101. INTRODUCTION TO HEBREW BIBLE (3)
Students will examine the texts of Hebrew Scripture as reflections made by the Israelite community about its relationship with God, its character as a chosen people, and its responsibilities in a pluralistic society. This class will use historical and literary methods to interpret the significance of written texts. Offered every Fall semester.

102. INTRODUCTION TO EARLY CHRISTIAN LITERATURE (3)
Students will study early Christian literature to trace the development of the early Church and its doctrines. Although primary attention will be given to the texts of the New Testament, non-canonical texts will also be examined. This course will use historical and literary methods to interpret written texts. Offered every Spring semester.

111. RELIGION AND CULTURE (3)
Students will explore the individual and communal expressions of religion: the experience of the holy, myth, ritual, scripture, belief, morality, art and literature. Religious cultures throughout the world will highlight this introductory level investigation, with special attention given to recent developments such as civic religion and alternative religious movements. Offered yearly.

200 A-H.  CHURCH CAREERS (1)
Designed for Church Careers participants only.  Integrates field placement experience with theological reflection and training in practical applications for ministry.  Offered each semester on a Pass/D/Fail basis only.  May not be counted toward requirements for Religious Studies majors. Individual topic may not be repeated for credit.

203. HISTORY AND DOCTRINES OF METHODISM (3)
A study of the movement that affected the social and religious life of 18th-century England and which influenced the cultural, religious, and political development of America. Primary sources are the works of John Wesley with secondary sources as recent interpretive biographies and histories of Methodism. Offered on demand.

204. INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS (3)
This course is a critical, introductory survey to the world's major living religious traditions.  Traditions examined include Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Baha'i, and a selection of new and alternative religious movements.  Students will investigate the belief structure, ritual system, sacred literature, social dimension, and historical development of each tradition. (Same as PHIL 204)

205. INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM (3)
A study of Judaism as one of the major religious traditions of the West. The historical as well as the contemporary perspectives on Jewish literature, religious symbols, and lifestyles will be explored.

230. INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIANITY (3)
The historical development of Christian religious thought and practice from Jesus to the present. Emphasis is on the formation of Christianity's major teachings and their transformation and diverse expressions in the medieval, reformation and modern periods. Alternate years.

260.  INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHISM (3)
A general survey of the basic doctrine, practice and historical development of Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism in India, China and Japan. Alternate years. 

265.  INTRODUCTION TO HINDUISM (3)
An introductory survey of the Hindu tradition.  This course follows the historical development of the tradition from pre-classical forms of Indian religion dating back some 4,000 years to modern revivals and reinventions of Hinduism in post-colonial India and cultures around the globe, especially North America.

270.  INTRODUCTION TO EAST ASIAN RELIGIONS (3)
A general survey of the traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese religions: Shamanism, Shinto, Folk, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Alternate years.

280. INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM (3)
Theological and cultural study of Islamic history and religious expression. Topics include the life of Muhammad, teachings of the Qur’an, developments of Islamic sectarianism, religious law, ethics, ritual practices and the presence of Islam in the contemporary world. Alternate years.

290.  INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES (3)
This course is designed to facilitate the treatment of topics across disciplinary boundaries. Topics will vary from year to year. Course, but not individual topics, may be repeated for credit.

303.  PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION (3)
A study of philosophical issues raised by the contemporary dialogue among the living world religions. Topics include concepts of God, revelation, religious truth, problem of evil and theories of salvation. Alternate years. (Same as PHIL 303)

305W. PROPHETS AND PROPHECY (3)
A cross-cultural examination of the phenomenon of prophecy and the roles that prophets play in their societies. Primary attention will be given to the types of prophetic methods and messages of biblical and extra biblical prophets, as a basis for comparison with other ancient and modern examples of prophecy. Alternate years.

308. SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION (3)
Prerequisite: SOC 101. An investigation of the contribution of religious symbolism to social organization, socialization, stratification, and change. The course examines the application of social theory, especially organization studies, to understanding religion as a social institution, particularly in the United States. Alternate years. (Same as SOC 308)

310. APOCALYPSE THEN -- AND NOW (3)
An examination of biblical and extra biblical apocalyptic texts with attention given to the diversity of apocalyptic thinking and predictions. With this background students will study more contemporary examples of apocalyptic writing, with an eye to discerning the social, psychological and theological continuities and differences between apocalypses then and now. Alternate years.

320.  ANCIENT GREEK RELIGION (3)
This course is an introduction to the world of thought and practice that contemporary scholars call ancient Greek religion. The main materials of the course are drawn from the ancient Greeks themselves -- from poets, artists, playwrights, and mythographers. Emphasis will be placed on the myths and festivals that formed the fabric of ancient Greek religious practice and outlook. Ancient perspectives on cosmos (universe), polis (city and its society), psyche (self), and theos (gods) will be explored. Alternate years.

332. GENDER AND FAMILY IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY (3)
A study of the Greco-Roman family life; early Christian moral teachings in the context of Jewish and Greco-Roman popular morality; the early Christian family with a focus on slaves and children, marriage and divorce; gender constructions of masculinity and homosexual behavior; and the position of women in the early church. Alternate years.

365.  RELIGION AND POLITICS (3)
Religion, churches, and the American political system.  The separation of church and state and the development of religious freedom in America.  Special emphasis given to the influence of religion on political tolerance, public policy, and social change.  Alternate years. (Same as PSC 365)

395S, W SELECTED TOPICS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES (3)
A detailed study of an area in religion not normally covered or dealt with only in a partial manner in regular courses.

411W. PORTRAITS OF JESUS (3)
Prerequisite: REL 102 or consent of instructor. Examination and analysis of the many different ways that Jesus has been portrayed in the Bible, other literature, music and film. Primary attention given to the significance of the different portrayals and the possible social and historical conditions that might have produced such different portraits. Alternate years.

415S. WOMEN AND RELIGION (3)
An examination of two interrelated issues, namely, the influences that religions have on women and the influences that women have on religions. Students will see expressions of these influences in women's art, women's writings, and women's actions in the world. Alternate years.

420.  RELIGION IN THE SOUTH (3)
This course explores the rich religious history of the South (commonly known as the "Bible Belt") as well as an awareness of the intellectual, moral, political, social and economic forces that mold the region and give it a distinctive ethos. Topics of investigation include Southern evangelicalism, Southern Roman Catholicism and Judaism, religious pluralism, African American religious experience and denominational and sectarian movements of the last one hundred years. Alternate years.

422. PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY (3)
Prerequisites: REL 101 and 102. Students shall examine major topics such as the nature of God, Christology, sin, nature of the Church, biblical authority, salvation, creation and eschatology. Course culminates with completion of a 30-page Credo. Alternate years.

425. RELIGION AND VIOLENCE (3)
Prerequisites: REL 101, 111, 204 or permission of the instructor. Recent and not-so-recent world events highlight the relationship between religion and violence. Students will examine several specific instances of religious aggression, violence, and/or terrorism that have been perpetrated by individuals and groups that are rooted in Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist ideas and practices.

430 GLOBAL FUNDAMENTALISM (3)
This course investigates the phenomenon of fundamentalism in the context of United States culture and in other cultures around the world.  Using fundamentalism as a cross-cultural and cross-traditional analytical category, this course examines the history, beliefs, practices, and cultural strategies of antimodernist religious protest movements in Protestantism, Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam.

473. SENIOR SEMINAR IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES (3)
An evaluation of knowledge within field based on development of scholastic research paper and formal presentation. Yearly.

483. SEMINAR IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES (3)
An examination of major areas of scholarship in the field of religious studies. Up to six hours credit in separate topics. On demand.

491-496. INDEPENDENT STUDY IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES (1-6)
Open to Junior and Senior students with the consent of the instructor and Department Chair. Weekly conference with instructor. The major portion of the study is composed of library and research work. A written thesis is required. Offered each semester or upon request.

199. MODULE STUDIES (3)
Special topics offered during the Module.

Page last revised 5 May 2004