Religious Studies Spring 2024 Course Offerings
Religious Studies Spring 2024 Course Offerings
100. Mystery and Meaning: An Introduction to the Study of Religion.
What is religion? Why are people religious? What power does religion have for individuals and societies? How does religion function as a way of knowing, acting, and being in the world? How did the study of religion arise in the modern West, and how scholars of religion go about studying it? What ways have they devised to grasp the rich varieties of religious experiences and expressions that they classify as religions? Throughout the course, students will study a wealth of material that may be regarded as religious, from societies past and present, literate and non-literate, and from around the globe. Finally, students will reflect on the place of the religious in contemporary society. Offered each semester.
103. Religion and Ecology.
How does religion shape human understanding of, and participation in, ecological systems? This course samples widely from a range of religious traditions to come to a better understanding of the diverse ways that people have developed for interacting with animals, plants, water and the land, and how those behaviors work in tandem with systems of knowledge and practice. The class has a substantial focus on environmental ethics, and thinks hard about how different religious systems might contribute to either or both environmental degradation and solutions to environmental problems. Traditions sampled may include Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Daoism, Judaism, Buddhism, Native American religions and Wicca/Neo-Paganism. Also offered as ASIA 105 and ENVS 103.
200. Explaining Religion
This course serves as a general introduction to the study of religion, with an emphasis on introducing its methodological and theoretical tools and their intellectual historical background. This entails exploring a selection of readings that have been and are influential in the study of religion, drawn from diverse academic disciplines. The course considers basic methodological approaches for understanding religion as a human construction, offers a general picture of the field of religious studies as a whole, and provides basic research skills that will develop students' abilities to do independent research. Offered every fall. Fulfills HU Distribution (2013 curriculum).
212. Icons of Islamic Architecture
This course critically examines the past and contemporary reception of an icon of Islamic architecture, the Taj Mahal, in art, politics and society. The Taj has become an object of fantasy for European travelers, a model for British colonial architecture, and a source of inspiration for visual artists, art collectors, the advertisement industry, film makers and musicians all over the world. Its site is contested by religious and political groups, archeologists and conservationists. Students study its synthesis of styles and techniques, discuss the political role of monuments in general, and consider gender roles in Islam, the place of Islam in contemporary India, effects of tourism and pollution, and issues of cultural heritage and identity. No pre-requisite. Offered every Spring. Also offered through AAH and ASIA Studies. Fulfills ARTS Distribution. Fulfills DIV13 Distribution. NO PASS/FAIL OPTION AVAILABLE.
218. Fantasy Religion
Fulfills ARTS Distribution (2013 curriculum). Animated films or anime in Japan are a fascinating part of pop culture that attracts a huge audience of fans. As part of a global leisure industry, anime can offer an imaginary space not only to entertain, but to explore key questions about spirituality, religion, and the sacred. By viewing films like Anno Hideaki's Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shiro Masume's Ghost in the Shell, and Miyazaki Hayao's My Neighbor Totoro, this class will explore topics as the nature of the gods (kami), Shinto as nature religion, Christianity Japanese style, apocalyptic (end of the world) themes in anime, evil and the demonic, and so on.
221. Religions of South Asia
This course traces the historical development of occultism from an amalgamation of theories and practices, often stigmatized and relegated to the margins of European and American thought, into the popular global phenomenon it is today. We begin by analyzing some sources for occultism in the so-called “occult sciences” and “occult philosophy” of medieval and early modern Europe, including alchemy, astrology, and natural magic, and the links of these with Islamic and Indian exact sciences and philosophies. We then observe the modern development of occultism in social movements as diverse as mesmerism, spiritualism, paganism, ceremonial magic, and modern yoga, with special reference to the manifestation of these in orders, organizations, and philosophies like the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the Theosophical Society, and Thelema. Fulfills HU Distribution (2013 curriculum).
224. Islamic Religious Traditions
An introductory examination of that religious tradition which, originating in seventh-century Arabia under the inspiration of the Prophet Muhammad, has come to include one-fourth of humankind, and predominates throughout the Middle East, North and East Africa, Pakistan, portions of India and Indonesia. The course considers the career of the Prophet and the growth of the central institutions of Islamic civilization and endeavors to identify the varied aspirations and concerns of Muslims in the contemporary world. Also offered through Asian Studies. Fulfills HU Distribution (2013 curriculum).
3024. Women Religion & Food
Devil's food cake; sinless sugar cookies; pure and natural foods. We use religious language to talk about food, food choices, and the emotions of eating. This class explores why that is and the consequences of it for one's sense of self. We will talk about the resemblance between weight loss memoirs and Christian conversion narratives and how other religious ideas are central to the ways we think about food. Because women's appearance and bodily control still receive more emphasis than men's, the focus of the course is women's writings and experiences of weight stigma. Counts as Public Health elective
3044. SophoSEM: Domestic Violent Ex
SOPHOMORES ONLY SophSEM - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) define a Domestic Violent Extremist as "an individual based and operating primarily within the United States or its territories without direction or inspiration from a foreign terrorist group or other foreign power who seeks to further political or social goals wholly or in part through unlawful acts of force or violence." According to DHS, "Domestic violent extremism [DVE] poses one of the most significant terrorism-related threats to the United States." To that end, in 2021, in recognition of the enormity of the threat, DHS Secretary Mayorkas "designated for the first time domestic violent extremism as a 'National Priority Area' in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant programs," while also increasing training for "law enforcement partners through domestic violent extremism threat assessment and management programs." In this seminar, we explore this topic in a historical analysis of specific examples of DVE identified by American agencies as leading domestic extremism threats, the ways in which law enforcement and advocacy groups try to counter extremism through "off-ramping" individuals who are likely to commit acts of extremist violence, subvert the spread of extremism, and protect targeted populations and institutions. Moreover, we will think deeply about the word "extremism" and explore how it has been used in various political contexts.
4010. Occultism
This course traces the historical development of occultism from an amalgamation of theories and practices, often stigmatized and relegated to the margins of European and American thought, into the popular global phenomenon it is today. We begin by analyzing some sources for occultism in the so-called “occult sciences” and “occult philosophy” of medieval and early modern Europe, including alchemy, astrology, and natural magic, and the links of these with Islamic and Indian exact sciences and philosophies. We then observe the modern development of occultism in social movements as diverse as mesmerism, spiritualism, paganism, ceremonial magic, and modern yoga, with special reference to the manifestation of these in orders, organizations, and philosophies like the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the Theosophical Society, and Thelema. Fulfills HU Distribution (2013 curriculum).
450. Directed Studies in Religion
An individual study program for candidates for honors in religious studies or others showing special interest and aptitude in the study of religion, as approved by the department chair and the instructor under whom the work will be completed. A term paper is required as the product of the special study. (A 2.5 average is required.) Also offered through Asian Studies.
490. SYE: Independent Study
An individual study program for candidates for majors in religious studies that fulfills the requirements for their SYE and may be taken in place of Religious Studies 360 with approval of the department chair. (A 2.5 average is required.) An extended term paper is required as the product of the special study.
499. SYE: Honors
This is a departmentally approved honors project requiring an extended term paper that is the product of the special study. A cumulative GPA of 3.5 in the department is required to do an honors project.