Fall 2007 Undergraduate Courses

RELS 1101. Introduction to Religious Studies (LV). This is a basic introductory course that covers the broad range of religious experience and the ways of studying the religious dimension of human existence. (WF 8-9:15 Tina Katsanos)

RELS 2101. Introduction to Western Religions (LV). An introduction to Judaism, Christianity, Islam and other selected religions. Emphasis on the myths, stories, symbols, rituals, ideas, and ethical practices of these religions in their classical formulations and in their contemporary practices. (MW 11-12:15 Sean McCloud      TR 2-3:15 Tammie Wanta)

RELS 2102. Introduction to Asian Religions (LX). An introduction to Hinduism, Buddhism, and other selected religions such as Confucianism, Daoism, and Islam. Emphasis on the myths, stories, symbols, rituals, ideas, and ethical practices of these religions in their classical formulations and in their contemporary practices.
(11-12:15 Dan White      12:30-1:45 Dan White)

RELS 2104. Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament (LV). The Hebrew religious tradition from the perspective of its development in the culture of the ancient Near East. (MW 9:30-10:45 Barbara Thiede         MW 2-3:15 Barbara Thiede)

RELS 2105. New Testament and Christian Origins (LV). A historical introduction to the texts of the New Testament and the world of early Christianity. Students will examine early Christian writings within the contexts of ancient Judaism and the Greco-Roman world.  Students will also become familiar with the tools and methods used in the fields of New Testament and Early Christian studies.(MW 9:30-10:45 Loy Witherspoon;  WF 9:30-10:45 Jeremy Schott)

RELS 2216.The Modern Middle East.  An introduction to the history of this important and dynamic region. The course focuses on the issues that have defined the Middle East in the recent past and provides students with the historical context needed to understand the region, its peoples, and its conflicts in greater depth. Cross listed with HIST. (TR 12:30-1:45 Kathryn Johnson)

RELS 2600. Approaches to the Study of Religion (W). Required of all majors as early in their program as possible. Examines basic concepts, theories, and approaches that are involved in the critical, academic study of religion. Attention given to basic research materials and to standard writing practices in the discipline. Majors only. (Wednesday 3:30-6:15 Judith Fagan)

RELS 3050. Theories in Religion. This course will explore a selection of key theorists for the study of religion. The focus will be on learning how to think with particular theorists in order to shed light on religious phenomena.
(MW 2-3:15 Ann Burlein)

RELS 3131. Islam. The development of the traditions in Islam with emphasis on Islamic culture, literature, and mysticism. [Western tradition] (TR 11-12:15 Kathryn Johnson)

RELS 3137. Contemporary African American Religions. African‑American religion since World War II. Emphasis on the influence of religion and religious leaders in the struggle for a Black humanity. Cross listed with AFRS (Religion and modern culture course) (TR 12:30-1:45 Julia Robinson-Harmon)

RELS 3157. Buddhism. The historical development of Buddhism with special attention given to its diverse manifestations in South Asia. (TR 9:30-10:45 Dan White)

RELS 4000.001. Readings in the Anthropology of Religion. Seminar exploring both historically significant and recent ethnographies of religion.  Examples include Islam, Religion and the Senses in the Muslim World, Shamanism, Comparative Ethnography of Religion.  May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Cross listed with ANTH 4622. (TR 12:30-1:45 Gregory Starrett)

RELS 4000.R01. Religion African Diaspora. This course is designed to introduce students to the cultural formations and religious traditions within the African Diaspora.  "Religions of the African Diaspora" is comparative in nature, and will address basic paradigms within the historiography of African Diasporic studies.  Students will analyze the subsequent development and transformation of African based religions, such as Candomble, Santeria, Voodoo/Vodun, Shango, Palo Mayombe, Umbanda, as well as Islam and Christianity. (TR 3:30-4:45 Julia Robinson-Harmon)

RELS 4000.090. Religion and the Body in Late Antiquity. This course considers ancient discourses on the body, sexuality, and the construction of gender in a number of religious/intellectual traditions in late antiquity, including: Christians, Jews, Manichaeans, Platonists, Stoics, and so forth.  The course will also consider the import of these ancient discourses and our analyses of them for contemporary thinking about the body, gender, and sexuality. (Thursday 6:30-9:15 Jeremy Schott)

RELS 4010.090. Major Figures: Spinoza. Benedict Spinoza (1632-1677) is recognized as the founder of modern biblical criticism, and thus one might even say that he is the founder of the academic study of religion, and hence of our own Department of Religious Studies.  He has been hailed as “the first modern.”  In this course we will read and critically assess his two major works, The Theological-Political Treatise and The Ethics, as well as his minor works and letters.  Thus we will examine and attempt to understand the intellectual and spiritual meaning and origins of “modernity” and the meaning and role of religion in the modern world. (Tuesday 6:30-9:15 Richard Cohen)

RELS 4050. Religious Change: Narrative Studies and Social Theories. This course combines a selection of first-person accounts and academic theories to explore the subject of religious change. What does it mean to “convert” to a religion?  What are a few of the myriad ways one might understand personal religious narratives?  How have social theorists tried to account for both religious change and stasis? In the first half of the class we examine first-person accounts of religious change, scholarship analyzing personal narratives, and conversion theories.  The second section of the course examines religious change and stasis from cultural/social perspectives.  The goal of this course is more than broadening your knowledge about the subject, it is to develop your critical thinking, speaking, reading, and writing skills.  The class format entails seminar-style discussions, frequent writing assignments, and a thesis-driven final paper. (Tuesday 3:30-6:15 Sean McCloud)

RELS 4600. Senior Seminar. (WO) Required of majors in final year of studies. Majors only. (Wednesday 3:30-6:15 Joanne Robinson)

FORL 1201.003. Introduction to Biblical Hebrew I.  This course is the first half of an introduction to biblical Hebrew which encompasses two consecutive semesters of study. We will master the ‘aleph-bet,’ build vocabulary, and learn the rudiments of classical Hebrew grammar. During the final weeks of the fall semester, we will begin reading some simple narrative and verse selections drawn from the Bible itself. (TR 3:30-4:45 Tammie Wanta)