This course serves as an introduction to the academic discipline of religious studies. We will explore the human side of religion through the careful study of contextualized religious communities. Along the way, we'll develop a vocabulary for describing and comparing religious communities, and we'll learn some scholarly approaches to explaining why people are religious. Prerequisite: None.

Study of the teachings and practices associated with some so-called "world religions" (including Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Yoruba) through ethnographies, films, TV clips, novels, and site visits, with special emphasis on local contexts and on interrogating the very concept of "world" religions. Prerequisite: None.

An introduction to the academic study of the Bible, including 1) biblical and non-biblical ancient texts in their historical contexts and 2) the historical processes that led to the creation of different canons of the Bible among Jews and Christians. Prerequisite: None.

Topics will vary from semester to semester and will be announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

An elementary course in Philosophy and Religion focusing upon the specific rational arguments which have been advanced for and against the existence of a supreme being. Prerequisite: EN 101 or EN 102.

Topics will vary from semester to semester and will be announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Prerequisite: three hours of Religion or PH 302.

In this course, ancient Jewish prophetic literature is examined, including biblical books like Isaiah and extra-canonical traditions like Enoch. Prophecy is studied against the backdrop of ancient Near Eastern divination, and focus is on the role of prophetic books (a uniquely Jewish phenomenon) in the shaping of early Judaism. Prerequisite: three hours of Religion.

This course examines the historical development of Jewish and Christian teachings on sexuality, emphasizing the distinctions between Judaism and Christianity and the tremendous impact of the latter on Euro-American societies. We will examine ancient sources and modern interpretations of those sources. Students will have opportunities to critique various teachings about sexuality and to develop and defend their own ideas. Prerequisites: RG 101, RG 102, or RG 103.

This course explores the generative intersections “race” and “religion” in the greater Atlantic world from the 15th century until the present moment. The purpose of this class is to evaluate claims about these intersections on the basis of public evidence and rational argumentation, in particular the claim that “race” and “religion” are social constructs invented by Europeans to facilitate the colonization of the rest of the world. Prerequisites: RG 101, RG 102, or RG 103.

This class is an exploration of the concept of ritual. Do all societies have rituals and/or engage in ritualized behavior? Do animals have ritual? Is ritual a distinctly religious phenomenon? What roles do rituals play in human socialization? We will read a variety of theoretical and ethnographic materials on ritual; we will also observe and invent rituals in the real world. Prerequisites: RG 101, RG 102, or RG 103.

What do we mean when we call something "religion"? Who decides what is and is not "religion"? This course examines various approaches to the academic study of religion, focusing on current disciplinary debates over description versus explanation, insider/outsider dynamics, and the heuristic value of "religion" when applied to non-Western traditions. Prerequisite: Religious Studies Major, or consent of the instructor.

Individual study of specialized subjects pertaining to religion. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: nine hours of Religion and permission in advance by the professor with whom the student desires to work.

Independent research in preparation for a senior thesis. Students will complete preliminary research in the area of their senior thesis and prepare a thesis proposal. In addition, students will complete the portfolio project which asks them to submit a folder containing religious studies papers from previous courses along with their reflection upon their development over time in writing such papers. The proposal completed in RG 398 may not be or have been submitted for credit in any other course. Prerequisite: Senior Religious Studies Major.

Independent research, writing and defense of a substantial paper, under faculty supervision. Work completed in RG 398 and RG 399 may not be or have been submitted for course credit in any other course. Prerequisite: RG 398.

Topics will vary from semester to semester and will be announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Prerequisites: 3 hours of Religion or PH 302.

Individual study of specialized subjects pertaining to religion. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: nine hours of Religion and permission in advance by the professor with whom the student desires to work.