RELG100: Religions of the World (3 hours lecture)

The major religious traditions, with emphasis on basic beliefs and on the nature and diversity of religious awareness. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Humanities, Philosophy or Religion. 3 sh.

RELG101: Introduction to Religion (3 hours lecture)

An inquiry into man's religious questions and expressions, their implications, and their critical appreciation and assessment. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Humanities, Philosophy or Religion. 3 sh.

RELG200: Old Testament: Genesis to Joshua (3 hours lecture)

The evolution of the ancient Hebrew world view as developed in the biblical books covering the early period of Israelite history. The course includes a close reading of the books of Genesis, Exodus and numbers, comparison with contemporary Middle Eastern religious texts and study of the biblical story from the creation through the career of Moses (circa 1250 B.C.E.). 3 sh.

RELG202: Old Testament: Joshua to Daniel (3 hours lecture)

The history and theology of Israelite religion as seen in the biblical books covering the middle and late periods (1150-165 B.C.E.). 3 sh.

RELG204: New Testament: Jesus and the Gospels (3 hours lecture)

The story of Jesus of Nazareth as told in the gospels of Mark and Matthew. The course explores Old Testament backgrounds, Jesus' place in the Jewish religious context of first century Israel, the question of the historical Jesus and the origins of and relationships between the various gospel traditions. 3 sh.

RELG205: Religion and Ethical Issues (3 hours lecture)

An examination of religious perspectives on classic and contemporary ethical issues. Topics addressed include violence and war, biomedical issues, environmental issues, education, censorship, and marriage/family issues. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: PHIL 100 or PHIL 102 or PHIL 106 or RELG 100 or RELG 101 or RELG 102.

RELG206: New Testament: Paul and the Early Church (3 hours lecture)

A close study of Luke-Acts, John, selected letters of Paul and other later epistles. The course explores the development of the theology and institutions of the early church as revealed in New Testament documents of the first and early second centuries. 3 sh.

RELG207: Religious Texts in America: Women (3 hours lecture)

Course will examine original texts by women written during the religious growth and development of such movements as Evangelicalism, Mormonism, the Westward missionary expansion, African-American slave narratives, hymns, sermons, and exhortations. Emphasis will be on the ways religion served as an acceptable locus of expression for women. 3 sh.

RELG213: Buddhism (3 hours lecture)

The exploration of Buddhist teachings, practices, history, and religious art in various Asian countries, notably India, Southeast Asia, Japan, and Tibet (may vary). No prerequisites, but RELG 100, Religions of the World, is suggested. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. 3 sh.

RELG214: Classical Texts of Asian Religions (3 hours lecture)

This course emphasizes critical analysis and interpretation of primary textual sources. Students will read and examine primary documents from each of the Asian religions, their traditional interpretations and recent understandings and applications of these texts. 3 sh.

RELG215: Hinduism (3 hours lecture)

An introduction to Hindu religious traditions, including philosophy, yoga practice, ritual workship, and sacred art. No prerequisites, but RELG 100 Religions of the World is suggested. 3 sh.

RELG217: Taoism (3 hours lecture)

An introduction to Taoist religious texts and traditions, including Tao Te Ching and Chuang Tzu; Taoist connections with traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts; Taoist ritual traditions; and sacred art. No prerequisites, but RELG 100 Religions of the World is recommended. 3 sh.

RELG218: Death, Dying and Afterlife (3 hours lecture)

This course is designed to give students the opportunity to study cross-cultural religious practices and attitudes toward death, dying and the afterlife. The course will cover the grieving process, rituals of death, and various cultural attitudes toward death, including symbolic "deaths" (initiations), and belief in limbo states, soul-survival, ghosts, heaven, hell, and karma and reincarnation. 3 sh.

RELG221: Religion and Culture (3 hours lecture)

The interrelation of religion and culture in the formulation of human values and views, life-styles and institutions. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Humanities, Philosophy or Religion. 3 sh.

RELG223: Religion in North America (3 hours lecture)

The growth and development of various religious movements-- Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and sectarian minorities-- from colonial times to the present. 3 sh.

RELG225: Religion and Social Change (3 hours lecture)

The impact of economic, social and political movements on religious belief and the ways in which religion has both furthered and impeded social development. 3 sh.

RELG256: Religion in Latin America (3 hours lecture)

A survey of the ways religion, both indigenous and Western, has interacted with culture and society in Latin America. Particular emphasis is given to the diversity of religious expressions, including indigenous relitions (Mayan, Aztec, and Quechua), syncretistic religions (i.e., Voodoo and Santeria), alternative and evangelical forms of Christianity, contemporary popular religious expression, and liberation theology. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: ENWR 105 or HONP 100.

RELG258: Christian History and Thought (3 hours lecture)

A survey of the history of the development of the Christian world-view, the evolution of Christian institutions and doctrines, and the triumphs and failures of Christianity through the period of the Reformation. 3 sh.

RELG262: Philosophy of Religion (3 hours lecture)

A philosophical examination of religion. It includes the nature and shape of religious experience: criteria for meaning within religious thought and language, metaphysical and epistemological implications of such questions as the nature and existence of God, and the possibility of life after death. 3 sh.

RELG263: Religion and Psychology (3 hours lecture)

The views of faith and the religious person reached by such major psychological approaches as the Freudian, neo-Freudian, analytic-ego, existential and Jungian. The implications of such psychology for Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant believers and religious thinkers. 3 sh.

RELG267: Women and Religion (3 hours lecture)

Focuses on women's own experience in religions and the various perspectives of women held by both Eastern and Western religious traditions. The course deals with questions such as the nature of women, patriarchy and religion, and roles of women in religions. Meets the University Writing Requirement for majors in Religious Studies. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures 3 sh.

RELG273: The Holocaust: Religious Perspectives (3 hours lecture)

A study of Nazi extermination of 6,000,000 Jews during World War II and the moral and religious issues raised by this event. 3 sh.

RELG300: Classics of Western Religious Thought (3 hours lecture)

Selected works of significant theologians of the Western tradition on issues such as the nature of God, christology, soteriology, ecclesiology, theodicy, etc. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: A PHIL or RELG course; or PHIL or RELS major or minor; or departmental approval.

RELG301: Jewish Spirituality and Mysticism (3 hours lecture)

The writings of Rosenzweig, Buber, Heschel, Rubenstein, Fackenheim, Plaskow, Wyschogrod and others will be examined in detail. They will be studied in the context of the religious crisis of modern society which has generated Existentialism, Death of God Theology and radical shifts in Jewish life (the Holocaust and the rebirth of Israel). Students will be introduced to popular Jewish religious practice in America and elsewhere as well as to the most complex Jewish Theological speculation of this century. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: A PHIL or RELG course; or PHIL or RELS major or minor; or departmental approval.

RELG304: Feminist Theology and Spirituality (3 hours lecture)

This course examines primary religious documents, their traditional interpretations, and recent feminist interpretations of these documents. It considers feminist criticisms of traditional Western religious thought as it relates to women. It also explores recent developments in feminist theology, such as female-centered religious ritual and practice and eco-feminist/creation spirituality. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: RELG 267.

RELG326: Theology (3 hours lecture)

An introduction to the theological efforts of Jews, Christians, and Muslims to wrestle out "the meaning of" their communal faith in rational, speculative, critical, and creative ways. Includes study of how the most influential Jewish and Christian theologians shaped Western culture, and of how recent and contemporary criticism challenges theological approaches. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: A PHIL or RELG course; or PHIL or RELS major or minor; or departmental approval.

RELG332: Myth, Meaning and Self (3 hours lecture)

Selected psychological investigations and/or theories of religious phenomena; the implications for constructive theology and positive religious response. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: A PHIL or RELG course; or PHIL or RELS major or minor; or departmental approval.

RELG350: Selected Study in World Religions (3 hours lecture)

Topics announced each semester. May be repeated three times for a maximum of 12.0 credits. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: A PHIL or RELG course; or PHIL or RELS major or minor; or departmental approval.

RELG352: Selected Study in Religious Texts (3 hours lecture)

Topics announced each semester. May be repeated three times for a maximum of 12.0 credits. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: A PHIL or RELG course; or PHIL or RELS major or minor; or departmental approval.

RELG355: Selected Study in Religion and Culture (3 hours lecture)

Topics announced each semester. May be repeated three times for a maximum of 12.0 credits. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: A PHIL or RELG course; or PHIL or RELS major or minor; or departmental approval.

RELG357: Selected Study in Religious Issues (3 hours lecture)

Topics announced each semester. May be repeated three times for a maximum of 12.0 credits. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: A Philosophy (PHIL) or Religion (RELG) course; or PHIL or Religious Studies (RELS) major or minor; or departmental approval.

RELG460: Seminar in World Religions (3 hours seminar)

Cooperative research seminars in major movements, problems, theologians or works. Topic announced each semester. May be repeated three times for a maximum of 12.0 credits. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: A PHIL or RELG course; or PHIL or RELS major or minor; or departmental approval.

RELG462: Seminar in Religious Texts (3 hours seminar)

Cooperative research seminar in major movements, problems, theologians. Topic announced each semester. May be repeated three times for a maximum of 12.0 credits. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: A PHIL or RELG course; or PHIL or RELS major or minor; or departmental approval.

RELG465: Seminar in Religion and Culture (3 hours seminar)

Cooperative research seminars in major movements, problems, theologians. Topic announced each semester. May be repeated three times for a maximum of 12.0 credits. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: A PHIL or RELG course; or PHIL or RELS major or minor; or departmental approval.

RELG467: Seminar in Religious Issues (3 hours seminar)

Cooperative research seminars in major movements, problems, theologians or works. Topic announced each semester. May be repeated three times for a maximum of 12.0 credits. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: A PHIL or RELG course; or PHIL or RELS major or minor; or departmental approval.