REL - Religion

REL 200 What is Religion? Introduction to Religious Studies

An exploration of religion and religions in their various dimensions. Covers important myths and rituals and how they guide us in daily living. Special attention will be given to personal and communal religious change, reconciliation, alienation and spiritual/mystical practices and experiences

Credits

3.0

Core

Philosophical Inquiry

Offered

As Needed

REL 203 Old Testament

A critical study of the history, literature and religion of ancient Israel and the significance of the Hebrew Scriptures for Judaism and Christianity.

Credits

3.0

Core

Philosophical Inquiry

Offered

As Needed

REL 204 The New Testament

A critical study of the New Testament literature and its theological significance.

Credits

3.0

Core

Philosophical Inquiry

Offered

As Needed

PLRL 205 Classical Religion & Philosophy

This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of Greco-Roman religion and philosophy. Students are introduced to the ancient world first via its public and private religious practices and then via its philosophical perspectives on issues such as free will, ethical conflicts and the nature of the just person and the just state.

Credits

3.0

Core

Philosophical Inquiry

Offered

As Needed

REL 211 American Religious History

History of religion in America from the Puritans to the present day. Special attention will be given to certain themes (e.g., this nation as God’s New Israel) that are especially characteristic of the American religious experience.

Credits

3.0

Core

Philosophical Inquiry

Offered

As Needed

PLRL 219 Ethics & Leadershp

Ethics and leadership in key areas of society: e.g., education, religion, the military, corporations, and politics. The focus is on key principles of conduct and relevant virtues, such as courage, faith, humility, fortitude, and prudence. Theory and practice will be analyzed together, as examples will be drawn from important historical episodes.

Credits

3.0

Core

Philosophical Inquiry

Offered

As Needed

REL 233 Eastern Religions

This course surveys the history, doctrines, and practices of Eastern religious traditions. The traditions typically covered include Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism and Shinto. This course is recommended for students looking for a broad introduction to the study of religion and who wish to take 300-level courses covering Eastern religions.

Credits

3.0

Core

Philosophical Inquiry

Offered

As Needed

PLRL 301 Indian Thought

Prerequisite: Completion of the Philosophical Inquiry section of the Core. An introduction to the religious and philosophical traditions of India. Special emphasis will be given to the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, the classical philosophical systems and the mythologies of Hinduism and to the Buddhist traditions of South Asia.

Credits

3.0

Core

Global Perspectives

Offered

As Needed

REL 304 Islam

Prerequisites: Completion of the Philosophical Inquiry section of the Core An introduction to Islam covering formative figures, significant texts, major historical events, central teachings, and influential movements.

Credits

3.0

Core

Global Perspectives

Offered

As Needed

PLRL 306 Chinese Thought

Prerequisite: Completion of the Philosophical Inquiry section of the Core. An introduction to the religious and philosophical traditions of China from the Shang dynasty to the modern era. Special emphasis is given to the role of ancestor veneration, ritual, social and political ethics, the development of the Confucian and Daoist traditions, the global diaspora of Confucianism, and the encounter of Confucianism with modernity (including the modern West).

Credits

3.0

Core

Global Perspectives

Offered

As Needed

AFRL 311 Black Theology

Prerequisite: 3 credits of history, religion, political science, or African-American Studies at the 200 level, or permission of the instructor. This course introduces students to the core of black Christian theological thought: black liberation theology. We will explore the historical roots of black Christian theology and focus on some of its key tenets, like the physical depiction of Christ, the depiction of the Christian community/communities and the role of Christianity. We will identify the major points of convergence and divergence between black liberation theology and other liberation theologies such as womanist theology and Latin American liberation theology.

Credits

3.0

Core

Philosophical Inquiry

Offered

Either Semester (As Needed)

REL 312 Holidays and Festivals

Prerequisite: Completion of the Composition and Philosophical Inquiry areas of the core. Rather than accessing religious belief through written texts and official doctrines, this course accesses it through the vibrant sounds, movements, sights, and physical sensations of holidays and festivals. Diverse global examples will be considered.

Credits

3.0

Offered

As Needed

REL 314 Western Spirituality: Contemporary Issues

Prerequisites: 3 credits in religion or permission of the instructor. A variety of approaches to the holy in Western spiritualities. Texts from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Native American sources. In-depth study of Christian spirituality. Themes such as humans’ knowledge of God, the connection between faith and practice, the relation between spirituality and institutional religion.

Credits

3.0

Offered

As Needed

REL 323 C.S. Lewis & Friends

Prerequisites: Open to religion majors or with permission of the instructor. An analysis of the fiction and nonfiction of the twentieth-century British writer C. S. Lewis. This course will also examine selected writings by other members of the group known as the Oxford Christians: e.g., Charles Williams, Austin Farrer, and Dorothy L. Sayers.

Credits

3.0

Cross Listed Courses

Also offered as HON 323

Offered

As Needed

ARRL 330 Archaeology of Ancient Israel

Prerequisites: ART 220 or HIST 264 or permission of the instructor Examines archaeology in and around the modern country of Israel, from the Neolithic Age through the Iron Age (c. 12,000-586 B.C.), with focus on how scholars reconstruct social, economic, religious and political institutions. Evidence from archaeological sites and surveys, written documents from Israel.

Credits

3.0

Offered

Fall Semester (Odd Years)

REL 335 Teaching Assistantship

Prerequisite: Invitation of the department. (May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credits)

Credits

1.0 - 2.0

Offered

Either Semester

REL 342 From Abolitionism to Human Rights

Prerequisites: Completion of the Philosophical Inquiry and Historical Analysis areas of the Core or permission of the instructor. An exploration of the religious and political motivations British abolitionists had for changing the social, economic, and legal structures that supported slavery. What impact British abolitionism had on the evolution of human rights law will also be assessed.

Credits

3.0

Core

Global Perspectives

Offered

As Needed

REL 375 Independent Study in Religion

Prerequisites: 6 credits in religion and permission of the instructor. Students work independently on some religious subject matter selected in consultation with the department. Reports and papers are given during the semester.

Credits

1.0 - 3.0

Offered

Both Semesters and Summer

REL 397 Special Topics

An upper-level special topics course offered at the discretion of the department. The content and methods vary with the interest of students and faculty members

Credits

3.0

Offered

Either Semester

REL 399 Internship in Religion

Prerequisites: 18 credits in religion and permission of the instructor. Supervised off-campus educational project with an organization or institution approved by the department. Grading is on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

Credits

3.0 - 6.0

Offered

Both Semesters and Summer

PLRL 470 Senior Seminar

Prerequisites: 9 credits in religion and/or philosophy or permission of the instructor. Advanced study of special topics in religion or philosophy.

Credits

3.0

Cross Listed Courses

Double-numbered course; offered with graduate-level PLRL 570

Offered

Fall Semester As Needed

PLRL 497 Critical Paper

Prerequisites: 21 credits in religion or philosophy, junior or senior standing and permission of the instructor. Credit for a critical paper is earned by substantially expanding and revising a paper the student has written for a previous course in Philosophy or Religious Studies. The final critical paper of 15 to 20 pages is to be revised under the supervision of a departmental faculty member and defended before departmental faculty and students.

Credits

1.0

Offered

Either Semester

REL 499 Departmental Honors

Prerequisite: By invitation of the department.  The departmental honors paper is a two-semester senior-year program designed for students who wish to pursue intensive research or special projects in close coordination with faculty advisers. Departmental honors students are known as the Christine P. Tischer Scholars and receive 6 credits for this work.

Credits

6.0

Offered

Year Long