Religion

An historical inquiry into the ideological origins and social context of American religious life. (H)

A look at the major groupings of religion in the United States, how they differ, what they have in common, the various dimensions of each in their interaction, and their roles in the society of the American people. (H,I)

This course will guide the students to reflect on how ethical decisions are made, drawing on resources from Antiquity, the Bible, and texts and thinkers from several traditions across time and space. (H) GR-E†

An investigation of the ways in which ethical systems are connected to and rest upon understandings of human nature. (H)

The history, literature and beliefs of the Israelites from the Biblical text, in the light of modern scholarship. (H)

An introduction to the various literary, social and religious contexts of the books of the New Testament. (H)

A study of the religious dimensions of human culture, focusing on Asia (Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto). (H, I)

The course is an introduction to the doctrines, practices, and institutions that shaped the essential identity of Buddhism as a pan-Asian religion that transcended ethic, cultural, and linguistic boundaries.

An historical introduction to Islamic tradition. The course will explore foundational elements of the tradition, based on the life of Prophet Muhammad and the text of the Qur’an, and on an examination of subsequent Islamic expressions. (H, I)

A multidisciplinary approach to the Jewish experience from its Biblical origins to modern times. (H, I)

Variable topics in religion at an introductory level. May be repeated with a change in content up to a maximum of 6 credits.

An investigation of religious ideas and practices and their meaning for the individual. (H)

A survey of church-state relations in the United States from colonial times to the present, with close attention paid to church-state theory, crucial court decisions, controversies, and unresolved contemporary issues. (S) GR-E†

An investigation of significant new religious movements such as the People’s Temple and the Branch Davidians. The course seeks to uncover the origins, internal structure, popularity and functioning of these movements while attending to claims of manipulation and discrimination. (S)

The interaction of religion and social institutions, concerning the ways religious groups influence and are influenced by the socio-cultural environment. (S) GR-E†

An exploration of ethical concepts in Western religions, and of religious dimensions of current moral issues. (H, S) GR-E†

A redaction-critical study of selected portions of the canonical gospels with particular attention to the development of traditions about Jesus in the earliest church. (H) GR-E†

An examination of the narrative of the beginning of Christianity according to the Book of Acts, especially as it describes the career of Paul. The second half of the course focuses on the letters of Paul as an alternative source for understanding the earliest forms of Christianity. (H) GR-E†

Influence of Iranian religions and Iranian influence on major traditions of the Mediterranean, India and China.

The course is a comprehensive historical survey of the main religious traditions in China, with focus on Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.

An examination of the Jewish-Christian encounter. The historical interaction between Judaism and Christianity including how each group symbolized the other, and the practical implications of the representations. (H, I) GR-E†

An historical look at the major religious traditions of the Indian sub-continent. (H, I) GR-E†

An investigation of the development, use, authority and performance of sacred texts in ritual, drama, festival and music within the Hindu tradition. (H,I)

A study of the religious traditions of India and their interpretation in relation to conditions of the modern world. (H, I) GR-E†

The various ways in which Muslims have historically understood their place within broader creation and how that understanding is being reshaped today in terms of the present global environmental crisis.

An overview of the growth and development of the diverse Muslim societies of Asia from Iran to the Philippines, including their contributions to the arts, reform movements and responses to modernity.

The history of Muslims from the eighteenth century to the present with particular attention to certain critical issues and interpretations in relation to conditions of the modern world. (H, I)

The course will focus on religion and culture in Africa, the encounter of Islam and Christianity with indigenous religions, and diasporic reformulations. (H, I) GR-E†

This course provides a survey of the main religious traditions in Latin America: native religions, Catholicism in its various forms, Protestantism and African-based religions. (H,I)

Mysticism in Judaism in Biblical, Rabbinic, Medieval and Modern periods. (H) GR-E†

An attempt to discover what contemporary thinkers are saying about religion and the problems of modern life. (H) GR-E†

An examination of the modern outlook, focusing upon conceptual commitments associated with present cultural styles, with attention to certain critical issues for religion. (H) GR-E†

An investigation of central issues connected with the concept of God in Western religious traditions. Topics include arguments for the existence of God, the problem of evil, theodicy, faith and reason. (H)

Religious perspectives on nature and the environment, focusing on different theological understandings of the natural world, approaches to using natural resources and efforts to understand human responsibility for the realm of nature. (H)

An historical approach to those traditions, personalities, issues, and events that have shaped the growth of Christianity in the Western world. (H, I) GR-E†

Mysticism as a type of religious thought and practice in Christian tradition. (H) GR-E†

An intensive introduction to approaches to the study of religion. Required of all religion majors during their junior year.

A study of religious action and performance: liturgy, festival, pilgrimage, healing, marriage, death and others. The course seeks to uncover how such rites look and how they affect, complement or undercut belief systems. (H)

Development of religious life in the South through its history, with particular reference to its interaction with regional culture. (H) GR-E†

An investigation of the diverse relations between religion and processes of social change. The course uses both theoretical and ethnographic case studies to explore issues raised by religion’s social role in the U.S., Britain, Asia, Latin America and Africa. (S) GR-E† (4)

This course examines the key themes that have characterized modernity-postmodernity debate and the impact of this debate for the study of religion. (H)

This course will explore the varieties of literature which arose within Judaism from 250 BCE to 220 CE, including selections from the Dead Sea Scrolls, the OT Pseudepigrapha, Philo and Josephus. (H)

Advanced study of special topics for students with previous courses in biblical studies. GR-E†

A study of women in Hindu traditions focusing on their participation in temple practices, religious scholarship and practices of piety and austerity. Special attention is given to women poets, scholars, ascetics and patrons in Hindu religions and society. (H,I) GR-E†

The course is a comprehensive inquiry of the history, doctrines and practices of the Chan/Zen tradition of East Asian Buddhism.

The course explores the theory and practice of Buddhist meditation, with focus on the systems of meditation practice developed by the Theravada school in Sri Lanka and the main traditions of Chinese Buddhism.

The rise, development and articulation of diverse modes of rational inquiry during the first three formative centuries of Islam, including law, theology, philosophy, Qur’anic exegesis, hadith, historiography, and science.

Historical development and doctrines of Shi’i Islam, including law, philosophy, political theory, and ritual practice.

This seminar focuses on the relationship between religion and politics in Latin America, from a variety of perspectives and approaches. It addresses millenarian movements, gender, ethnicity, and class, as well as church-state dynamics. (S, I)

A study of the major intellectual movements in American religious thought and their social consequences. (H) GR-E†

An historical and textual examination of selected classical and modern issues and themes in Christianity. GR-E†

A critical and historicized introduction to the Rabbinic texts of Mishnah, Midrash and Talmud. Emphasis is placed on the growth and development of the Rabbinic movement, and upon reading practices. (H, I)

An examination of the notions of male and female in Jewish religion, how they have been formed, and how they are changing.

Majors or other advanced undergraduates who wish to supplement regular course work by individual studies under guidance may apply to a member of the faculty for individual work.

May be repeated with a change of content up to a maximum of 6 credits.

Honors level students’ option for thesis preparation.

A study of the history and major methods that have contributed to the modern study of religion. (H) GR-E†

Advanced study for students with proper preparation of selected topics involving one or more religious traditions. GR-E†