Undergraduate Catalog Course Descriptions
Updated May 11, 2004

Religious Studies (RELS)

RELS 1101. An Introduction to Religious Studies. (3) (W) An introduction to the study of the religious dimensions of human existence. (Fall, Spring, Summer) (Evenings)

RELS 1120.  The Bible and its Interpreters. (3) An introduction to the history of biblical interpretation from the pre-canonical era to the present. (Yearly)

RELS 2000. Topics in Religious Studies. (1-3) Credit hours vary with topics. Special topics in Religious Studies. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. (On demand)

RELS 2101. Introduction to Western Religions. (3) 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. (Fall, Spring) (Evenings)

RELS 2102. Introduction to Asian Religions. (3) 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. (Fall, Spring, Summer) (Evenings)

RELS 2104. Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament. (3) The Hebrew religious tradition from the perspective of its development in the culture of the ancient Near East. (Yearly)

RELS 2105. New Testament and Christian Origins. (3)  Emergence of Christianity in its cultural context. Analysis of selected early Christian writings in English translation. (Fall, Spring)

RELS 2108. Religion in American Culture. (3)  The role of religion in the shaping of American culture. (Fall, Spring)

RELS 2110. Judaism. (3) The development of Jewish religious thought from antiquity to the present. (Yearly)

RELS 2120.  Christianity. (3) The world-wide development of the thought and practices of diverse Christian traditions from antiquity to the present.   (Yearly)

RELS  2131. Islam. (3) The development of the traditions in Islam with emphasis on Islamic culture, literature, and mysticism. (Yearly)

RELS 2154. Hinduism. (3) The ancient Vedic traditions and the development of Hinduism. Emphasis is on the role of Hinduism in Indian civilization. (Alternate years)

RELS 2157. Buddhism. (3) The historical development of Buddhism with special attention given to its diverse manifestations in South Asia. (On demand)

RELS 2166. Taoism. (3) Philosophical Taoism as nature mysticism. Comparison with nature mystics in the West. (Alternate years)

RELS 2169. Zen Buddhism. (3) Prerequisite: RELS 2102 or consent of the instructor. Buddhist origins in India, development of the Ch'an (Zen) school in China and Japan, and emphasis on the formative influences of Zen on Japanese art and culture. (Alternate years)

RELS 2216. The Modern Middle East. (3) 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.  Same as HIST 2216. (Fall)

RELS 2600. Approaches to the Study of Religion. (3) (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. (Fall, Spring)

RELS 3000. Topics in Religious Studies. (3) Treatment of a special topic in religious studies. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. (On demand)

RELS 3050. Topics in Religion and Modern Culture. (3) Treatment of a special topic in religion and modern culture. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. (Yearly)

RELS 3101. Greek Myths and Religions. (3) The gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines in ancient Greek myths and religions; Greek myth and later Western religions; polytheism and monotheism; functions of myth; and contemporary interpretations of Greek myth. (Yearly)

RELS 3104. Prophecy and Prophetic Literature in Ancient Israel. (3) Prerequisite: RELS 2104 or consent of the instructor. An examination of the phenomenon of prophecy in the religion of ancient Israel, with particular attention devoted to the writings about and writings attributed to named prophets in the Hebrew Bible. (On demand)

RELS 3107. The Psalms and Wisdom Literature of Israel. (3) Prerequisite: RELS 2104 or consent of the instructor. The origin and content of the Psalms and the place of wisdom literature in the development of Hebrew thought. (On demand)

RELS 3111. Women in Judaism. (3) A survey of the roles and activities in Jewish women throughout Jewish history, as it is portrayed in a diverse sampling of Jewish religious literature and practice. (Same as WMST 3111) (Alternate years)

RELS 3113. Jesus. (3) Prerequisite: RELS 2105 or consent of the instructor. Jesus and the religion he taught from the point of view of the synoptic gospels. (Alternate years)

RELS 3116. Paul. (3) Prerequisite: RELS 2105 or consent of the instructor. The writings of St. Paul. The occasion, purpose and significance of each letter for the emerging Christian community. (Alternate years)

RELS 3122. Esoteric Traditions. (3) The study of one or more particular expressions of religious esotericism (e.g., Jewish Kabbalah; Hindu Tantra; etc.). May be repeated for credit when the subject matter changes. (On demand)

RELS 3129.  Christian Controversies. (3) An exploration of Christian responses to ethical, cultural, political, and theological conflicts.  The issues are selected to represent a range of time periods in the history of various Christian traditions.  (Alternate Years)

RELS 3135. Religion in Nineteenth‑Century America. (3) Examination of religious thought, practices, and movements in 19th‑century America. (On demand)

RELS 3137. Contemporary African‑American Religions. (3) African‑American religion since World War II. Emphasis on the influence of religion and religious leaders in the struggle for a Black humanity. (Alternate years)

RELS 3150. The Black Church/Civil Rights Movement. (3) Role of the black church in the struggle for human equality. Topics such as radical, moderate, and accommodationist leadership styles; historical development of the black church in the South; and its emergence as a foundation for modern civil rights movement. (Same as AAAS 3150). (Fall)

RELS 3163. The Religious Art and Architecture of India. (3)  The visual art of Hindus, Buddhists, Jainas, and Muslims in the architecture, paintings, and sculptures of India. (Yearly)

RELS 3209. Quest in Literature. (3) The spiritual dimension of contemporary and traditional literature. Focus may be on an artist, genre (novel, poetry, drama), or theme. (On demand)

RELS 3212. Films and Identity. (3) (W) Themes of religious identity, alienation, search, discovery, sexuality and death as reflected in recent American movies and foreign films. Film laboratory required. (On demand)

RELS 3242. Philosophy of Religion. (3) Philosophical implications of religious experience, including the definitions, development, and diverse forms of the problems of belief and reason in modern thought. (Same as PHIL 3242.) (On demand)

RELS 3400.  Applied Research/Field Work.  (3) Prerequisite: major or minor in Religious Studies, 9 earned hours in religious studies, and permission of the instructor.  Research and in-service training in business or community-based organizations.  Specific content based on contract between student, supervising professor and cooperating organization.  (Approximately 120 contact hours for the semester) (On demand)

RELS 3450.  Study Abroad for Religious Studies Majors. (3-6) Prerequisite: Consent of the Department. The examination of an approved topic in the context of study abroad. (On demand)

RELS 4000. Topics in Religious Studies. (3) Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. May be repeated for credit. (On demand)

RELS 4010.  Major Figure in Religious Studies. (3) (W) The life and works of a major figure who has contributed to religious studies.  May be repeated for credit for different figures.  (On demand)

RELS 4050. Topics in Religion and Modern Culture. (3) Treatment of a special topic in religion and modern culture. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. (Yearly)

RELS 4101. Religion and Modern Thought. (3) The interaction of modern thought and modern religious sensibilities. (Alternate years)

RELS 4107.  Early Judaism. (3) Prerequisite: RELS 2104 or 2105 or 3110 or consent of the instructor.  Comparative historical and literary study of the varieties of Judaism evidenced during late antiquity (circa 70-640 C.E.), with special attention devoted to the information and development of rabbinic Judaism. (On demand)

RELS 4108. Medieval Judaism. (3) Prerequisite: RELS 2104 or 3110 or consent of the instructor.  Comparative historical and literary study of the varieties of Judaism evidenced in Western Europe, the Byzantine Empire, and Islamicate realms from approximately 640 C.E. to approximately 1492 C.E. (On demand)

RELS 4109. Modern Judaism. (3) Prerequisites: RELS 3110 or 4107 or 4108 or permission of the instructor.  Historical and conceptual study of Judaism and Jewish experience in Europe, America, and Israel, from the 16^th century to the present, with special attention paid to the development of denominations, Zionism, and the Holocaust. (On demand)

RELS  4110.  Contemporary Jewish Thought. (3) An examination of philosophy, religion, morality, politics, sociality, culture, family, and self-identity, in the light of modern and recent Jewish thought. (Alternate years)

RELS 4121.  Medieval and Reformation Christianity. (3) An examination of Christian thought and practice from the early Middle Ages (c. 500 CE) through the reformations of the sixteenth century.  (Alternate Years)

RELS 4127.  Material Christianity. (3) An examination of the ways individuals and groups throughout the Christian tradition have invested material objects with sanctity and power.  Much of the course will be devoted to exploring theoretical models and theological warrants for practices related to objects.  (Alternate Years)

RELS 4201.  Religion, Morality, and Justice. (3) Explore the ethical and social dimensions of selected religious traditions in their cultural contexts.  (On demand)

RELS 4600. Senior Seminar. (3) (W) (O) Required of majors in final year of studies. (Fall, Spring)

RELS 4800. Independent Studies. (1‑3) Prerequisite: consent of the instructor. May be repeated for credit. (Fall, Spring)