Religion Degrees Online

The Philosophy/Religion Department speaks to the core of the liberal arts, to the values that underlie Western culture and indeed to the values that make all cultures and civilizations possible. These values center on the perennial questions: what is the true; what is the beautiful; and what is the good? There are no cultures without these concerns.

These questions, in turn, require a reflection on the nature of the human being, and on the examination of the person who asks questions. “Know thyself” was inscribed on the Greek temples of Apollo and reminds us that all human destiny and the human wisdom that guides it faces in two directions: toward God, gods or ultimate values and toward the seeker and the eloquence needed to guide the search. The Philosophy/Religion Department is devoted to teaching these transcendental skills, to the critical thinking and expression that this two-fold task requires.

The college student in all course-work thinks, reads, and writes, but Philosophy and Religion are specifically directed toward the center of these abilities to thinking about thinking, to questioning what is read, and to examining critically the ways and means of expressions. Thus, Philosophy and Religion are quite compatible with most other majors or minors. It is not uncommon for students in, for example, Physics, Pre-law, English, and History to be Philosophy or Religion majors or minors.

The study of religion aims to understand religious thought and practices as aspects of the culture and society that produced them. It offers an opportunity to explore beliefs and ideas, philosophies and mythologies, rituals and symbols, etc., that shape the cultures and civilizations of the world both in historical perspective and as contemporary phenomena. In the process of this exploration, the Religious Studies program sensitizes students to the variety of traditions, commitments, and cultures which exist in our world, both globally and locally. It also provides an environment for students to thoughtfully reflect upon their own religious traditions and experiences as well as to think about issues and problems of modern life from a variety of perspectives.

The introductory courses are open to all students. They provide an opportunity to survey the diversity of religion in either the contemporary Canadian or the global context, or to explore the biblical roots of Judeo-Christian tradition. General interest courses are also offered at the 2000 level, and are open to all students without prerequisite. These courses do not presuppose previous knowledge or background and enable students to focus either on particular religious traditions (Aboriginal, Buddhist, Biblical, etc.) or on contemporary issues in religion (sexuality, technology, new religions, popular culture, etc.). Departmental faculty members have particular interests and strengths in the areas of religion and modern culture, mythology, Chinese and Japanese religions, Buddhist traditions, aboriginal traditions, Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, and gender studies. The Major program, leading to either a 3-Year BA, a 4-Year BA, or a 4-Year Honours BA, is designed to provide an opportunity to explore a variety of religious traditions and topics as well as to concentrate on areas of particular interest. The Department also participates in a Joint Masters Program in Religion with the University of Manitoba.

Graduates who are interested in fields where human interaction and/or multiculturalism are significant factors, such as education, mediation services, social work, international business and international development, employee relations, immigration services and certain areas of law and the justice system, benefit greatly from courses in Religious Studies.

REL 1000 – Religions of the World – 4hrs.
Fulfills General Education Area II: Humanities
An approach to the religions of the world which surveys themes in various religious traditions (such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and primitive religions). The course studies how these religious traditions conceive of gods and world order, founders and saviors, religious experience and practice, and religious communities. The course will pay attention to the contemporary status and significance of these themes.

REL 2000 – Introduction to religion – 4hrs.
An introduction to the study of religion intended to be universal in scope, theoretical and scientific in intent, and humanistic in orientation, of the nature and history of religion wherever it may be found, whatever its context, no matter what its forms, and attempting to raise whatever questions are necessary to illuminate its character. This will involve attention to more than one religious tradition, a discussion of the problems of definition, theory and method, an acknowledgement of the interdisciplinary aspects of much of the inquiry, and an examination of the consequences of this inquiry for problems of self-understanding in the context of western culture in general and American society in particular.

REL 3000 – Writing About Religion – 3hrs.
Fulfills Baccalaureate-level Writing Requirement
This course enhances writing skills in the context of reading and discussing selected materials on religion. Emphasis is upon the process of writing, with writing assignments in class and outside class. Reading selections focus on issues of contemporary interest. Required of all religion majors. This course is approved as a writing-intensive course which may fulfill the baccalaureate-level writing requirement of the student’s curriculum.

REL 3010 – Buddhist Traditions – 4hrs.
Fulfills General Education Area IV: Other Cultures and Civilizations
This course is an introduction to the panorama of Buddhist traditions in South, Southeast, Central and East Asia. We will study the history of Buddhism, its characteristic doctrines and teachings, and try to assess the impact it has had on Asian civilizations. Special attention will be devoted to the problem of the religious ideals and how that is to be pursued. We will read scholarly studies on the traditions as well as original Buddhist texts in translations.

REL 3020 – Religion in the Indian Tradition – 4hrs.
Fulfills General Education Area IV: Other Cultures and Civilizations
This course draws its materials primarily from the great religious traditions native to India-i.e., Brahmanism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Hinduism. It is concerned primarily with definitions of the human in these traditions; the problems that are perceived to be central to human life and the resources assumed to be available for such problems’ solution. To clarify problems, it examines social and political contexts in which various traditions have arisen. To exemplify solutions, it offers samples from religious literature, art, architecture, music, ritual, and spiritual discipline.

REL 3030 – Chinese Religion – 4hrs.
Fulfills General Education Area IV: Other Cultures and Civilizations
Religious life in China is characterized by an impressive variety of religions combined with a striking commonality of outlook. The centrality of religion and though to all of Chinese life means that even contemporary China can be well understood only with reference to the persistent themes and practices of the past. The course will consider religious and philosophical Confucianism and Taoism, Buddhism, and how these different strands are woven into traditional and popular religion in China and even amalgamated into Chinese communism. The overall aim of the course will be to examine what Chinese culture means to an individual growing up Chinese so that students taking the course may develop a grasp of the expectations of life, society, government, and behavior that are handed down from generation to generation in China.

REL 3040 – African Religions – 4hrs.
Fulfills General Education Area IV: Other Cultures and Civilizations
This course is designed to introduce the student to the complexity and varieties of the religions of Africa. This is done by focusing on the myriad religious ideas (of the gods, of ancestors, of persons, of origins, of death, of authority and status), practices (initiation, divination, sorcery), institutions which have emerged in the long history of Africa. The course pays particular attention to the results of colonialism on indigenous religions as well as to the emergence of new religious movements.

REL 3050 – The Christian Tradition – 4hrs.
Fulfills General Education Area II: Humanities
This course draws its materials primarily from the great religious traditions within Christianity-i.e., Catholicism, Protestantism, and the Orthodox tradition. It offers a careful look at the early Christian myths which give rise to these traditions. It is concerned primarily with definitions of the human in these traditions: the problems that are perceived to be central to human life and the resources assumed to be available for such problems’ solution. To clarify problems, it examines social and political contexts in which various traditions have arisen. To exemplify solutions, it offers samples from religious literature, art, architecture, music, ritual and spiritual discipline.

REL 3060 – The Jewish Tradition – 4hrs.
Fulfills General Education Area II: Humanities
This course traces the history and development of Judaism from its roots in the Ancient Near East to the present, and its role in the shaping of Western consciousness. Particular attention is given to the periods of radical social, political and cultural change in Jewish history and hence to the critical problem of Jewish identity. An analysis of Jewish writings, customs, and institutions taken from different periods of Jewish history reveals that Jewish people have discovered and expressed their identity within a religious framework that includes myths and rituals, festivals, and holy days, celebration of the past and anticipation of the future, as well as social movements and political revolutions.

REL 3070 – The Islamic Tradition – 4hrs.
Fulfills General Education Area IV: Other Cultures and Civilizations
A study of the most important factors involved in the development of both the Islamic religious tradition and Islamic civilization. The Pre-Islamic background, the life of Mohammed, the Qur’an, geographical expansion of the Muslim Community. Islamic law, mysticism, politics, philosophy, science, and contemporary Islamic movements are the major topics for examination.

REL 3080 – Japanese Religion – 4hrs.
Fulfills General Education Area IV: Other Cultures and Civilizations
A study of the historical continuity and overall unity in the Japanese religious tradition. The major organized religions of Shinto and Japanese Buddhism, and also the influence of Taoism, Confucianism, and Christianity are discussed. Also taken up are the informal religious movements of “ancestor worship,” family religion, and state religion. An attempt is made to assess the meaning of religion in Japanese culture.

REL 3110 – Myth and Ritual – 4hrs.
Eric Dardel, an anthropologist, has written: “Myth says with utmost seriousness something that is of essential importance.” In this course an attempt will be made to discover just what this important something is and how it is actualized in certain rituals. Myths and rituals will be taken from a variety of historical traditions in order to reflect the cultural milieu of the communities whose lives are governed by them. Special problems to be considered will be the relationship between myth and cult, the problem of time and myth, the logic of mythic forms, etc.

REL 3130 – Religion in America – 4hrs.
Fulfills General Education Area III: United States: Cultures and Issues
This course is designed to introduce students to the full range of religious expression in the United States from the colonial period to the present. As such, it will focus not only on the history of specific groups, institutions, and denominations (e.g. Congregationalism, the Catholic Church, Reform Judaism, the nation of Islam, etc.), but also on those non-traditional and frequently non-institutional forms of religion which have had an impact on the development of American culture and society (e.g., utopian communalism, occult and metaphysical movements, the “New Age,” etc.). In addition, this course will also address such religious themes as individualism, millennial dominance, and civil religion which, while once prominent features of American culture at large, are now increasingly brought into question as the United States enters a period of unprecedented cultural diversity and cultural change.

REL 3200 – The Philosophy of Religion – 4hrs.
An examination of the place of religion in human experience with special attention to the nature of religious language, the role and structure of religious concepts, the relation between religion and theology, and the logic of religious symbols.

REL 3230 – Religion and Revolution – 4hrs.
Fulfills General Education Area IV: Social and Behavioral Sciences
This course will explore, investigate and compare different religions in different cultures as driving forces of social and cultural change. The course will examine the conservative and progressive roles the religions of the world play in familial, social, economic, and political stability and change. Different approaches to analyzing these forces and roles will be examined, but particular emphasis will be placed upon the contribution of critical theory and its dialectical method of thinking. The course will stress communicative ethics and discourse theory of rights and of the democratic constitutional state.

REL 3240 – Psychological Elements in Religion – 4hrs.
Fulfills General Education Area II: Humanities
This course is concerned with the correlation between religion and the human subject-the religious or a religious individual. The central interest of the course is with religious propensities, feelings, impulses, passions, attitudes, motivations, values, ideas, prejudices. Critical questions such as the following will be asked:
What is the function of religious faith for the nervous stability, mental health and wholesomeness of the subject?

Does religion reinforce or hinder the maturation process of the individual?
Is the need for religion just a derivation from the child’s feeling of helplessness and of the longing it evokes for a sublime father figure?

REL 3320 – Religion and Social Ethics – 4hrs.
Fulfills General Education Area II: Humanities
This course will compare different forms of religious and secular ethics from ancient moral codes to contemporary ethical systems. It will deal with the creative ideas, problems, and attitudes toward the social world intrinsic to these different ethical norms. While the course will emphasize the variety of ethical responses to social problems provided by the religions of the world as well as to secular approaches, it will pay particular attention to problems raised and solutions proposed by critical theorists about issues such as abortion, euthanasia, artificial insemination, race, gender, class, war and peace, poverty and ecological catastrophes. The course will stress communicative ethics, the discourse theory of rights, and of the democratic constitutional state.

REL 3340 – Religion in Modern Society – 4hrs.
Whereas a major focus of the systematic study of religion is upon religious traditions, or aspects of them, it is important that attention also be paid to the questions raised by the various contexts in which religion occurs as well as to questions raised by the methods developed in studying religion in such contexts. The specific context of religion to be studied in this course is that of industrial society. For religion to be understood in more than historic terms it is important that attention be paid to this kind of context. As a consequence of such a focus questions also are raised about the methods developed to specify and delineate such contexts and the role that religion plays in them. This provides an occasion for raising questions about the assumptions underlying such methods and about their relationship to the systematic study of religion.

REL 4000 – Topics in Religion – 4hrs.
The topic to be announced in the Schedule of Classes. The content of the course will vary from semester to semester. Students may repeat the course for credit as long as the subject matter is different. Topics will include religious traditions, forms of religion and current issues in method and theory.

REL 5000 – Historical Studies in Religion – 2-4hrs.
The topic to be announced in the Schedule of Classes. The content of the course will vary from semester to semester. Students may repeat the course for credit as long as the subject matter is different. View Past Topics

REL 5100 – Morphological and Phenomenological Studies in Religion – 2-4hrs.
Topic announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit as long as the subject matter is different.

REL 5110 – Women in Religion – 3hrs.
Drawing together materials from many religious traditions, this course explores religion’s effect on women and women’s effect on religion. It attends especially to women’s roles in traditions studied-both roles allotted to women and roles women shape for themselves. It also traces repeating patterns in women’s religious experience and evaluates common explanations for such patterns. Prerequisites: Junior or senior level and two courses (6 hours) in either Religion or Women’s Studies.

REL 5200 – Methodological Studies in Religion – 2-4hrs.
The topic to be announced in the Schedule of Classes. The content of the course will vary from semester to semester. Students may repeat the course for credit as long as the subject matter is different.

REL 5300 – Constructive Studies in Religion – 2-4hrs.
Topic announced in the Schedule of Classes. May be repeated for credit as long as the subject matter is different.

REL 5980 – Readings in Religion – Variable Credit
Research on a selected period or topic under supervision of a member of the Comparative Religion faculty. Approval of the instructor involved and the Chairperson of the Department must be secured in advance of registration.

The academic study of religion is a scholarly discipline involving historical, critical, analytic, and constructive methodologies to understand religious phenomena — for example, texts, beliefs, doctrines, practices, and world views. It provides excellent background and thinking skills for various academic pursuits, career goals, and community leadership.

The study of religion is intellectually exciting because it focuses on the deepest questions human beings can ask. It explores the boundary questions of life and death, of love and hate that characterize the human condition. Religion assumes a central place in the lives of virtually all cultures and civilizations and is a necessity in understanding our own world and many of the tensions within it.

At Manchester a student may study religion to probe more deeply personal matters of faith in order to lay a solid foundation for crucial decisions in life. Other students study religion in the context of investigation into the culture and history of ideas which have formed and shaped our civilization. Religion at Manchester is taught within the tradition of the Church of the Brethren which maintains a respect for freedom of conscience. This provides an open forum for reflecting on a variety of theological and philosophical traditions, while at the same time taking faith commitments seriously.

The aims of this program of study are to help students: (a) acquire a sympathetic understanding of the Bible, the Christian faith, and other world religions; (b) articulate and reflect upon the core claims that distinguish the Christian tradition; (c) become acquainted with the major methodologies and issues in the study of religion; (d) prepare for graduate study; and (e) understand a world in which compassion reveals the divine.

112 Religious Values in Cultural Context
This course explores fundamental religious questions such as the nature of evil, the meaning of suffering, concepts of the transcendent, and how traditions define a religious life. Using field trip experiences and a lecture/discussion format, we will read primarily autobiographical writings from Judaic, Hindu, Native American, Buddhist, and shamanic traditions. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

114 The Self and Salvation
All spiritualities deal with the human self (defined in various ways) and a spiritual goal, in the Christian West spoken of as “salvation.” Different spiritualities above all offer various paths toward these various goals of spiritual realization. We will explore and compare some of them to find if there are parallels or convergences between these various religions world-views. We will read and discuss representative texts from the various religious traditions. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

116 Chicago: A Rainbow of Religions
Chicago is the most religiously diverse city on the planet. The course will study several of the world’s major sacred traditions and then explore the ways in which these traditions have been translated into the fabric of American life, specifically in the greater Chicago area. We will discuss the experience of diversity in American religious life and aim at achieving both a theoretical and practical grasp of some of the religions that have made a home in our metropolis. (Cross-listed as American Studies 116. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

207 Introduction to Islamic Cultures and Civilizations
(Cross-listed as Asian Studies 207, History 207 and Islamic Studies 207. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

210 Religions of Indigenous Peoples
Our increased awareness of global community has given rise to a new interest in the religions of indigenous peoples. This course will explore the religious heritage of Native Americans, Africans, and Australian aborigines and other indigenous peoples. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

211 Judaism
The course will structurally investigate concepts, myths, and metaphors of ancient and modern Judaism, its coherent design, and by way of comparison with other religions such issues as “this worldly/other worldly,” motive and deed, mythical self-transcendence, and the contributions of Judaisim to human spirituality. This course is partially funded by a gift from the Jewish Chatauqua Society.

212 Christianity
This course explores the great historical moments of Christian history; the teachings of Jesus, the voice of Paul, the church fathers, the early creed, the schism between eastern and western Christianity, the medieval church, the major branches of the Reformation, and the development of Christianity into its contemporary forms. Discussion will focus on both the theology and practice of Christianity in its two thousand year development.

213 Islam
This course examines the history of Islam, the teachings of different philosophical schools, and the literature of Islamic societies. The roots of the religious tradition as well as its development in different cultural contexts will be examined. Students will read texts drawn from Middle Eastern, Asian, European, and North American Muslim sources. (Cross-listed as Asian Studies 213. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

214 Hinduism
This course examines the teachings of the Hindu religious tradition as presented in the earliest writings of the tradition, as well as in dramas, epic narratives, and contemporary religious practice. In the course of the semester, we will visit Hindu Temples in the Chicago area as we explore the historical, social, and cultural context of Indian religious themes as they continue to be practiced in the 21st century. Texts range from philosophical musings about the nature of the universe to the story of a king who loses his wife to a 10-headed demon. (Cross-listed as Asian Studies 214. Meets Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

215 Buddhism
An introduction to the origins of Buddhism in India as well as to the major cultural and historical influences on the spread of Buddhism throughout Asia, particularly in India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Tibet, China, and Japan. The course will examine various forms of Buddhist practice including devotion, ethics, sangha membership, meditation, rituals, and festivals. (Cross-listed as Asian Studies 215. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

216 Chinese Religions
Focusing primarily on the teachings of the Confucian (and neo-Confucian), Daoist, and early Chinese Buddhist traditions, we will explore the concepts and practices of these communities within their historical, cultural, and social contexts. Reading narrative, poetic, and classical texts in translation that present such ides as the ethics of human-heartedness, the relativity of all things, and the importance of self-sacrifice, we will discuss what teachings these masterful texts offer 21st century questioners. (Cross-listed as Asian Studies 216. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

221 Shakespeare and Religion
(Cross-listed as English 221.)

228 The Way of the Monk
This course examines a lifestyle common to three major religious traditions. This lifestyle is called monasticism and it is embraced and it is embraced by monastics (men and women) in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity. There are common practices shared by these three forms of monasticism and yet there are differences too, stemming from underlying variations of belief. The course includes an option to live in a monastic setting for the third of the tree weeks, during which time the class will be offered at that site. The fee for this residential option is $350. Students not choosing this option must provide their own transportation to the site during the final week of classes. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

235 Religion in Contemporary America
A study of current developments in American religion with focused discussion on the new religious right, the liberation left, alternative religions, trends within Judaism, Catholicism after Vatican II, and New Age spirituality. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

240 Religious and Ethical Perspectives on the Environment
The current environmental crises rest on a layer of philosophical and religious assumptions that are currently being challenged. Are human beings the center of the universe? Is humankind’s mandate to dominate nature? Does nature belong to human beings or do human beings belong to nature? This course will address the relationship of the divine and the human sphere of nature from various religious perspectives. Contemporary Judaic, Christian, and Islamic ecological visions and action programs will be considered. In addition, the course will include religious views and practices of certain native cultures of North and South America, the Australian aborigines, and African tribes as well as ecological perspectives derived from South and East Asian religious cultures. (Cross-listed as Environmental Studies 240. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

248 Crusade and Holy War in Medieval Europe
(Cross-listed as History 248.)

255 Islam and Modernity
The relationship of Islam and the Western World can be understood in terms of a “conflict of civilizations.” This course will explore the history and implications of these two opposing models. The focus of discussion will be not only on the past but also on the present and future possibilities for interaction between the Muslim world and the West. This course is partially funded by a gift from the Islamic Cultural Center in Northbrook, Illinois. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

275 Female Religious Images in the West
Individual religious traditions have incorporated female images and ideals in different ways as goddesses, priestesses, and saints. The objective of this course is to examine ways in which the divine has been expressed in specifically female forms, as well as to examine the characteristics of female religious experience. Specific figures include Inanna, the central goddess figure of ancient Sumer; Eve and Sarah from the Hebrew Bible; Mary and female monastics from the Christian tradition; and contemporary Jewish, Christian, and Muslim women actively participating in their traditions. (Cross-listed as Women’s and Gender Studies 275. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

276 Female Religious Images in Asia
Goddess figures in India, China, and Japan are studied in this class along with the roles of human women in particular Asian religious traditions. This class explores the experiences of Buddhist nuns, Hindu and Muslim female saints, traditional healers, and shamans. Readings are drawn from religious texts, myths, and short stories from specific Asian cultures. (Cross-listed as Asian Studies 276 and Women’s and Gender Studies 276. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

300 Approaches to the Study of Religion
What is religion? What important theories have emerged about the origins of religion? This course explores a variety of academic approaches to the study of religion, emphasizing the methodologies of religious studies as an autonomous discipline. The course will focus on the studies of religionists as well as those framed by psychologists, sociologists, and scholars from other disciplines. Prerequisites: Junior standing and 2 Religion courses, or permission of instructor.

305 Judaism: Classic Texts
Beginning with a solid basis in texts from Hebrew Scripture (Tanakh) we will study other master texts of Judaism emphasizing, in historic context, both the elements of continuity and of change in the outlook of Jewish sacred authoritative texts from ancient to modern times. Prerequisite: Religion 211 or permission of instructor.

306 Christianity: Classic Texts
This course would include the study of the twenty-seven books in the Christian Testament, especially the four gospels and some of the fourteen letters attributed to Paul. It would also include some of the following material not in the Christian Testament but produced early in Christianity: The Didache, The Gospel of Mary Magdalene, The Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel of Judas, the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, writings of the church fathers, etc. Prerequisite: Religion 212 or permission of instructor.

307 Roman and Medieval Christianity
(Cross-listed as History 304. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

311 Greek and Roman Religion
(Cross-listed as History 302 and Classical Studies 302. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

312 In Search of the Historical Jesus
Close examination of various portraits of Jesus: in the four gospels of the Christian Testament, in early noncanonical gospels, in recent appraisals of Jesus in scholarly works, in literature, and in film. Primary focus on the perennial attempt to reconstruct the historical Jesus. Prerequisite: Religion 201, 202, or 203 or consent of the instructor.

314 Contemporary Hindu Pilgrimage: India and Chicago
The course explores the ritual practice of pilgrimage at major pilgrimage sites in India, and at parallel temples in the Chicago area. Using extensive field visits and the framework of pilgrimage as the structure of the course, the class prepares for and visits 5-6 Hindu temples in the Chicago area to observe rituals being performed, speak with practitioners, and experience festival worship. Through reading and film, we examine the history, literature, ritual traditions, art, and music of Hindu pilgrims. Following specific pilgrimage routes, we explore this religious practice as it is conducted within 21st century cultures of expanding global communities, in India and in Chicago. The class will use primary source texts, maps, field visits to temples, film, and research to understand Hindu religious communities in India and Chicago. Prerequisite: Religion 214 or permission of instructor. (Cross-listed as Asia Studies 314. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

316 Topics in Asian Religions: Pilgrimage in Asia
Using a seminar format, this course will explore pilgrimage sites in a range of different Asian cultures including India, China, Japan, Korea, and Pakistan. Students will choose a specific pilgrimage site and religious tradition as the focus of their research. Through reading, film, discussion, research, and student presentations, we will examine the roles of pilgrims and traders, sacred place and sacred time, and the ritual elements present in Asian pilgrimage practices across different religious traditions including Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity. Prerequisite: Religion 213, 214, 215 or 216 or permission of instructor. (Cross-listed as Asian Studies 316. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

317 Islamic Culture(s) in South Asia
(Cross-listed as Asian Studies 317, History 317, and Islamic Studies 317. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

319 The European Reformations: 1200-1600
(Cross-listed as History 320.)

320 Topics in Comparative Religion
This course will explore a topic common to both Asian religions and the religions of the Middle East. Examples of such topics are mysticism, prayer, social ethic, the concept of the self, and teaching on death and the afterlife. This course is partially funded by a gift from the Herbert and Abra Portes Fund. Prerequisite: Any Religion course or permission or instructor. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

321 Conversations Across Traditions
Conversations among some of the major spiritual traditions have a long history. Examples of possible topics: Jewish/Christian Conversations; Jewish/Muslim Conversations; Christian/Muslim Conversations; Jewish/Buddhist Conversations; Christian/Buddhist Conversations; Hindu/Christian Conversations. The focus of the course will be on the mutual illumination possible in this kind of dialogue. Prerequisite: Any Religion course or permission of instructor.

322 Religious Existentialism
An epoch of European philosophy and religious thought culminated in the great system developed by Hegel. In its wake came a literature of protest, beginning with the Danish philosopher and religious thinker Søren Kierkegaard and moving through a later generation of European intellectuals who came to maturity between the two world wars. Included are Jewish voices such as Martin Buber and Franz Rosenzweig as well as Christian writers such as Paul Tillich and Gabriel Marcel. Readings include texts by these religious existentialists. Prerequisite: Any Religion course or permission of instructor. (Cross-listed as Philosophy 322.)

325 History of Islamic Thought
By reading and discussing original works (in translation), this course will illustrate spiritual themes, as well as ethical and political theories, espoused by various Islamic scholars and philosophers from the 7th century CE to the present, with a focus on the Middle and Modern Periods (10th cent – present). The readings will include works from the “central Islamic lands” (North Africa, the Middle East, South Asia), as well as works by Muslims in Europe and the Americas. Additionally, the readings will address the intellectual exchange between Muslims and the West, especially during and after the European Enlightenment. By the end of the course, the student will be familiar with the various intellectual developments and currents throughout the history of Islamic civilization, which helped transform Islam from a faith into a model for society and government. Prerequisite: one course in Islam. (Cross-listed as Islamic Studies 325. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

390 Sociology of Religion
(Cross-listed as Sociology and Anthropology 390.)

490 Research Project and Symposium
Independent research plus discussion of that research in meetings of seniors and faculty. Open to senior majors and others with permission of the department.

495 Senior Thesis and Symposium
Senior thesis project plus discussion of that research in meets of seniors and faculty. Open to senior majors and others