2007-2008 UNIVERSITY CATALOGUE

RELS - Religious Studies

100 Introduction to the Religions of the World
3 crs (3-0). F, Sp.
GE-IVB; CD1; FC
Basic teachings of the world’s major religions including tribal traditions, Western religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), Indian religions (Hinduism and Buddhism), and Far Eastern religions (Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto).

110 Basic Issues in Religion
3 crs (3-0). F, Sp.
GE-IVB; FC
A study of the meaning of religion, the nature of religious thought, and an examination of such issues as God, salvation, evil, and selected topics in the relation between religion and the secular world.

210 Religion and Morality
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB; CD1; FC
Relations between religious meanings and moral values among majority and minority religions of Eastern and Western cultures.

230 Old Testament/Hebrew Bible
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB
Scriptural heritage from ancient Israel which has profoundly influenced Western civilization; the resources of recent Biblical studies are utilized.

240 New Testament
3 crs.
GE-IVB
P: One course in religious studies
A unified study of the New Testament from historical, theological, and literary perspectives. Contributions of recent Biblical scholarship included.

290 Sacred Earth: Religion and Nature
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB; CD1; FC
Sacred Earth explores the historical, cultural, religious, and spiritual concerns of humanity’s relationship with “Nature” and environments, converging varieties or cultural expressions of the “sacred earth” in religious traditions, contemporary society, environmentalism, and science.

291 Special Topics
1-3 crs (3-0).
Not for GE
Topics, issues, literature, or movements not typically covered in regular religious study courses and of special interest to students and faculty.

303 Early Christianity
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB
P: One course in religious studies or philosophy
Principal ideas, movements, and persons in the development of Christianity from the New Testament Church to the Reformation.

304 Modern Christianity
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB
P: One course in religious studies or philosophy
Principal ideas, movements, and persons in the development of Christianity from the Reformation to the twenty-first century.

307 /507 Judaism
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB
Judaism from its earliest times to the twenty-first century, including its history, literature, and life- styles.

309 Islam
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB; FC
P: One course in religious studies
Introduction to the main elements of Islam, through study of its history, the role of Muhammad, the Koran, basic beliefs and observances, the dynamics of the movement, and its current world status and influence.

312 Buddhism: Past and Present
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB; FC
P: One course in religious studies or philosophy
Study of central teachings, practices, and institutions of major sects of Buddhism, both past and present. Emphasis on development of Buddhist thought in India and on Buddhism as practiced by several contemporary forms of Buddhism.

314 Hinduism
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB; FC
P: One course in religious studies or philosophy
A survey of aspects of Hinduism utilizing secondary and primary sources. The Upanishads, Yoga, Tantrism, village and temple Hinduism. Emphasis on philosophical developments and life-styles.

315 Psychology of Religion
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB
P: One course in religious studies or philosophy
An examination of the human experience, using languages of psychology and religion to understand what religion means.

323 Chinese and Japanese Religions
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB; FC
P: One course in religious studies or philosophy
No credit if taken after RELS 317, RELS 319, and/or RELS 320
Examines the formative religions of China and Japan, including Chinese and Japanese folk religions, the Religion of the I Ching (Yin/Yang), Confucianism, Taoism, Neo- Confucianism, and Shinto.

326 Asian Religious Philosophies
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB
Cross-listed with PHIL 326
P: Rels 312, 314, or 323; or
P: One course in philosophy or consent of instructor
Philosophical approaches to major religious traditions of India, China, and Japan. Included will be Hindu, Buddhist, Yin-Yang, Taoist, and Neo-Confucian thinkers. The course will conclude with a consideration of the Kyoto School’s attempted synthesis of Western and Eastern thought.

330 Indigenous Religions of the Americas
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB; FC; CD2
Cross-listed with AIS 330
P: One course in RELS, PHIL, AIS or consent of instructor
Credit may not be earned in both RELS 330 and AIS 330
This course will introduce indigenous religions in the cultural contexts of Latin America and North American Indian nations. It will study historical religious development from Pre-Columbian, through colonial experience, to present day cultural movements.

345 /545 Philosophy of Religion
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB
Cross-listed with PHIL 345
P: One course in philosophy or consent of instructor
P: or RELS 210, 315, 350, 470; or RELS/WMNS 353; or
RELS/PHIL 450
Critical study of the subject of religion, including the nature, grounds, and limits of religious claims.

348 Religious Themes in Literature
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB; CD3
An exploration of religious themes in the works of African American, Native American, Hispanic, and Southeast Asian American authors. Students will learn to understand the belief systems and world-views of diverse people through literature.

350 Modern Religious Thought
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB; FC
P: One course in religious studies or philosophy
Major thinkers and ideas that have influenced modern religious thought, both Eastern and Western, from the nineteenth century to the present time.

353 Emancipating Eve and Adam: The Women's Movement in Religion
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB
Cross-listed with WMNS 353
P: One course in religious studies or in women's studies
Credit may not be earned in both RELS 353 and WMNS 353
Study of the treatment of women throughout history in Jewish and Christian religions. In-depth discussions of both current women’s movement transforming those religions and proposed alternatives to those traditions.

355 Women and World Religions
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB; CD1; FC
Cross-listed with WMNS 355
P: One course in religious studies or in women's studies,
or a minor in family studies
Credit may not be earned in both RELS 355 and WMNS 355.
No credit if taken after ANTH 354/554 or RELS 354/554
Surveys women’s religious lives historically and cross- culturally, focusing on pre-patriarchal religions and non- Western traditions. Attention will be given to goddesses in world religions. The course will end with feminist issues in world religions.

378 The Holocaust, 1933-1945
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB
The destruction by the Nazis of Jewish life in Europe, with reference to its sociological and political dimensions.

390 Religion in America
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB; CD1
P: One course in religious studies
America’s many religious traditions from the colonial period to the present, emphasizing diversity of religious expressions, development and transformation on American soil, commonalities and conflicts, and challenges to a pluralistic United States.

395 Directed Studies
1-3 crs.
Not for GE
Minimum sophomore standing
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
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Study of a particular problem or special area in the field of comparative religion studies.

396 Research Apprenticeship in Religious Studies
1-3 crs.
Not for GE
P: One course in religious studies
Course may be taken for a maximum of 6 credits
Get form from department office
Qualified students, recruited and closely supervised by an instructor, engage in a research project with the faculty member.

397 Teaching Apprenticeship in Religious Studies
1-3 crs.
SL-Optional/Half; Not for GE
P: One course in religious studies
Course may be taken for a maximum of 6 credits
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Qualified students, selected and supervised by an instructor, assist teaching and learning in a course within the department while working closely with a faculty member.

399 Independent Study - Juniors
1-3 crs.
Not for GE
Minimum junior standing
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Get form from department office

450 Critiques of God
3 crs (3-0).
GE-IVB
Cross-listed with PHIL 450
Credit may not be earned in both RELS 450 and PHIL 450
Minimum sophomore standing
Criticisms and objections to the concept of a Supreme Being, leading either to atheism or to non-theistic religions. Movements, systems of thought, and major thinkers who for various reasons have rejected the idea of a God.

470 The Problem of Evil
3 crs (3-0).
Not for GE
P: Three courses in religious studies
P: Limited to religious studies majors and minors
Minimum second semester sophomore standing
Exploration of the problem of evil for Eastern and Western religious thought. Theological, philosophical, psychological, and popular cultural explanations will be examined.

490 Seminar in Religious Studies
3 crs (3-0).
Not for GE
P: Limited to religious studies majors and minors
Minimum sophomore standing
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
The content of the seminar is determined by the department in designating the instructor.

491 Special Topics
1-3 crs (3-0).
Not for GE
Minimum sophomore standing
May be repeated if topics differ with permission of adviser or department chair.
Content will be determined by initiative of students and department, such as topics in comparative religions, scriptural research, historical and systematic theology, sects, and movements.

498 Internship in Religious Studies
1-3 crs.
SL-Optional/Half; Not for GE
P: Limited to religious studies majors and minors
Course may be taken for a maximum of 3 credits
Get form from department office
Assignment in an area of religious studies emphasizing practical experience in the technical or professional aspects of the discipline. Interns will work closely with a professional in the field.

499 Independent Study - Seniors
1-3 crs.
Not for GE
Minimum senior standing
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Get form from department office

797 Independent Study
1-3 crs.