done for many years, the Religion Department also supports a variety of activities on campus, such as the annual Christmas service with the Music Department, the Muslim Students Association’s Ramadan Dinner, a Wednesday religious chapel in the Protestant Christian tradition, the Roman Catholic Newman Club, and other student religious activities.

We try to provide a large number of “entry points” for interested students. Courses numbered in the 100’s are typically lecture courses and are appropriate to take as a first course in religion. Courses numbered in the 200’s without a prerequisite listed are also appropriate to take as a first course but will be smaller discussion classes. Courses numbered in the 300’s are more advanced and have prerequisites as indicated. Religion 490 is usually taken by majors in their senior year.

Comprehensive Examinations: Students write for two days, three hours each day. The usual pattern has been to write on two questions the first day. There is a wide range of questions from which to choose, and questions characteristically draw on material from more than one course. The second day has usually involved writing on one question, focusing on the study of religion.

Requirements for the Major: A minimum of nine course credits including:

A. The history of Christianity, Religion 171 and 172

B. A total of two course credits from the following:

Hebrew Bible—Religion 141, 240, or 340
New Testament—Religion 162, 260, or 360
History of Christianity—Religion 272 or 372
Theology—Religion 173, 273, 370, or 373
Ethics—Religion 270, 274, or 374
American religion—Religion 181, 280, or 380
Judaism—Religion 150, 250, or 350
Independent Study—Religion 287 or 387

C. A total of two course credits from the following:

Islam and South-Asian religions—Religion 103, 210, 220, 310, or 320
East-Asian religions—Religion 104, 230, or 330
Judaism—Religion 151, 251, or 351
Independent Study—Religion 288 or 388

D. Religion 297 or 298 or 370 taken before the senior year

E. Senior Seminar, Religion 490

F. At least one course at the 200 level or above, apart from those listed under D and E

Requirements for the Minor: a minimum of five course credits, including at least one of the following sequences:
   Religion 103 and 104
   Religion 141 and 162
   Religion 171 and 172
   And at least one credit from Religion courses numbered 200 or above.

Course	Title	Credits	Prerequisites

REL 103	Islam and The Religions of India	1
REL 104	The Religions of China and Japan	1
REL 141	Hebrew Bible	1
REL 150	History of Judaism	1 or 1/2
REL 151	Studies in Judaism	1 or 1/2
REL 162	History and Literature of the New Testament	1
REL 171	History of Christianity to the Reformation	1
REL 172	The Christian Church in the Modern Era	1
REL 173	Introductory Topics in Theology	1 or 1/2
REL 181	Religion in America	1
REL 195	Religions and the Arts	1 or 1/2
REL 196	Religion and Literature (HUM 196)	1 or 1/2
REL 210	Topics in Islam	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite: Religion 103
REL 220	Topics in South Asian Religions	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite: Religion 103.
REL 230	Topics in East Asian Religions	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite: Religion 104.
REL 240	Topics in Hebrew Bible	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite: Religion 141.
REL 250	Topics in the History of Judaism	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite, if any, will vary depending on the topic.
REL 251	Topics in the Study of Judaism	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite, if any, will vary depending on the topic.
REL 260	Topics in New Testament and Early Christianity	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite, if any, will vary depending on the topic.
REL 270	Theological Ethics	1
REL 272	Topics in the History of Christianity	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite: either Religion 171 or 172 depending on the topic.
REL 273	Topics in Theology	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite, if any, will vary depending on the topic.
REL 274	Topics in Ethics	1 or 1/2
REL 280	Topics in American Religion	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite, if any, will vary depending on the topic.
REL 287	Independent Study	1 or 1/2
REL 288	Independent Study	1 or 1/2
REL 295	Religion and the Arts	1 or 1/2
REL 296	Religion and Literature (HUM 296)	1 or 1/2
REL 297	Anthropology of Religion	1
REL 298	Sociology of Religion	1
REL 310	Seminar in Islam	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite: Religion 103.
REL 320	Seminar in South Asian Religions	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite: Religion 103.
REL 330	Seminar in East Asian Religions	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite: Religion 104.
REL 340	Seminar in Hebrew Bible	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite: Religion 141.
REL 350	Seminar in the History of Judaism	1 or 1/2	Prerequisites will vary depending on the topic.
REL 351	Seminar on Jewish Thought	1 or 1/2	Prerequisites will vary depending on the topic.
REL 360	Seminar in New Testament and Early Christianity	1 or 1/2	Prerequisites will vary depending on the topic.
REL 370	Contemporary Theology	1	Prerequisite: Religion 172 or Philosophy 242 or permission of the instructor.
REL 372	Seminar in the History of Christianity	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite: Religion 171 or 172, depending on the nature of the topic.
REL 373	Seminar in Theology	1 or 1/2	Prerequisites will vary depending on the topic.
REL 374	Seminar in Ethics	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite: Religion 270 (Theological Ethics) or permission of instructor.
REL 380	Seminar in American Religion	1 or 1/2	Prerequisites will vary depending on the topic.
REL 387	Independent Study	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor and the departmetn chair
REL 388	Independent Study	1 or 1/2	Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor and the department chair
REL 490	Senior Seminar: The Nature and Study of Religion	1