Religious Studies Course Descriptions

An introduction to the academic study of religion exploring cross-culturally some of the fundamental ways in which people experience and understand religion. Questions addressed include: What is religion? What are the basic forms of religious life? What connections exist among self-identity, the sacred, and society? How do those connections help to establish meaning and values in human existence? How is religious knowledge possible? Readings include primary religious texts and critical reflections on religion. Intended primarily for freshmen and sophomores or students with no prior work in the religious studies department.

As our experiences of religious and spiritual life become increasingly diverse, narrative process has become essential to understand the rich landscape of multiple faiths. Students will explore the scope of the interfaith movement, consider dialogue as one tool for interfaith encounter, and practice constructing and sharing their own spiritual narratives. Our shared goal is an interfaith dialogue where deep listening and honest speaking lead to surprising discoveries. Discussion course with written assignments and a class project.

This course will examine high points of the Hebrew Bible, beginning with the Torah but moving on to the history, poetry, wisdom, and prophetic voices that have made it a major work of world literature. We will start by thinking about how these works fit into a particular historical context, but move forward to sample how these texts have shaped Judaism and influenced other religious traditions and how its language and themes have been repurposed by literary writers and social activists.

A survey of the religious elements that constitute the broad system of beliefs known as Hinduism. Emphasis is placed on lived religious experience, but intellectual history and dominant patterns of ritual are also covered. Readings include primary texts, comic books, videos and other multimedia content.

An introductory survey of the history, development, beliefs, and practices of Buddhism. The course is modeled on a traditional Buddhist framework of teaching known as "hearing, contemplating, and meditating." In addition to reading primary and secondary sources, students will also be required to engage in some basic meditation practices as part of this course. Other assignments may include: exams, papers, and projects.

An introductory survey of primarily western Christianity. Our focus will be on selected "classic" works written by Christians over the last two thousand years. Discussion with occasional lectures. Assignments include short papers (3-5 pages) and in-class tests.

An introduction to Islam. Students will study primary sources beginning with the Quran and ending with a contemporary Muslim writer. Attention will be focussed on both the theological development of Islam and its lived experience as witnessed through the arts and architecture.

Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

Advanced research, arranged in consultation with the department. Students planning an honors project should register for this course, for one or more terms. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

An examination of the relationship between religion and politics in the United States. Topics will include: the place of religion in the public sphere (both historically and constitutionally); First Amendment protections and restrictions; Christianity and social justice movements (abolition, civil rights, abortion); the notion of “civil religion”; the rise of “Christian nationalism” in the 21st century.

Ghosts, angels, spirits, UFOs and reincarnation: cultures around the world feature reports (and everyday practices) involving a variety of extraordinary phenomena, supernatural powers, and more-than-human entities. This course draws on scholarship in anthropological, ethnographic, historical, and religious studies to examine how scholars have studied apparently paranormal phenomena, and the often significant effects that reports of such phenomena have in culture and society.

A look at how humans have made sense of existing in the biosphere. We will examine views on the nature of life in religious traditions like ancient Egypt and Jainism as well as early philosophical accounts. The second half will involve a close reading of Charles Darwin and reflection on resources offered by religious traditions to respond to the "sixth extinction." Lecture/discussion with written assignments and journaling on the coming of spring. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

This discussion-based course examines the role of comics and sequential art in religious traditions and explores religious themes in contemporary comics and graphic novels. By analyzing comics and related scholarship in the emerging field of comics studies, students will investigate the complex relationships between religion, images and culture. In addition to writing formal essays, students will also create their own digital comics.

This course will explore the complex dimensions of Buddhism in North America, covering the history and development of Buddhist traditions beginning in the 19th century, and the practices, beliefs, and traditions that have formed as a result. In studying contemporary developments within North American Buddhism, we will focus primarily on the writings and teachings of Asian-American and Black Buddhists in the United States. PREREQUISITES: Previous course in Buddhist Studies, or sophomore standing

This course will examine the religious motivations that have led religious groups to embrace global norms like human rights or reject them and turn to violence. We will examine liberation theology in Latin America and the writings of extremist thinker Sayyid Qutb. Much of the class will be centered on case studies such as Myanmar's Rohingya crisis where religion, immigration, and questions of human rights are at play. Offered in conjunction with Ripon College, with online interactions and travel to local places of worship. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

An introduction to the thought of Augustine of Hippo. This late 4th/early 5th century "father" of classical Christianity is one of the most important and influential Christian thinkers in the west. We will concentrate on two of his works: Confesssions (his spiritual autobiography, describing his evolution from lusty adolescent, through the perils of heresy, to his conversion to Christianity) and City of God (his magnum opus that details the superiority of all things Christian over Roman life and culture, as well as providing a history of the world from Creation to Judgment Day). Course will be taught by discussion and will have both papers and a take- home exam.

This course will study the religious traditions of Indonesia. We will concentrate on the island of Java and the history of the dominant Islamic faith, but we will also examine the Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian traditions in Indonesia and the form of civil religion known as Pancasila. Not open to students who have previously received, or need to receive credit for RLST 526.

This course examines the history of yogic traditions in South Asia and explores contemporary developments of yoga practices around the world. In addition to studying primary texts and secondary literature students will also be instructed in basic pranayama (breathing) and asana (posture) practices by a qualified instructor. Students will write essays analyzing course materials through the lens of their own experiences with yoga practice. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore Standing

An introduction to contemporary novels from the Middle East and North Africa that explores how Arab writers deal with religious, social, political and sexual taboos in their artistic works as well as issues of censorship and confiscation of literary productions. Lecture with group presentations, class discussions and a final analytical paper.

An examination of the representation of Cairene urban and social spaces in the fictions of contemporary Egyptian writers such as Naguib Mahfouz, Ahdaf Soueif and others. Literary analysis will lead the students to investigate how representations of urban changes become a means for the novelist to reflect on the social and political changes of postcolonial Egypt. Lectures, class discussion and a final paper.

An introduction to Islam. Students will study primary sources beginning with the Quran and ending with a contemporary Muslim writer. Attention will be focussed on both the theological development of Islam and its lived experience as witnessed through the arts and architecture.

The rhetoric surrounding technology invokes revolution and newness, but the products and services fit with the individualism of American (and global) views of self and society. We will examine both the positive visions offered by tech thinkers like Steward Brand and Ray Kurzweil, as well as the destructive results that occur as corporations “move fast and break things.” Students will complete a video critique of a digital platform. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

The Arabian Nights, or 1,001 Nights, offers a unique glimpse into medieval Islam. Our readings from these tales will be supplemented with travel narratives and Sufi texts building on this storytelling tradition. The course provides an expansive view of the Islamic tradition and a chance to think critically about later perceptions of the Middle East. Students will complete an interpretive paper or digital mapping project.

This course represents an exploration of a topic in religious studies. Topics will emphasize contemporary questions and experiential learning. Assignments will emphasize experiential learning and discussion. May be repeated when topic is different.

This course provides the opportunity to experience a major religious tradition through a one- or two-week field experience accompanied by a professor. Class members will visit significant historical and contemporary sites and meet with practitioners during a break between terms. Students must register for the course in the term prior to travel and in the subsequent term, when they will complete a project. Travel program fee plus airfare.

This course is an examination of three contemporary positions which typically claim to be anti- or non-religious in orientation. We will explore the historical origins of each view (or, more precisely, each cluster of views) as well as analyzing its coherence and intelligibility. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

This course examines queer and trans approaches in religious studies. Discussions examine concepts of (homo)sexuality and (trans)gender in various global and historical contexts, ranging from ancient and medieval sources to contemporary communities. Readings include works in queer and trans religious studies (e.g., Gloria Anzaldúa, Michel Foucault, Hsiao-Lan Hu, Afsaneh Najmabadi, Jasbir K. Puar, Max K. Strassfeld, Roberto Strongman, Melissa M. Wilcox). Discussion, presentation, final paper.

An examination of the thought of Friedrich Nietzsche, focusing on his critique of Christianity and his general theory of religion, as well as what Paul Ricouer calls his "hermeneutics of suspicion." Some discussion of other 19th-century critiques of religion (e.g., Feuerbach, Marx) will be included to provide historical context and contrast. Seminar with short papers and in-class presentations. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor

An examination of the range of views on the relationship between reason and religion, focusing in particular on theistic belief. Questions addressed include: Can God’s existence be proven? Is faith different from ordinary belief? Does mystical experience provide adequate grounds for religious belief? PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

This course will focus on the nature of God and the afterlife from the perspective of the Abrahamic and Indian Hindu and Buddhist traditions, including arguments for and against the existence of God and the afterlife. Does God or the afterlife exist? Does either provide us with reason to be good? Students will be evaluated on the basis of expository and critical essays and presentations.

A study of New England Puritan poetry in the context of new world spiritual aspirations and anxieties. Readings will include sections of Martin Luther's writings and Perry Miller's and others' criticism, as well as the poems of Anne Bradstreet, Edward Taylor, Michael Wiggelsworth, and other minor and post-Puritan poets. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

An overview of European colonialism in Africa and Asia, this course focuses on colonial ideologies in the 19th and 20th centuries. It will investigate the myths and realities of colonialism and compare the colonial practices of the Belgians, Dutch, English and French. Our analysis will be informed by essays written by leading colonial theorists, novels and films. Lecture/discussion with response essays and a final project. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

This discussion-based course investigates the ways in which women and gender minorities participate in Buddhist culture around the world. By reading texts by and about Buddhist women, this course will explore the extent to which gender affects social status, leadership roles, and access to education in Buddhist communities in South Asia, East Asia, and the United States.

An examination of the Quran in its historical context, which will include reading of pre-Islamic poetry and the earliest biographical traditions about Muhammad. We will read the work of recent historians like Fred Donner and Patricia Crone who have offered revisionist views of the earliest Islamic community. PREREQUISITES: RLST 240

This seminar-style course investigates the theory and practice of meditation from psychological and Buddhist perspectives. Topics to be considered include the effects of meditation on the brain, mindfulness, compassion, and the secularization of religious practices. Course meetings will focus on discussion of readings and experiential learning. Assessment will involve quizzes, reflection on experiential practice, and papers. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or instructor approval.

This course examines the complex histories of buildings and urban landscapes around the Mediterranean, emphasizing how religious and political structures transformed them from the Classical world, through Christian and Islamic empires, and down to modern nation states. The city of Istanbul will be a central focus, though case studies from other cities will be introduced. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

Advanced research, arranged and carried out under the direction of an instructor. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

Advanced research, arranged in consultation with the department. Students planning an honors project should register for this course, for one or more terms. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

A critical survey of one or more of the distinctive themes in the religious thought of the West since the Reformation. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

This course will focus on reading a classic text related to the field of religious studies. The work chosen could be related to the philosophy or sociology of religion or have theological or historical importance within a specific religious tradition. May be repeated when topic is different.

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This course

Intensive study of the works of the Danish philosopher/theologian considered to be the father of Existentialism. Concentration on Kierkegaard’s view of the self and its relation to his stages of existence, with particular attention to his view of faith. Some consideration to the historical context of his thought and his influence on 20th-century theology and philosophy. PREREQUISITES: Junior standing or consent of the instructor.

An examination of the relationship between two principal schools of later (Mahāyāna) Buddhism and their concepts of emptiness. The Madhyamaka school views all things as devoid of independent, inherently existing essences, while the Yogācāra school believes that nothing is truly separate from the mind. We will consider fundamental texts in both traditions as they relate to metaphysics epistemology and the self. Seminar with papers. PREREQUISITES: One course in religious studies

This topics course offers advanced students a seminar in a topic related to a foundations/gateway course offered in the same term. Students engage with more challenging readings and pursue their own scholarship, presenting their research in the companion gateway course as the opportunity arises. Students may have previously taken the companion gateway course but may not enroll concurrently in that course. May be repeated when topic is different.

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An examination of one of the classic problems of philosophy of religion; the course will examine both traditional theistic analyses of the problem (is the existence of an omni-god incompatible with the existence of evil?) as well as more recent, non-theistic analyses of evil as a social phenomenon. PREREQUISITES: RLST 330 or consent of instructor

An intensive examination of the continuation of local traditions and the creative re-use of world religions around the continent of Africa. We will look at the coming of Islam to Africa and its interaction with traditional religion, uniquely African forms of Christianity (Ethiopia) and Islam (Senegal), and the more recent arrival of evangelizing religious sects. We will learn about Mandela's struggle against apartheid in South Africa and the challenge of megacities like Lagos.

This course will examine the transformations of Islam that have accompanied globalization. Our focus will be roughly split between the theoretical perspective on globalization offered by Olivier Roy and the work of Laila Ahmed on gender in contemporary Islam. Students will develop and write a major research paper. PREREQUISITES: RLST 240

Advanced research, arranged and carried out under the direction of an instructor. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

Advanced research, arranged in consultation with the department. Students planning an honors project should register for this course, for one or more terms. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

The goal of this class is to give advanced RLST students (juniors or seniors) space to write a paper or finish a senior capstone. We will discuss the challenges of research and the use of sources. Reading will consist of contemporary academic articles designed to highlight styles of argument. PREREQUISITES: Junior standing

Advanced research, arranged and carried out under the direction of an instructor. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.

Advanced research, arranged in consultation with the department. Students planning an honors project should register for this course, for one or more terms. PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.