Religious Studies (RELIG)

RELIG 205. Introduction to World Religions.

(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
An introduction to the academic study of religions, including myths, beliefs, rituals, values, social forms. Examples chosen from oral cultures and major religions of the world.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

RELIG 210. Religion in America.

(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
Introductory study of the major beliefs, practices, and institutions of American Judaism, Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam with emphasis on the diversity of religion in America, and attention to issues of gender, race, and class.

Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement

RELIG 220. Introduction to the Bible.

(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Basic overview of the contents of the Old and New Testament in light of their ancient socio-historical background, and with attention to a variety of interpretations and relevance to modern American society.

RELIG 242. History of Christianity: Beginnings to the Reformation.

(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
A survey of the major historical developments in Christian thought and practice that shaped Christianity from the time of Jesus through the late medieval period. Attention given to significant persons and major events, including those involving relations with Judaism and Islam.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

RELIG 243. History of Christianity: The Reformation to the Present.

(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
A survey of the major events, issues, and persons that contributed to the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Counter-Reformation, and the proliferation of Christian denominations. Attention to selected responses of churches to major sixteenth-early twenty-first century developments.

RELIG 280. Introduction to Catholicism.

(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
An explanation of the beliefs, spirit, and practices of Roman Catholicism, including its understanding of God, sacramentality, the human person, and community, and its relationship to other forms of Christianity and other world religions.

RELIG 321. Old Testament.

(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
An in-depth study of the literature and religion of ancient Israel in light of recent archaeological discoveries, research about the ancient Near East, and a variety of interpretations. Nonmajor graduate credit.

RELIG 322. New Testament.

(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
A detailed survey of the sacred scriptures of Christianity in light of recent archaeological discoveries and historical research about their Greco-Roman and Jewish background. Nonmajor graduate credit.

RELIG 323. Science and Religion.

(Cross-listed with HIST). (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: Sophomore classification
History of changing interplay of science and religion in our understanding nature, from the trial of Galileo to the reception of Darwin.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

RELIG 324. Christianity and Science.

(3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: sophomore classification; RELIG 205 or RELIG 210; BIOL 101 or BIOL 173 (or higher)
Examines major questions and challenges to Christianity's understandings of creation posed by the sciences; surveys ways of conceiving the relations of Christianity and science with attention to their impact on American culture, and their implications for human interactions with nature and ecological ethics. Nonmajor graduate credit.

RELIG 328. American Indian Religions.

(Cross-listed with AM IN). (3-0) Cr. 3.
An introduction to the beliefs and rituals of Native American religious traditions, with attention to cultural and historical contexts and implications. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement

RELIG 333. Introduction to Judaism.

(3-0) Cr. 3.
An introduction to basic Judaism. Special attention is given to Jewish sacred texts, rituals, social practices, and modern forms.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

RELIG 334. African American Religious Experience.

(Cross-listed with AF AM). (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Prior course work in Religious Studies or African American Studies recommended
Examination of the African American experience from the perspective of black religion and the black church, with attention to political, economic, and social, as well as spiritual, concerns. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement

RELIG 336. Women and Religion.

(Cross-listed with W S). (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: RELIG 205, RELIG 210 or W S 201 recommended
Examines the status of women in various religions, feminist critiques of religious structures and belief systems, and contemporary women's spirituality movements. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement

RELIG 339. Goddess Religions.

(Cross-listed with W S). (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: RELIG 205 recommended
Exploration of the foundational myths of Goddess spirituality, including historical and cross-cultural female images of the divine and their modern usage by American women. Nonmajor graduate credit.

RELIG 340. Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion.

(Dual-listed with 540). (Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: ANTHR 201 or ANTHR 306
Survey of global religious belief and practice from an anthropological perspective. Emphasis on myth and ritual, shamanism, magic, witchcraft, beliefs in spirits, conceptions of the soul, mind and body relationships, and healing and therapeutic practices. Discussion of religious response to dramatic political and social change; effects of globalization on religious practice.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

RELIG 342. Religion and U.S. Latino/a Literature.

(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2013.
A study of the religious behavior and attitudes expressed in the literature of Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans and other groups of people living in the U.S. who trace their ancestry to the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement

RELIG 348. Psychology of Religion.

(Cross-listed with PSYCH). (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: Nine credits in psychology
Survey of psychological theory and research investigating religious and spiritual attitudes, beliefs and practices.

RELIG 350. Philosophy of Religion.

(Cross-listed with PHIL). (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: PHIL 201
The value and truth of religious life and belief. Mystical experience; religious faith and language; arguments for God's existence; the problem of evil; miracles; and religion and morality. Historical and contemporary readings. Nonmajor graduate credit.

RELIG 352. Religious Traditions of India.

(3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: Prior course work in Asian, Asian-American or Religious Studies or Anthropology required
Examines the religious traditions of India, including Hinduism, Jainism, and Skihism, through text, ritual, and contemporary practice. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

RELIG 353. Buddhism.

(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
The various Buddhist paths to realize enlightenment and freedom. Special attention to meditation and yoga and their relationship to altered states of consciousness and to social contexts. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

RELIG 355. Religious Traditions of China.

(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
The Religious Traditions of China. Chinese religious traditions in ancient and modern expression; indigenous forms of religious practice; development of high/deep traditions of Confucianism and Taoism; impact of religions such as Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. Religious influences and changes in contemporary China. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

RELIG 356. African Religions.

(3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: Prior course work in African, African-American or Religious Studies or Anthropology required
An introduction to the teachings, practices, and history of the religions that originated in Africa and other religions that have gained substantial followings among African peoples. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

RELIG 358. Introduction to Islam.

(3-0) Cr. 3.
An introduction to Islamic religion, culture, and society from 700 to the present. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

RELIG 360. Religious Ethics.

(3-0) Cr. 3.
Investigates different religious ethical theories and traditions of reasoning about practical moral issues (e.g., abortion, the just distribution of wealth, environmental ethics). Explores in detail the relationship between religious beliefs and moral practice.

RELIG 367. Christianity in the Roman Empire.

(Cross-listed with CL ST). (3-0) Cr. 3.
An historical introduction to the rise of Christianity in the Roman empire, with special attention to the impact of Greco-Roman culture on the thought and practice of Christians and the interaction of early Christians with their contemporaries. Nonmajor graduate credit.

RELIG 370. Religion and Politics.

(Cross-listed with POL S). (3-0) Cr. 3.
The interaction of religion and politics in the U.S. from both an historical and contemporary perspective, as well as the role of religion in politics internationally. Nonmajor graduate credit.

RELIG 376. Classical Archaeology.

(Cross-listed with ANTHR, CL ST). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Chronological survey of the material culture of the ancient Greece-Roman world and the role of archaeological context in understanding the varied aspects of ancient Greek or Roman culture. Among other topics, economy, architecture, arts and crafts, trade and exchange, religion and burial customs will be explored.

RELIG 376A. Bronze Age (Minoan and Mycenaean palatial cultures) and Early Iron Age Greece. (ca 3000-700 BCE)..

(Cross-listed with ANTHR, CL ST). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Chronological survey of the material culture of the ancient Greece-Roman world and the role of archaeological context in understanding the varied aspects of ancient Greek or Roman culture. Among other topics, economy, architecture, arts and crafts, trade and exchange, religion and burial customs will be explored.

RELIG 376B. Archaic through Hellenistic Greece (ca 700-30 BCE)..

(Cross-listed with ANTHR, CL ST). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Chronological survey of the material culture of the ancient Greece-Roman world and the role of archaeological context in understanding the varied aspects of ancient Greek or Roman culture. Among other topics, economy, architecture, arts and crafts, trade and exchange, religion and burial customs will be explored.

RELIG 377. Social Dimensions of Religion.

(Cross-listed with SOC). (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: Prior course work in Religious Studies recommended.
The influence of religion in society, both as a conservator of values and as a force for social change. Nonmajor graduate credit.

RELIG 380. Catholic Social Thought.

(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Examines biblical roots of and major developments in Catholic social thought. Contemporary issues such as human rights, economic justice, the environment, and war and peace will be treated using principles of Catholic ethics, social analysis, official church documents, and contributions of notable theologians and activists. Nonmajor graduate credit.

RELIG 384. Religion and Ecology.

(Cross-listed with ENV S). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Introduction to concepts of religion and ecology as they appear in different religious traditions, from both a historical and contemporary perspective. Special attention to religious response to contemporary environmental issues. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

RELIG 385. Theory and Method in Religious Studies.

(3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: 6 credits in Religious Studies or permission of instructor
Examines the variety of theories and methods employed in the study of religion. Application of these methods to various religions of the world. Nonmajor graduate credit.

RELIG 475. Seminar: Issues in the Study of Religion.

(3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 times. Prereq: 6 credits in religious studies
Topic changes each time offered. Closed to freshmen. Sophomores must have approval of instructor. Nonmajor graduate credit.

RELIG 490. Independent Study.

Cr. 1-3. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits. Prereq: 6 credits in religious studies and permission of instructor, approval of chairman.
Guided reading and research on special topics selected to meet the needs of advanced students. No more than 9 credits of Relig 490 may be counted toward graduation.

RELIG 490H. Honors.

Cr. 1-3. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits. Prereq: 6 credits in religious studies and permission of instructor, approval of chairman.
Guided reading and research on special topics selected to meet the needs of advanced students. No more than 9 credits of Relig 490 may be counted toward graduation.

RELIG 491. Senior Thesis.

Cr. 3.
Written under the supervision of a Religious Studies faculty advisor.

RELIG 494. Special Studies in Religious Research Languages.

Cr. 2-3. Repeatable. Prereq: 6 credits in Religious Studies and permission of instructor

RELIG 499. Peace and Justice Internship.

Cr. arr. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits. Prereq: 3 credits in religious studies, permission of faculty internship coordinator
Supervised placement with a peace and justice agency; structured reflection on the relation of religion and practical social issues. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.

RELIG 540. Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion.

(Dual-listed with 340). (Cross-listed with ANTHR). (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 6 credits in anthropology, ANTHR 201 or ANTHR 306 recommended
Survey of global religious belief and practice from an anthropological perspective. Emphasis on myth and ritual, shamanism, magic, witchcraft, beliefs in spirits, conceptions of the soul, mind and body relationships, and healing and therapeutic practices. Discussion of religious response to dramatic political and social change; effects of globalization on religious practice.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

RELIG 590. Special Topics in Religious Studies.

Cr. 1-3. Repeatable. Prereq: Permission of instructor, 9 credits in religious studies