REL 100 Religions of the World. (3) F, S
An introduction to the history of religious traditions of the world, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and others. Not open to students who have completed REL 200. General Studies: HU, G.
REL 200 The Study of Religious Traditions. (3) A
A writing-intensive course introducing analytical skills necessary for understanding religious traditions. Beliefs, practices, and communities of several religious traditions of the world. Not open to students who have completed REL 100. General Studies: L1/HU, G.
REL 201 Religion and the Modern World. (3) A
An introduction to the nature and role of religious beliefs and practices in shaping the lives of individuals and societies, with particular attention to the modern world. General Studies: L1/HU.
REL 202 Religion and Popular Culture. (3) F, S
Explores various intersectors between religion and the popular media, including music, news, advertising, the visual arts, literature, performance, and film. Lecture, discussion. General Studies: HU, C.
REL 203 Saints and Sinners: Explorations in Sacred Biography. (3) F, S
A comparison of the role of biography across religions to examine the process of categorizing people as saints or sinners. Lecture, discussion. General Studies: HU, H.
REL 205 Living and Dying. (3) F, S
Ways that religions have understood birth, sexuality and death and the passing of generations. Examples from traditions throughout the world. Lecture, discussion. General Studies: HU.
REL 210 Introduction to Judaism. (3) A
The beliefs, ceremonies, festivals, and institutions of Judaism emphasizing the contemporary era. The course presupposes no previous knowledge about Judaism. General Studies: L1/HU, H.
REL 225 African American Religion. (3) A
Introduction to the history and development of the African American religious tradition. Lecture, discussion. General Studies: HU, C.
REL 240 Introduction to Southeast Asia. (3) F
An interdisciplinary introduction to the cultures, religions, political systems, geography, and history of Southeast Asia. Cross-listed as ASB 240/GCU 240/HIS 240/POS 240. Credit is allowed only for ASB 240 or GCU 240 or HIS 240 or POS 240 or REL 240. General Studies: G.
REL 270 Introduction to Christianity. (3) A
The beliefs, ceremonies, festivals, and institutions of Christianity, emphasizing the contemporary era. The course presupposes no previous knowledge about Christianity. General Studies: HU.
REL 305 Ritual, Symbol, and Myth. (3) A
Ritual, symbol, and myth as types of religious expression, with examples selected from the nonliterate religions of the world. General Studies: L2/HU.
REL 310 Western Religious Traditions. (3) F
Religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, comparing their doctrinal, institutional, and ritual systems and social histories. Lecture, discussion. General Studies: HU, H.
REL 315 Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). (3) A
The nature, content, background, historical situation, and message of the books of the Hebrew Bible in English translation. General Studies: L2/HU, H.
REL 317 Introduction to Rabbinic Judaism. (3) A
A historical analysis of the thought, literature, and institutions of rabbinic Judaism. General Studies: HU, H.
REL 320 American Religious Traditions. (3) F, S
Examination of the formation, development, and interaction of major American religious traditions (indigenous, African American, Asian American, and Euro-American). General Studies: HU, C, H.
REL 321 Religion in America. (3) F, S
The history of religion in America with attention to issues of historiography, pluralism, gender, race, ethnicity, politics, and social reform. General Studies: HU, C, H.
REL 322 Malcolm and Martin. (3) F, S
This course examines and contrasts the lives, ministries, contributions and legacies of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. General Studies: HU, C.
REL 323 Black Religion: A Biographical Approach. (3) F, S
An examination of the experiences, motivations, and contributions of a number of figures associated with African American religion. General Studies: HU, C.
REL 330 Native American Religious Traditions. (3) A
World views and religious thought presented through the art, architecture, literature, music, mythology, ritual, and folklore of representative tribes in North America. General Studies: HU, C.
REL 331 History of Native American Religious Traditions. (3) N
The role of religion in Native American history, including missionization, and religious adaptation; prophetic, messianic, and religious revitalization movements. General Studies: L2/HU, C, H.
REL 332 South American Indian Religions. (3) F, S
An introduction to the sacred stories, ceremonies, and beliefs of Native South American peoples in their historical contexts. General Studies: HU, G.
REL 339 Heresy and Witchcraft in Europe. (3) N
Background, origins, and development at the Inquisition. Analysis of marginal groups and their suppression. Cross-listed as HIS 339. Credit is allowed only for HIS 339 or REL 339. General Studies: L2, H.
REL 344 Religion and Values in Japanese Life. (3) S
Japanese values expressed in the life and annual cycles of the family, local and national identities, and popular culture. Lecture, discussion. General Studies: HU, G.
REL 345 Asian Religious Traditions. (3) F
Introduction to the major concepts of religious beliefs, rituals, and practices in Hinduism and Buddhism. Lecture, discussion. General Studies: HU, G.
REL 350 Hinduism. (3) A
The study of diverse forms of Hinduism through its institutions, literature, folklore, art, and architecture. General Studies: L2/HU, G, H.
REL 351 Buddhism. (3) A
Doctrines, practices, and institutions of the Buddhist religion, emphasizing its role in the history and culture of Asian societies. General Studies: L2/HU, G.
REL 355 Japanese Cities and Cultures to 1800. (3) S
Relations among ideas and literary, visual, and performing arts of the ancient aristocracy, medieval samurai, and early modern townspeople. Cross-listed as HUM 310. Credit is allowed only for HUM 310 or REL 355. General Studies: L1/HU, H.
REL 365 Islamic Civilization. (3) F
Global historical survey of Islamic cultures and societies up to the modern period. Lecture, discussion. Cross-listed as HIS 365. Credit is allowed only for HIS 365 or REL 365. General Studies: HU, H.
REL 366 Islam in the Modern World. (3) S
Examination of the worldwide transformations of Islamic religion, cultures, and societies in the modern period. Lecture, discussion. General Studies: HU, G, H.
REL 371 New Testament. (3) A
Origins and literature of early Christian communities; historical investigations of the types of oral and written tradition in the New Testament. General Studies: HU.
REL 372 Formation of the Christian Tradition. (3) A
Origins, development, and expansion of Christianity; major themes and tensions from the New Testament world to the beginning of the Middle Ages. General Studies: HU, H.
REL 373 Women in Judaism. (3) S
A study of the legal, social, and cultural status of Jewish women in various historical and contemporary societies. Cross-listed as WST 372. Credit is allowed only for REL 373 or WST 372.
REL 377 Religion in Russia. (3) F, S
Examines the history of the various religious traditions of Russia and the former USSR from an interdisciplinary perspective. General Studies: HU, H.
REL 379 Religion, Nationalism, and Ethnic Conflict. (3) F, S
Examines the role of religion in national and ethnic conflict in the contemporary world. General Studies: HU, G.
REL 381 Religion and Moral Issues. (3) A
The manner in which human religiousness relates to social concerns, e.g., sexuality, the environment, bioethical issues, and violence. General Studies: L2/HU.
REL 385 Contemporary Western Religious Thought. (3) A
Introduction to contemporary Jewish and Christian thought. Topics include religion and politics, problem of evil, interpretations of God, and feminist theology. General Studies: L2/HU.
REL 390 Women and Religion. (3) A
The role of women in several organized religions and/or religious sects, including a study of myth and symbols as they are used to establish, maintain, and enforce sex-roles within specific religions. General Studies: HU, G.
REL 405 Problems in Religious Studies. (3) F, S
Selected topics in religious studies, involving students in research interests of instructor. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Seminar. Prerequisite: at least 9 semester hours of REL courses or instructor approval.
REL 410 Judaism in Modern Times. (3) N
Variety of expressions of Judaism and Jewishness in the modern period. Topics may include American Judaism or religious responses to the Holocaust. General Studies: HU, H.
REL 415 The Jewish Mystical Tradition. (3) A
Examination of some of the esoteric lore of Judaism. Movements and literature such as Hasidism and Kabalah are studied. General Studies: HU.
REL 420 Religion in American Life and Thought. (3) A
The influence of religion on American society, culture, and ideas; the distinctive character of religion in America. Prerequisite: REL 320 or 321 or equivalent. General Studies: L2/HU.
REL 426 American Preachers and Preaching: The Sermon in America. (3) N
The life and work of notable American preachers. The emergence of the preacher as representative of American religion. Prerequisite: REL 320 or 321 or equivalent. General Studies: L2/HU.
REL 427 American Religious Thought. (3) N
The thought of representative American religious thinkers, i.e., Jonathon Edwards, William Ellery Channing, Horace Bushnell, and Reinhold Niebuhr. Prerequisite: REL 320 or 321 or equivalent. General Studies: HU, H.
REL 444 Religion in Japan. (3) F
Religion in Japanese history, especially the development of Japanese Buddhism, and religion in the modern transformation of Japan. Prerequisite: instructor approval. General Studies: HU, G, H.
REL 460 Studies in Islamic Religion. (3) A
Issues in the interpretation and understanding of Islamic texts, history, society, culture, and rituals. Prerequisites: REL 365 and Religious Studies major or instructor approval. General Studies: HU, G.
REL 470 Religion in the Middle Ages. (3) A
Religious aspects of medieval life and thought; variety of forms of dissent, heresy, and reform movements from the 4th to 13th centuries. General Studies: HU, H.
REL 471 Reformation and Modern Christianity. (3) A
Protestant Reformation to contemporary Christian movements; includes factors in the dissolution of the Medieval Christian synthesis, variety of reform movements and reformation patterns, Catholic counter-reform measures, formation of liberal theology, ecumenical movement, and the World Council of Churches. General Studies: HU, H.
REL 480 Religion and Global Politics. (3) S
Explores the nature and role of religion in international politics in the modern period. Lecture, discussion.
REL 486 Modern Critics of Religion. (3) A
Major theories and critiques of religion among modern social, philosophical, and religious thinkers. General Studies: HU.
REL 494 ST: Special Topics in Religious Studies. (3) N
Open to all students, freshmen by instructor approval only. Topics may be selected from various areas.
REL 498 PS: Pro-Seminar in Religious Studies. (3) A
For students with a major or minor emphasis in Religious Studies.
REL 501 Research Methods in Religious Studies. (3) F
An exploration of the major themes and methods in the study of religion, with primary focus on classical texts. Lecture, discussion.
REL 502 Research Methods in Religious Studies. (3) F, S
An exploration of the major themes and methods in the study of religion, with primary focus on contemporary texts. Lecture, discussion.
REL 591 Seminar. (3) N
Topics on methodological issues in the study of religion. Prerequisite: Religious Studies graduate student or instructor approval.
REL 598 ST: Special Topics. (3) F, S
Topics are selected from the following areas:
| (a) | Christianity, Greco-Roman Religion |
| (b) | Comparative Western, Ancient Near East, Judaism |
| (c) | Islam |
| (d) | Native American Religion |
| (e) | Problems in Religious Studies |
| (f) | Religion in America |
| (g) | Religion in East Asia |
| (h) | Religion in South Asia |
| (i) | Study of Religion, Comparative Religion |
| (j) | Western Religious Thought, Ethics |
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