- 111 - Biblical Hebrew
- 112 - Biblical Hebrew
- 205 - Introduction to Religion
- 210 - Introduction to the Bible
- 211 -
Old Testament History and Literature
- 212 - New Testament History and Literature
- 215 - The Bible and Film
- 217 - The Bible
in America
- 221 - World Religions: Indian, Buddhist, Chinese,
Japanese
- 222 - World Religions: Judaic, Christian, Islamic
- 223 - Hinduism: History, Teachings, Practice
- 225 - Buddhism: History, Teachings, Practice
- 227 - Islam
- 228 - New Religious Movements
- 229 - Native
American Religions
- 230 - Judaism
- 231 - Christianity
- 235 - Religious Ethics
- 237 - Christian Ethics
- 240 - Italy: Heritage of Christianity
- 243 - Reformation and Counter Reformation
- 245 - Guatemala: The Quiche Mayan Indians
- 247 - Israel/Palestine: Land, People, & Religions
-
248 - Religions of Japan: Land of Kami, Land of Buddhas
-
251 - Literature of the Holocaust
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111- Biblical Hebrew – This course is a formal introduction to the
basic rules and principles of Biblical Hebrew that is designed to facilitate critical
reading of the Hebrew Bible. Emphases will be placed upon recognition and translation,
employing a controlled vocabulary that consists of the most common Hebrew words
and forms. Every class session will entail oral reading (some of which students
will be required to tape) and writing exercises from the primary (i.e., Hebrew Bible)
and/or resource (i.e., grammar book) texts. The premise of the course is that grammatical
and literary analyses of the Hebrew texts are facilitated and complemented by writing
Hebrew, including translating Hebrew into English, and that learning the language
requires vocalization. Area One: Biblical Studies. This course counts toward the
RELS major and minor; however it does not count toward completion of the
AOK requirement. Prerequisite: none. Three hours. Mr. Ross. Back to top
112- Biblical Hebrew – This course is the sequel
to RELS 111 and is designed to focus upon the principles of syntax and to further
reading skills. Students will apply the rules and principles of Biblical Hebrew
and thereby employ grammatical insights in reading and analyzing selected passages
from the Hebrew Bible. This analysis will entail oral reading (some of which students
will be required to tape) and diagramming of sentences from the Hebrew Bible. The
premise of the course is that grammatical and literary analyses of the Hebrew texts
are facilitated and complemented by writing Hebrew and that learning the language
requires vocalization. The primary objective of the course is textual, grammatical,
and literary criticism of the Hebrew Bible. Area One: Biblical Studies. This course
counts toward the RELS major and minor. Also, it fulfills one AOK requirement in
Religious Studies/Philosophy. Prerequisite: RELS 111. Three hours. Mr. Ross.
Back to top
205 - Introduction to Religion – An inquiry into the nature
of religious experience and expression. Themes to be considered include interpretations
of the term "religion," theories of the origin of religion, myth and ritual, religious
language, religious communities, religion and society. Three hours. Staff.
Back to top
210 - Introduction to the Bible
– A survey of the Old Testament and the New Testament, which introduces students
to the history and literature of the Bible in conjunction with appropriate ways
to critically read, study, and analyze biblical texts drawn from the liberal arts.
Not open to students who have completed RELS 211
or 212. Area One: Biblical Studies. Three hours. Staff.
Back to top
211 - Old Testament History and Literature – A survey of
the Old Testament documents in which attention is given to the theories of critical
scholarship concerning such major problems in Old Testament studies as the origins
of the literature, the historical development of the Old Testament community which
produced the literature, and the significance of those writings in their own times.
Not open to students who have completed RELS 210.
Area One: Biblical Studies. Three hours. Mr. Ross. Back to top
212 - New Testament History and Literature – An introductory
survey of the literature of the early Christian church contained in the New Testament,
utilizing current critical scholarship concerning such questions as the historical-cultural
contexts in which the New Testament emerged, the content of the various New Testament
documents, their meaning within their own time, and the kinds of religious questions
addressed in the New Testament. Not open to students
who have completed RELS 210. Area One: Biblical Studies. Three
hours. Mr. Ross. Back to top
215 - The Bible and Film –
This course is designed to facilitate reading and appreciation of the Bible by investigating
its use in the popular medium of film. Movies that employ biblical themes and/or
portray biblical personalities will be viewed and critiqued in comparison with critical
reading of the corresponding biblical texts in order to discern the interpretations
and appropriations of the Bible that inform our culture. The goal of the course
is to develop students’ consciousness of the overt and covert uses of the Bible
in formation of modern worldviews. Area One: Biblical Studies. Three hours. Mr.
Ross. Offered every two or three years. Back to top
217 - The Bible in America – This course will
survey the history of the use of the Bible in the United States, paying attention
to how it was interpreted and how these interpretations were applied during the
growth and development of this nation and comparing and critiquing the instances
of such within the greater society (e. g., arts, music, drama, government, etc.).
This survey will be based upon a very general understanding of the Bible and of
the history of the United States in order to aid research and cultural study. Area
One: Biblical Studies. Three hours. Mr. Ross. Offered every two or three years.
Back to top
221 - World Religions: Indian, Buddhist, Chinese, Japanese
– An examination of the history, beliefs, and practices of living religions of the
world: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, and Jainism. Consideration
will be given to the variety of answers offered to life's questions, and to the
present encounter of world religions. Both primary and secondary sources will be
used in learning the basic vocabulary, critical problems, and current state of each
of the religions studied. Area Two: The World's Religious Traditions. Three hours.
Staff. Back to top
222 - World Religions: Judaic, Christian, Islamic – An
examination of the history, literature, beliefs, and practices of living religions
of the world: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism, and Bahai. Consideration
will be given to the variety of answers offered to life's basic questions, and to
the present encounter of world religions. Both primary and secondary sources will
be used in learning the basic vocabulary, critical problems, and current state of
each of the religions studied. Area Two: The World's Religious Traditions. Three
hours. Staff. Back to top
223 - Hinduism: History, Teachings, Practice
– This course provides a thorough introduction to the diverse worlds of Hinduism.
Through an exploration of the many layers of religious ideas and practices and the
historic circumstances from which they emerge, students will gain an appreciation
of the rich and pluralistic Hindu tradition of India and beyond. To accomplish this,
students will carry out an inquiry that will range from archaeological evidence
of the oldest layers of the religious life in India, to the arrival of the Vedas,
the composition of the Upanisads and the Epics, the emergence of the great devotional
gods and goddesses, and to the everyday practices of Hindus today. Finally, the
course will examine the Hindu diaspora, with a particular emphasis on Hindus in
America and the continuing influence Hinduism exerts on the American religious imagination.
Area Two: The World’s Religious Traditions. Three hours. Mr. Brown. Offered every
two or three years. Back to top
225 - Buddhism: History, Teachings, Practice
– This course provides a thorough introduction to the diverse worlds of Buddhism.
Through an exploration of the life and teachings of its founder, as well as the
historic and religious context of India out of which the tradition emerges, students
will gain an understanding of Buddhism’s fundamental claims and practices. By studying
the spread of Buddhism into East and Southeast Asia and how these cultures shaped
their own unique forms of the tradition, students will obtain an appreciation for
the tremendous impact this religion has had in countries such as China, Korea, Japan,
Tibet, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Finally, the course will examine the arrival of Buddhism
in America and the growing influence it is exerting on the American religious imagination.
Area Two: The World’s Religious Traditions. Three hours. Mr. Brown. Offered every
two or three years. Back to top
227 - Islam – This course is an introduction
to and overview of Islam, from its beginnings to the present. The class examines
the origins of Islam, the content and significance of the Qur'an, the role of Muhammad,
and the primary beliefs and practices of Muslims throughout the centuries. We will
study the development and expansion of Islam and its impact on politics, law, families,
the arts and sciences, and other areas of society around the world. Students will
learn about various groups within the Islamic tradition, such as Sunni, Shi', Sufi,
and The Nation of Islam. We will also examine the relationship of Islam to other
religions and the continuing importance of Islam throughout the world today. Area
Two: The World's Religious Traditions. Offered every third or fourth year. Three
hours. Mr. Brown. Back to top
228 - New Religious Movements – This course examines
the significance of the dramatic rise in New Religious Movements (NRMs) over the
past century. With a focus on both the American and global scene, students will
explore the following questions: What is the value of studying NRMs and what can
they tell us about the dynamics of cultures, religions, and religion? What exactly
are NRMs, what forms do they take, into what types can they be divided, and how
are they differentiated from other religious traditions or movements? What historical
and cultural conditions gave rise to such a burgeoning of NRMs in the past century?
How have NRMs been perceived by traditional religions and by the wider population
(e.g., as “cults” prone to brainwashing, violence, and sexual deviance)? Who generally
joins such movements and why? What is the future of NRMs and what do they suggest
about the future of religion? In the process of this inquiry, students will become
acquainted with the history, beliefs, and practices of many NRMs throughout the
world, such as Wicca, the New Age Movement, Eco-religions, Branch Davidians, People’s
Temple, Soka Gakkai, Falun Gong, Aum Shinrikyo, Heaven’s Gate, Scientology, Santeria
and Rastafarianism. Area Two: World’s Religious Traditions. Offered every two or
three years. Three hours. Mr. Brown. Back to top
229 - Native American Religions – This
course will introduce students to the diverse religious traditions of the Native
Americans. First, students will explore the variety of tribal traditions and their
religious ties to the landscape. Second, the course will examine the importance
of Christianity across the Native American traditions. Third, it will study the
formation of new religious movements that extend beyond tribal ties. Finally, students
will look at recent attempts by Native people to create a pan-Native American religious
identity or spirituality that is frequently posed as an alternative to modern, Western
culture. Area Two: The World’s Religious Traditions. Three hours. Mr. Brown.
Back to top
230 - Judaism – A general introduction to the
Jewish faith. The course will give attention to the emergence, structure, and content
of the vast body of Jewish literature, beginning with the Hebrew Bible; basic Jewish
tenets covering aspects of Jewish law and customs, including the Jewish calendar
and the festival cycle in particular; major Jewish events and personalities shaping
Jewish history and destiny. Area Two: The World's Religious Traditions. Offered
every two or three years. Three hours. Staff. Back to top
231 - Christianity – An introduction to Christianity,
from its beginnings to the present. We will learn about Christian faith and practice
through an overview of the religion’s scripture, history, worship, institutions,
theology, and teachings, and give attention to many of Christianity’s most important
and influential persons, groups, and movements. We will study interactions between
Christianity and the cultures and societies in which it arose and developed, trace
the religion’s spread throughout the world, and reflect on challenges and opportunities
confronting Christianity today. Offered every two or three years. Area Two: The
World’s Religious Traditions. Three hours. Mr. Breitenberg. Back to top
235 - Religious Ethics – An introduction to religious ethics, as
both a field of study and a way of life. By examining the ethics of major living
world religions, students will learn about the relationship between religious faith
and practice and personal and social ethics. We will study ways in which religious
traditions and faith communities, in different cultural and historical contexts,
affect moral action and decision making and the relationship of these to specific
and basic ethical concerns of the human community. We will also investigate how
major living religious traditions understand and address specific ethical issues,
such as war, economies, marriage and families, and the environment. Area Three:
Religion and Culture. Three hours. Mr. Breitenberg. Back to top
237 - Christian Ethics – This course examines
how the Christian tradition, past and present, understands and teaches how Christians
should live, what they should and should not do, and the kinds of persons they should
be. We will study the development of Christian ethics and consider similarities
and differences between Protestant and Catholic approaches. Persistent and contemporary
moral issues and concerns will be addressed—such as war and peace, terrorism, economics,
the environment, globalization, capital punishment, euthanasia, abortion, and cloning—along
with various Christian responses to them. Area Three: Religion and Culture. Three
hours. Mr. Breitenberg. Back to top
240 - Italy: Heritage of Christianity
– This on-site course is designed to acquaint students with the rich heritage
of Christianity, focusing on selected sites of interest from the first century through
the rise of the imperial church; medieval and renaissance periods; and modern Christianity.
A major component of this focus will be artistic and architectural treasures. Sites
visited include Venice, Florence, Assisi, Rome. Offered alternate years. Three hours.
Mr. Headrick. Area Two: The World’s Religious Traditions. Back to top
243 - Reformation and Counter Reformation – A
study of the leading persons, theologies, movements, and communities of the Reformation
and Counter Reformation of the 16th and 17th centuries. We will study their religious,
social, cultural, artistic, and political contexts as well as the significant and
enduring influence of the Reformation and Counter Reformation for Europe and the
West. We will also see how music was an expression of and a means of spreading the
Reformation and Counter Reformation, or a target of them, and study the role of
music and the various forms it took in different religious traditions of the period.
The class will travel to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and Hungary. Three
hours. Mr. Breitenberg. Area Two: The World’s Religious Traditions. Back
to top
245 - Guatemala: The Quiche Mayan Indians
– Study of the religion, history, politics and culture of Guatemala and the Quiche'
Mayans in particular. Two weeks of course work on campus in January and two weeks
in Guatemala for service projects, encounters with Mayans and visits to cultural
sites. No course prerequisites. Permission of instructor required. Three hours.
Staff. Area Two: The World’s Religious Traditions. Back to top
247 - Israel/Palestine: Land, People, and Religions
– Israel/Palestine is home to the three great monotheistic faiths. This study/travel
course will introduce students to the historic foundations of Judaism, Christianity,
and Islam in the “Land of Abraham.” To gain an overview of the geographical setting
of the Bible, the course will include visits to sites such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem,
Nazareth, Jericho, Sea of Galilee, Jordan River, Dead Sea, and Qumran. Students
will learn about the creation of the modern state of Israel through study and visits
to the Knesset, Hebrew University, Yad Vashem, and sites in Tel Aviv. Students will
also become familiar with the political and religious issues in the current Israeli/Palestinian
conflict through readings, lectures, and discussions, with visits to Israeli settlements
and Palestinian refugee camps, and through meetings with Israeli and Palestinian
peace activists. Offered every three years. Three hours. Mr. Headrick. Area Two:
The World’s Religious Traditions. Back to top
248 - Religions of Japan: Land of Kami, Land of Buddhas
– This course travels to Japan and provides a historical and cultural exploration
of Japanese religious ideas and practices. Though the main focus will be on the
religious tradition of Shinto and the many forms of Buddhism in Japan, the course
will also consider the influence and impact of folk religion, Confucianism, Daoism,
Christianity, and the wide array of new religious movements that have emerged in
recent history. A particular focus of the course will be on the manner in which
religion has so profoundly shaped multiple aspects of Japanese life, including the
arts, politics, popular culture, and views of the natural environment. Offered every
two or three years. Three hours. Area Two: The World’s Religious Traditions. Mr.
Brown. Back to top
251 - Literature of the Holocaust – A study of
the impact of the Holocaust upon individuals and groups as evidenced in writings,
films, and works of art. The course begins with a historical study, then examines
various forms of Holocaust literature produced by survivors of the Holocaust and
by its perpetrators, victims, resisters, and bystanders. These works include eyewitness
accounts, fiction, poetry, diaries, tales, oral histories, visual arts, music, and
videos. We will also learn from the work of Holocaust scholars. Throughout the course
we will give attention to religion's role in the Holocaust and ask about the Holocaust's
continuing significance for both personal and social ethics and religious faith
and practice. Area Three: Religion and Culture. Offered every two or three years.
Three hours. Mr. Breitenberg. Back to top
260 - Religions and the Natural Environment –
This course will introduce students to the historical and contemporary relations
between multiple religious traditions and the natural environment. Particular emphasis
will be placed on Native American traditions, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity.
Students will examine scholarly works on the history, texts, rituals and activism
of religious traditions, as well as engage with sacred texts and creative works
on the subject. In addition, students will explore a variety of contemporary perspectives
from within new religious movements as well as secular environmental movements that
frequently perpetuate and/or appropriate religious views of the natural environment.
Area Three: Religion and Culture. Offered every two or three years. Three hours.
Mr. Brown. Back to top
262 - Religion and Science –
An introduction to religion and science and the relationship between them, focusing
primarily on the West. We will examine some of the most important perspectives,
events, discoveries, theories, and texts that influenced religion, science, and
the broader societies in which they developed along with changing perceptions of
connections between them. Topics include a survey of the history of the relationship
between religion and science, major debates and turning points in that relationship,
and contemporary issues. While Christianity and science in Europe and America are
the primary areas of study, we will also examine the relationship between science
and other religions, including Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. Area Three: Religion
and Culture. Offered every two or three years. Three hours. Mr. Breitenberg.
Back to top
271 - Women and Religion – This course offers
both historical and contemporary perspectives on the situation of women in a variety
of religious traditions throughout the world. The course provides a broad survey
of religions, including Eastern World Religions (such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism,
Daoism, and Shinto), Western World Religions (such as Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam) and Indigenous Traditions (such as Australian, African, and Native American).
In addition, the class examines the significant impact of feminist critique in the
study of religion, the recent emergence of goddess-centered religions in the West,
and the development of eco-feminist theologies and spirituality. Area Three: Religion
and Culture. Offered alternate years. Three hours. Mr. Brown. Back to
top
273 - Women in the Bible – This course is designed
to facilitate reading and appreciation of passages about, referring to, or imaging
women in the Bible, treating these as ancient forms of communication. The goal of
the course is twofold: to read the selected passages in their respective contexts
and to sensitize readers of the Bible to the negative as well as positive effects
of its gendered-speech. Area One: Biblical Studies. Three hours. Mr. Ross. Offered
every two or three years. Back to top
274 - Women and Christianity – A study of women
in the Christian tradition, from biblical times to the present. We will examine
some of the many ways women have been understood, interpreted, and portrayed throughout
the history of the Christian faith and within various Christian churches, denominations,
sects, and movements. Topics include biblical images of women, women in the early
churches, women in medieval Christianity, and women in monastic orders. The roles
of women in the Reformation, American Colonies, and organizations for mission and
reform will also be studied, as well as changing conceptions of women and ordained
ministry. Area Three: Religion and Culture. Offered every two or three years. Three
hours. Staff. Back to top
275 - Liberation Theology - An examination of
the development and expression of liberation theology through the study of representative
writings emerging from current liberation movements (Black, feminist, Latin American);
theological and ethical resources on which they draw; the delineation of unresolved
problems such as the liberation of oppressors and viable forms of political and
social transformation. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Area Three: Religion
and Culture. Offered every three or four years. Three hours. Mr. Breitenberg. Back to top
311 - Prophecy in Ancient Israel – A study of the life
and message of the Old Testament prophets within their historical context. Attention
will be given to the socio-political dimensions of prophecy within ancient Israel
and Judah. Students are expected to become familiar with the critical theories concerning
the prophetic literature through a study of the scholarly literature. Prerequisite:
RELS 211 or permission of the instructor. Area One: Biblical Studies. Offered every
three years. Three hours. Mr. Ross. Back to top
312 - Biblical Short Stories – This course is
designed to facilitate reading and appreciation of selected short stories (from
translations of the Hebrew Bible) as forms of communication for teaching or inculcating
Yahwistic values that are directed toward survival in response to a culturally-diverse
and politically-dominating society and/or for reclamation of Yahwistic identity
as an act of minority consciousness. The goal of the course is biblical consistency,
wherein the minority-sensitivity that is intrinsic to biblical faith is appropriated
and employed for understanding the Bible. Area One: Biblical Studies. Offered every
two or three years. Three hours. Mr. Ross. Back to top
321 - Life and Teaching of Jesus – In this course students
will investigate such topics as the history of Jesus-research since the eighteenth
century, the sources of information about Jesus, what one can know about the life
of Jesus of Nazareth, the "kingdom of God" teaching, the works of Jesus and their
relationship to his ministry, and the ethical teaching of Jesus. The course is conducted
on a seminar basis in which each student is expected to prepare papers for presentation
and discussion in class. Prerequisite: RELS 212 or permission of the instructor.
Area One: Biblical Studies. Offered every two or three years. Three hours. Staff.
Back to top
322 - Life and Letters of Paul – A study of the Pauline
Epistles and current thought concerning the Apostle Paul. Special attention is given
to his contribution to the development of Christian thought and its relevance to
our day. Students will be expected to familiarize themselves with the major problems
of Pauline studies and current scholarship regarding them. This course is speaking
intensive. Prerequisite: RELS 212 or permission of the instructor. Area One: Biblical
Studies. Offered every two or three years. Three hours. Staff. Back to
top
323 - The Book of Revelation – This course will approach
Revelation as an example of the literary genre "apocalypse." Through comparison
with other apocalyptic texts (especially Daniel), and with prophetic materials from
the Hebrew Bible, the student will gain entrance into the intricate symbolic world
of Revelation. Consideration will be given to the likely social and historical context
of the book, and to the light such information can cast upon the function of the
work in its original setting. The focus of the course, however, will be the close
reading of the text itself. Area One: Biblical Studies. Offered every two or three
years. Three hours. Mr. Ross. Back to top
335 - History of Christianity from the Early Church to the Protestant
Reformation – A survey of the development of the Christian Church from the
second century to the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Particular attention
will be given to theological controversies and Church Councils, the expansion of
the Church into the West in the early Middle Ages, the relationships between Western
and Eastern Churches, the Crusades, monasticism, and the influence of the Renaissance.
Area Two: The World’s Religious Traditions. Offered every three or four years. Three
hours. Staff. Back to top
336 - History of Christianity from the Protestant Reformation
to the Present – Attention will be given to the rise and development
of denominations, major theologies, controversies, and trends. Topics explored will
also include the Counter Reformation, the Great Awakening, conflicts between science
and religion, fundamentalism, liberalism, ecumenism, and third world developments.
Area Two: The World’s Religious Traditions. Offered every three or four years. Three
hours. Staff. Back to top
341 - Contemporary Theology and Ethics – This course is
designed to introduce the student to the field of theology through a study of selected
contemporary theological issues and directed reading in works by theologians including
Tillich, Bultmann, Bonhoeffer, Barth, Ruether, Niebuhr, Trible and Buber. Students
will be expected to research assigned topics and to prepare papers for presentation
and class discussion. Prerequisites: Two previous courses in the department or permission
of the instructor. Area Three: Religion and Culture. Offered every three or four
years. Three hours. Mr. Breitenberg. Back to top
343 - Civil Religion and Public Theology – A study of two
related but different topics: civil religion and public theology. We will learn
about the history and development of civil religion and public theology, consider
the relationship between them, and study the areas of religious and public life
they address. We will analyze the relationship of civil religion to American society
and the U.S. presidency and study public theologies concerned with things such as
government, economics, the family, the environment, health, and human rights. While
civil religion and public theology in the U.S.A. is our primary focus, we will also
treat these in other parts of the world and consider their potential future significance.
Area Three: Religion and Culture. Offered every two or three years. Three hours.
Mr. Breitenberg. Back to top
352 - Religion and Literature – An attempt to relate major
themes of such authors as Auden, Melville, Camus, Dostoevsky, Greene, Hurston, Fugard,
Eliot, and Faulkner with the concerns of religion. Emphasis will be placed upon
the dominant values and attitudes arising in Western literature in relation to theological
issues and religious practice. Students will be expected to research assigned topics
and to conduct class discussions dealing with their research. Area Three: Religion
and Culture. Offered alternate years. Three hours. Mr. Brown. Back to
top
362 - The Johannine Literature – This course will examine
the Gospel and the Epistles of John as “congregational catechism.” Considering and
appropriating data from critical study of early Christian texts, students will gain
entrance into the internal affairs of the congregations that employed the Johannine
literature as canons. Consideration will be given to the likely social and historical
contexts of these works and the light such information casts upon the function of
these works in their original settings. The focus of the course is the close reading
of the text itself while the goal is to understand the Gospel and the Epistles of
John as forms of communication, comprehending their rhetoric, articulating their
messages, and envisioning their contexts. Prerequisites: RELS 211 or RELS 212. Three
hours. Mr. Ross. Offered every three or four years. Back to top
375 - Christianity and Sexuality – An
exploration of the theological dimension of human sexuality and how differing faith
perspectives understand issues in sexuality. Concerns that face individuals and
how these are framed through religious experience will be examined. Issues include
the role of women in the church, AIDS, pornography, family life education, homosexuality,
and abortion. Area Three: Religion and Culture. Offered every two or three years.
Three hours. Staff. Back to top
381 - Early Christianity (travel course; J-term 2014 only)
– This course studies the history, beliefs, and practices of early Christianity,
from the period of Jesus and his disciples through about 476 A.D., especially as
they existed in modern day Greece and Turkey. The class introduces students to early
Christian literature (both canonical and non-canonical), beliefs, and rituals as
well as important aspects of Christian communal and family life. It examines how
the church, Christian writings, and forms of worship influenced and were affected
by other religions and the societies and cultures within which Christianity developed
and spread in its earliest centuries. This course will travel to Greece and Turkey.
Three hours. Breitenberg. Back to top
384 - Contemporary American Religion – A study of
religion in the United States from the mid-twentieth century to the present. We
focus on continuities and changes in mainline Protestantism and Catholicism, the
lasting significance of Judaism, the increasing importance of Hinduism, Buddhism,
and Islam, the flourishing of indigenous religions, and the rise of New Religious
Movements. We also examine the interplay of religion with politics, law, race, gender,
science, social issues, and American culture. Area Three: Religion and Culture.
Offered every two or three years. Three hours. Mr. Breitenberg. Back
to top
401 - Religious Studies Capstone – A culminating
experience in which a Religious Studies major integrates, extends, and applies knowledge
and skills from the student’s general education and major programs, drawing especially
on terms, concepts, and methods associated with religious studies. Students will
meet in weekly seminars to analyze and discuss readings selected from the three
areas of emphasis within the major. Senior status or junior status with consent
of department chair. Open to religious studies minors with consent of department
chair. Offered every spring. One hour. Staff. Back to top
404 - The Dead Sea Scrolls – A study of the scrolls discovered
in the Judean wilderness and the continuing debate concerning their interpretation
and importance. An effort will be made to determine their significance for the study
of the Old Testament, late Judaism, and early Christianity. Area One: Biblical Studies.
Offered every three or four years. Three hours. Mr. Ross. Back to top
450 - Internship – Students will have opportunity to gain
practical experience in the application of their learning in Religious Studies to
actual situations through a field placement with area churches, church-related agencies,
and organizations whose concerns focus upon social/ethical/religious issues. Application
required; see Internship Program. Three
hours. Staff. Back to top
481-482 - Special Topics – Designed to meet the needs
and interests of advanced students. Topics will vary but may include an intensive
study and interpretation of figures and movements in religion not covered in the
general curriculum. Three hours each. Staff. Back to top
487-488 - Department Honors I and II. Staff.
Back to top
491-492 - Independent Study – An independent study
under the guidance of a member of the department. At least a 3.25 cumulative grade
point average and approval by the curriculum committee are required. Three or six
hours. Staff. Back to top
497-498 - Senior Project – Senior majors
may select an area of religious studies in which they will undertake intensive and
independent research. Six hours. Back to top