Religious Studies Spring 2015 Courses

Religious Studies Spring 2015 Courses

RELI 352

Judaism from Exile to Talmud

TR 1:30-2:45

Judaism as we know it was formed over a tumultuous 700-year period of religious and political change that begins with the Hebrew exile in Babylon and ends with the establishment of Rabbinic Judaism against the backdrop of the Christianizing Roman Empire. This period witnessed the compilation of the Jewish scripture, the rebuilding and later destruction of the Temple, and the emergence of Christianity. It is the era of the Dead Sea Scrolls and a colorful variety of sectarian and apocalyptic thought among the Jewish population. This course will explore the religion, history, and literature of this formative period, and introduce students to the rich religious heritage that continues to shape Judaism to the present day.   Instructor: Prof .John Burns

 

RELI 381

Beginnings of Christianity

MW 10:30-11:45

How did a small town carpenter get himself executed for treason? How did the experience of a spiritual Jesus replace the teachings of Jesus as the center of Christian concerns? How did the variety of early Christian beliefs develop from that experience, and why did the only one that claimed continuity with Judaism win out? How did the spiritual alternative to the power of the emperor become the foundation for the continuation of the emperor cult? Early Christianity may not be what you think.   Instructor: Prof. Whitney Shiner

 

RELI 363

Catholicism

TR 10:30-11:45

The Roman Catholic Church is arguably the oldest, most far-reaching, and most diverse, single institution within human history. It is also the only religion with its own nation-state (the Vatican). Catholicism’s thought, aesthetics, and influence made it global long before “globalization.” Yet, for many interested in history, philosophy, art, and literature, Catholicism remains a “mystery.” This course will introduce students to the historical development and change within Catholic thought (religious, philosophical, moral,and  liturgical) and its wider influence, focusing on key historical and cultural encounters.   Instructor: Prof. Garry Sparks

 

RELI 331

Religion in America

MW 12:00-1:15

Established as a secular country with an interest in promoting religious freedom, America has always been home to vibrant and diverse religious communities. This course explores the varieties of religious expression in the American past and present. Students will examine issues of religion in the American founding, and study contemporary manifestations of religion as diverse as evangelical revivalism, Islam in America, and Scientology.              Instructor: Prof. John Turner

 

RELI 362

Religion and Film

MW 3:00-4:15

Religious themes, events, and characters have always been a popular subject for film. Are you interested in how religion is represented in film?  Do you wonder about how imagination plays a part in film-making and in religion? In this course we will study classic and contemporary films and examine how religion is imagined in the medium of film, including in some popular recent movies. In the process, we will learn more about those religions represented in the films, and wonder together about what that means for our conceptions of ourselves, of our culture, and of our futures.  Instructor: Prof. John Farina

 

RELI 364 / RELI 640

Religion and Law in the U.S.

MW 10:30-11:45

Can Evangelical Christians like David Green and his family choose not to offer birth control to employees of their Hobby Lobby stores, which is required by the Federal Government to be part of all health plans? Can Muslim Abdul Maalik Muhammad, an inmate in an Arkansas state prison grow a long beard for religious purposes even though it violates prison rules? Is a citizen-led prayer at the start of a town meeting in Greece, NY a violation of the Establishment of Religion Clause? These are some of the issues addressed in Religion and Law in the U.S. In this course, you will study Supreme Court decisions on the Free Exercise and Establishment of Religion clause and become an expert in the current law on religion. If you are thinking of law school, this course will teach you how to read a case and do legal analysis.    Instructor: Prof. John Farina

 

RELI 272

Islam

MW 3:00-4:15

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, and is often in the news. Yet it remains deeply misunderstood. This course introduces students to the origins of Islam both as a faith and a civilization; to its legal, social, and ethical principles; and to the diverse cultural manifestations of this faith and its principles across both time and space. Students will also explore Islam’s mystical and artistic expressions, its sectarian diversity and conflict, and the changes brought about by its encounter with modernity.   Instructor: Prof. David Dakake

 

RELI 374 / RELI 591

Islamic Thought

TR 1:30-2:45

Islam is a religion with a rich and diverse intellectual heritage. In the medieval period, Muslims wrote sophisticated philosophical and mystical works that also greatly influenced Western thought; and in contemporary times, Muslims are increasingly adding their voices to calls for justice and change in our globalized world. This course introduces students to leading Islamic thinkers from both classical and contemporary times, and to the ways in which their ideas—often controversial in their own time and today—continue to shape Muslim thought and contribute to wider debates about secularism, pluralism, and modernity.   Instructor: Prof. Maria Dakake

 

RELI 313

Hinduism

TR 12:00-1:15

An introduction to Hindu religion and thought, beliefs, rituals, ethics and religious practices. The course focuse primarily on classical Hinduism, but also covers Hinduism and modernity, modern Hindu movements, and Hinduism as a global religion.   Instructor: Prof. Cuong Nguyen

 

RELI 420 / RELI 633

Ethical Perspectives in World Religions: Caring for the Neighbor and the Stranger

M 4:30-7:10

The Hebrew scriptures and the New Testament teach persons to care for the stranger and love the neighbor. Islamic sacred texts are also concerned these relationships. But what do these sacred texts mean? What do Jews, Christians, and Muslims think about persons outside of their traditions? How do their views on the neighbor influence the way they they relate to a pluralistic society? How do these views affect their relationship to each other and their dialogue with other religious traditions? Using sacred texts, and their commentaries together with modern accounts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in a pluralistic world, this course will explore the concept of the neighbor in each of these traditions.   Instructor: Prof. Randi Rashkover