Courses

Introduction to basic elements entailed in the study of religion such as sacred space, sacred time, ritual, pilgrimage, cosmology, ritual, scripture, and the afterlife. Course explores case studies from various cultural traditions throughout the world.

Investigation of the relevance of the Bible for life in the twenty-first century. Some issues studied from a biblical perspective include sex roles and sexual relations, economic inequities, and legal injustices. Among topics to be covered are marriage and divorce, homosexuality, women's rights, poverty, war, and peace. Open to first year and sophomores only. No prerequisites.

Intensive study of a religious topic, problem, writer, or theme in the field of the history of religions. Offered at the discretion of the department.

Critical survey of various religious groups and phenomena in the United States. This course will examine the traditional religions whose adherents played significant roles in founding the United States, while also paying attention to the religious traditions of the historically enslaved, colonized, and otherwise oppressed. Special attention will be paid to alternative religious movements and to those religious groups whose members seek greater visibility, freedom, or influence upon the religious character of the United States today.

Examines the role of the body in religion cross-culturally. Examines the role of religious practices and discourses in creating, regulating, and conceptualizing the human body across religious cultures and societies. Explores how bodies serve as both agents and objects of religious practice, and the body as a site through which everyday life and politics are negotiated. Looks at dietary laws and practices, sartorial practices, healing traditions, body modifications, fasting and asceticism, death rituals, marriage and reproduction, depictions of the body in art and myth, and rites of passage. Explores gender and sexuality as part of the complexity that is the body and embodiment in varying cultural contexts. Draws on case studies for Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Indigenous traditions, and alternative religions.

Intensive study of a religious topic, problem, writer, or theme in the field of religious thought. Offered at the discretion of the department.

Intensive study of a religious nonwestern topic, problem, writer, or theme in the field of religious thought.

Introduction to writings of the New Testament as they originated in their Greco-Roman milieu. Emphasis is on the distinctive purposes and main content of each writing. Use of source, form, and redaction criticism as tools for the academic study of the New Testament is demonstrated.

Study of leading thinkers in the philosophical tradition from the fifth to the fifteenth century. Special emphasis is on such figures as Al Ghazali, Augustine, Ibn Arabi, Shankara, Anselm, Thomas Aquinas, Ibn Sina, and Pico della Mirandola, and Ramanuja. PHIL 206 and REL 206 are cross-listed.

Intensive study of a religious topic, problem, writer, or theme.

The story of the life of the Buddha became a pattern for later Buddhist practitioners to emulate in their own lives. Hence, life stories are a particularly important type of literature in the Buddhist tradition. This course explores spiritual autobiographies and biographies written by and about men and women of the Buddhist tradition. Readings include materials from many different geographic regions of the world and survey sources from the earliest periods of Buddhist history to modern times. Writings are selected from Buddhist practitioners from all walks of life: monks and nuns, mountain hermits and hermitesses, social activists, pilgrims, and court ladies. No prior knowledge of the Buddhist tradition is necessary.

Critical examination of the relationship between religion and colonialism. The use of religion by some peoples as a colonizing tool is considered alongside the use of religion by other peoples as a tool that facilitates freedom from colonialism. Case studies of colonialism and indigenous resistance against colonialism are drawn from the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Theoretical constructions of religion, colonialism, and postcolonialism are considered, as well.

Careful examination and analysis of efforts – whether ultimately Protestant or Roman Catholic -- to reform the Christian Church in the 16th and early 17th centuries.

Examination of the religious traditions of black Americans from 'slave religion' to the present. Course focuses on the religious beliefs of African Americans and the ways those beliefs have been used to develop strategies to achieve freedom and justice. Subjects covered include the influence of African religion, African American religious nationalism, Pentecostalism, spirituals and gospel music, and the Civil Rights movement. Offered in alternate years.

In this course on the phenomenon of religious organization and faith in the civil rights movement, students will analytically consider resources from within black American life (faith, preaching, musical production), resources from America writ large (popular culture, socio-economic growth, and intellectual development) as well as other various forms of support from the religious institutions of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, black nationalism, agnosticism, and atheism. Students will further analyze issues of religion and American regionalism (both U.S. South and North); of religion and social formation (such as urban, rural, small-town migrations) of religion and racial/cultural identity (concepts of assimilation and middle-class expansion) as well as the religion and the realities of socio-economic poverty and urban rioting. Finally, implications for and considerations of gender and sexuality, human rights, and property concerns as well as the role of media, global awareness and nonprofit organizational growth (including fundraising efforts) are also discussed.

An introduction to the religious traditions of the Native American peoples. This course considers various Native American "ways of life" as fundamentally religious. Ethnographic case studies and contemporary issues are focused upon to reveal the religious importance of land, language, and community to otherwise diverse Native American peoples. Special attention is paid to the ongoing struggle these same peoples face for religious freedom in a country where religion is often thought of as a matter of individual belief rather than communal practice.

Critical examination of relationship between society and religion. Course relies upon theories offered by key thinkers in the study of religion to reveal religious phenomena in the contemporary world as inherently social and as having tremendous impact upon all social structures. Critical reading and writing is emphasized. REL 227 and PP 227 are cross-listed.

An exploration of how religious, spiritual, philosophical and social forces shaped the lives of Martin Luther King Jr., Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Malcolm X. Consideration will be given to how their commitments of justice and their theological understandings impacted movements for change. Sermons, speeches, film and interviews will be among the resources used.

Survey of the Hindu religious tradition from its origins in the Vedic period to the present. Gives attention to Hindu social formations and cultural expressions through an examination of core texts and practices. Focuses on central themes of sacrifice, liberation, devotion, and action, and examines ritual practices, gods and goddesses, temples, pilgrimage, and contemporary guru movements.

Introduction to the beliefs and practices of the Buddhist tradition, from their origins in ancient India to their modern interpretations in the writings of the Beat generation in twentieth-century America. Course surveys the development of Buddhism in China, Tibet, and Japan, with attention given to both primary texts and historical studies.

An introduction to religious traditions of India, Tibet and Nepal and the cultures and societies of these religions, particularly Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. Explores changes in these religions brought on by globalization and modernity, and examines primary texts, histories, practices, beliefs, and founding figures. Approaches the worldviews and claims of these religions in various reflective, critical ways.

General introduction to major religious traditions of China through textual, historical, and social studies of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Attention is also given to an assessment of their contemporary viability.

Special emphasis on understanding the religious thinking of the Japanese, ancient and modern, through textual, historical, and cultural study of religious traditions: Shinto and folk beliefs, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.

Introduction to the major texts of classical Chinese thought. Survey, in English translation, of the most important thinkers of the Confucian, Taoist, Legalist, and Mohist schools of the fifth to the third centuries B.C.E. These writings have shaped the thinking of over a fourth of the world's population, and we will consider their impact in modern Asia in such areas as education, human rights, and gender issues.

Introduction to the philosophical and religious aspects of traditional Chinese healing practices. Course surveys such topics as the composition of the human body and its relationship with the larger cosmos, the diagnosis of ailments caused by material and spiritual pathogens, the medical and ritual treatment of conditions, and preventative practices such as meditation and exercise. Emphasis is on pre-modern traditions, but some attention is given to their modern applications.

This course explores the beliefs, ritual practices, and material culture of Shinto and Buddhism in Japan as well as those of Shugendo, “new religions", myth, folklore, Yokai, and urban legends. It examines how the Shinto- and Buddhism-derived beliefs, practices, and stories are shown in visual media (anime, films, manga, video games). Students learn to critically interpret how these media representations are perceived by the targeted audience in Japan and across the world. AS 253 and REL 253 are cross-listed.

Survey of the religious and philosophical traditions of Confucianism in East Asia from ancient to modern times. Course explores such notions as ritual, education, human nature, self-cultivation, and quiet sitting. Attention is also given to women's learning and women's education in ancient and later imperial times.

What does religious studies study? Can a religion best be understood from within, or are outsiders better positioned to understand the human phenomenon of religion? In this course students will study the most influential theories of religion and learn the different historical, philosophical, sociological, phenomenological, anthropological, and textual methods that shape the academic discipline of Religious Studies. Beginning with 20th century thinkers this course examines classic and contemporary theories about religion and ways of studying it, including influences such as postcolonial studies and feminist studies, and including critiques of the very idea of “religion” as a universal concept.

Course explores major Buddhist scriptures in English translation. Readings include texts from the time of the Buddha (500 BCE) to approximately 1000CE and include selections from South and North Asian traditions. Emphasis is on the scriptures' religious and philosophical content, but consideration is also given to the ritual use of texts. Prerequisite: prior course in Buddhism or permission of the instructor.

This course asks the question “what are the relationships between religion and the environment?” To answer this the course will examine a few key themes: ways in which the environment have been fundamental in shaping religions, ways in which religious thought and traditions have shaped modern conceptions of the environment, and new ways in which religions have approached the environment concerning climate change. Special attention will be paid to Native American relationships with the environment.

This course surveys the historical development of Christian thought and practice from ancient times to the present day. Based on original sources, this course will delve into the distinctive creedal, worship, and prayer traditions - the vision and beliefs-- of the Christian faith. The differences between the Eastern Orthodox and the Western (Roman) Catholic Churches will be explored as well as the relationship of Catholicism to Protestantism. A field trip to visit various Christian sites (the National Cathedral, the Shrine of Immaculate Conception, and St. Sophia Orthodox Church) in Washington, DC, is planned.

A course on the development, thought, and practice of Christianity in the Middle Ages. The class explores different aspects of medieval religion, with a particular emphasis on the development of Christian thought in the Middle Ages and popular religious beliefs and practice. Topics include the conversion of the Barbarian kingdoms, the Carolingian Renaissance, saints and sanctity, monasticism, heresy, superstition, pilgrimage, the origins of the Renaissance and Reformation, and the connections between medieval Christianity and modern media.

A critical exploration of queer theology in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. This class will explore the ways that queer theory and theology have questioned and shaped religious traditions in the modern period. Topics will include the ways LGBTQ individuals have addressed and interpreted religious traditions and the ways queer readings of traditions have influenced new directions in theology.

Survey of the origins and development of Islamic beliefs and practices from inception to the present. Course examines the growth and development of the cultural, political, legal, theological, and mystical aspects of Islam from the early to the modern periods. Course readings emphasize primary source material.

Survey of the mystical tradition in Islam known as Sufism, from its origins in medieval Iraq to its role in contemporary Islamic societies. Course focuses on how the Sufi pursuit of unity with, or annihilation in, God relates to the core monotheistic beliefs of Islam. Sufi theories and practices are studies through primary source materials and special attention will be paid to issues of orthodoxy, heresy, and anti-social behavior in the history of Sufism.

Course focuses on key issues within the diverse world of global Islam such as gender, justice, colonialism, orientalism, Islamic law, violence, reform and piety movements, and human rights. Topics are examined through the study of autobiographies, religious texts, films, literature, historical writings, and art and architecture.

Exploration of the religious, symbolic, and magical dimensions of cross-cultural concepts of the human body. Course surveys religious attitudes toward such topics as resurrection, reincarnation, healing, and fasting. Not offered every year

Introduction to writings of the New Testament as they originated in their Greco-Roman milieu. Emphasis is on the distinctive purposes and main content of each writing. Use of source, form, and redaction criticism as tools for the academic study of the New Testament is demonstrated.

The story of the life of the Buddha became a pattern for later Buddhist practitioners to emulate in their own lives. Hence, life stories are a particularly important type of literature in the Buddhist tradition. This course explores spiritual autobiographies and biographies written by and about men and women of the Buddhist tradition. Readings include materials from many different geographic regions of the world and survey sources from the earliest periods of Buddhist history to modern times. Writings are selected from Buddhist practitioners from all walks of life: monks and nuns, mountain hermits and hermitesses, social activists, pilgrims, and court ladies. No prior knowledge of the Buddhist tradition is necessary.

Examination of the Jesus tradition, as interpreted in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, using techniques of source, form, redaction, and literary criticism. Special attention is given to the distinctive perspective of each Gospel. Prerequisite: Religion 205. Not offered every year.

Exploration of the thought and content of the Fourth Gospel. Effort is made to determine the background purposes for writing, and the community addressed by John's Gospel. The question of its relationship to the Synoptic Gospels and the Epistles of John is included. Prerequisite: Religion 205. Not offered every year.

Study of the life, letters, and legacy of the early Christian, Paul, through a careful consideration of primary and selected secondary sources. Particular attention is given to understanding the Pauline literature in its historical context. Ancient and modern interpretations of Paul's life and work are also treated. Prerequisite: Religion 205. Not offered every year.

Critical examination of the relationship between religion and colonialism. The use of religion by some peoples as a colonizing tool is considered alongside the use of religion by other peoples as a tool that facilitates freedom from colonialism. Case studies of colonialism and indigenous resistance against colonialism are drawn from the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Theoretical constructions of religion, colonialism, and postcolonialism are considered, as well.

Critical examination of relationship between society and religion. Course relies upon theories offered by key thinkers in the study of religion to reveal religious phenomena in the contemporary world as inherently social and as having tremendous impact upon all social structures. Critical reading and writing is emphasized. REL 327 and PP 327 are cross-listed.

An exploration of how 20th century Jewish thinkers critically address many of the religious, spiritual, existential, social and ethical issues that face contemporary, Western society. Their insights are used to help us understand the world in which we live. Discussion is an important part of this course.

Introduction to the beliefs and practices of the Buddhist tradition, from their origins in ancient India to their modern interpretations in the writings of the Beat generation in twentieth-century America. Course surveys the development of Buddhism in China, Tibet, and Japan, with attention given to both primary texts and historical studies.

Introduction to the major texts of classical Chinese thought. Survey, in English translation, of the most important thinkers of the Confucian, Taoist, Legalist, and Mohist schools of the fifth to the third centuries B.C.E. These writings have shaped the thinking of over a fourth of the world's population, and we will consider their impact in modern Asia in such areas as education, human rights, and gender issues.

Introduction to the philosophical and religious aspects of traditional Chinese healing practices. Course surveys such topics as the composition of the human body and its relationship with the larger cosmos, the diagnosis of ailments caused by material and spiritual pathogens, the medical and ritual treatment of conditions, and preventative practices such as meditation and exercise. Emphasis is on pre-modern traditions, but some attention is given to their modern applications.

A seminar on the construction of sexuality and gender in early Christianity. Given the radical nature of early Christianity, this seminar will explore the way that early Christian traditions influenced and reshaped ideas of sexuality in the Late Antique Mediterranean. The seminar will address multiple varieties of early Christianity and their teachings on gender, sex, the body, and the family.

Survey of the religious and philosophical traditions of Confucianism in East Asia from ancient to modern times. Course explores such notions as ritual, education, human nature, self-cultivation, and quiet sitting. Attention is also given to women's learning and women's education in ancient and later imperial times.

Examines Islam in its diverse forms within South Asia-a region that is home to more Muslims than any other region of the world. The course explores various individual and collective expressions of Muslim belief and practice (Sunni, Shi`i, and Sufi) from our earliest records to the present day. Attention will be given to the historical development of Islam in the region, religio-political movements, popular ritual and devotion, and Islamic mysticism through the study of religious and historical texts, biographies, visual art, and novels. Prerequisite: REL 270 or HIST 208 or permission of the instructor.

What do the world’s religions say about violence and non-violence? This course examines how varying religions define, understand, participate in, promote, or condemn violence. When is violence justified, according to different religions, and when is it not? When and how is religion a force for peace? Do some religions actively promote violence? Do others actively promote non-violence? Do some do both? This seminar explores these and other questions by examining the theologies. histories, scriptures, practices, philosophies, and symbols from world religions regarding violence and peace. Students will also learn theories and explanatory models applied by scholars of religion to answer the questions above. Particular emphasis is given to thinkers and activists in the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and North America. REL 362 and PP 362 are cross-listed.

Course focuses on key issues within the diverse world of global Islam such as gender, justice, colonialism, orientalism, Islamic law, violence, reform and piety movements, and human rights. Topics are examined through the study of autobiographies, religious texts, films, literature, historical writings, and art and architecture.

Exploration of the religious, symbolic, and magical dimensions of cross-cultural concepts of the human body. Course surveys religious attitudes toward such topics as resurrection, reincarnation, healing, and fasting. Not offered every year.

Intensive culminating research experience for Religious Studies majors. Seminar is designed around particular topics or areas or debate, which provide unifying themes for students' research projects. Course guides students as they develop their understanding of the study of religion and of religious studies theories, methods, debates, and key issues of inquiry. Requirement for the major. Prerequisite: Declaration of the religious studies major or minor and completion of three 200-level courses. Should be take in the senior year. Beginning with class of 2020, Religious Studies 260 will be a prerequisite.

Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F

Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F

Senior Project must be approved by department.

Individualized research counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U

Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F

Summer Internship graded A-F, counting in the minimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office.

Summer Internship graded S/U, counting in the minimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office