Religious Studies (REL)

REL 101. World Religions: Asian Traditions. 4 Credits.

Introduction to related religious traditions of Asia, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism and Shinto. Readings in sacred texts and scholarlary literature. Lecture, discussion.
Additional Information:
 Arts & Letters Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 102. World Religions: Near Eastern Traditions. 4 Credits.

Introduction to the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and to related traditions such as the Zoroastrian, Manichaean, Mandean, Baha'i. Lecture, discussion.
Additional Information:
 Arts & Letters Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 199. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times

REL 200M. Temp Multilist Course. 4 Credits.

REL 211. Early Judaism. 4 Credits.

In this course we will study the history, literature, and cultural and religious development of Judaism from the biblical period to the early rabbinic period (roughly until 500 CE). We will survey the foundational biblical heritage, with an emphasis on how Jews reinterpreted these traditions and lived among other cultures.
Additional Information:
 Social Science Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 222. Introduction to the Bible I. 4 Credits.

The focus of this course is on the content and organization of the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament)--highlighting the themes, streams of tradition, literary genres, etc., in the development of its ideas, ideals, and religious expression. This course provides an introduction to the scholarly methods and research tools used in biblical studies, specifically, and in religious studies as a whole.
Additional Information:
 Arts & Letters Area

REL 223. Introduction to the Bible II. 4 Credits.

Examination of the written traditions of early Christianity with an emphasis on the New Testament.
Additional Information:
 Arts & Letters Area

REL 233. Introduction to Islam. 4 Credits.

Islamic religious tradition, beginnings to present. Pre-Islamic Arabia, Prophet Muhammed, pillars of Islam, ethics and piety, Sunni-Shiite divide, reform and renewal movements.
Additional Information:
 Arts & Letters Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 302. Chinese Religions. 4 Credits.

Prehistoric roots of Chinese religion, Confucius and his followers, philosophical Taoism, Han Confucianism, religious Taoism, Chinese Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism, religion in China today.
Additional Information:
 Social Science Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 303. Japanese Religions. 4 Credits.

Early Shinto and its developments, Japanese Buddhism, transformation of Taoism and Confucianism, medieval Shinto, religion in the Tokugawa period, Nationalistic Shinto, folk religion, new religions.
Additional Information:
 Social Science Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 304. Religions of India. 4 Credits.

An introduction to the major religious traditions of the Indian subcontinent: Hinduism and Buddhism, and more briefly Sikhism and Jainism.
Additional Information:
 Social Science Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 317. Jesus and the Gospels. 4 Credits.

This course focuses on the historical figure Jesus of Nazareth and the stories people have told about him in ancient literature and modern scholarship.
Additional Information:
 Arts & Letters Area

REL 321. History of Christianity I. 4 Credits.

Course of Christian history in East and West; relations between spirituality, doctrine, and institutional forms. Covers the ancient period, from the Apostolic Fathers to the Islamic conquests (90–650).
Additional Information:
 Social Science Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 322. History of Christianity II. 4 Credits.

Course of Christian history in East and West; relations between spirituality, doctrine, and institutional forms. Covers medieval Western Christianity, from the Germanic invasions to the Reformation (400–1500).
Additional Information:
 Social Science Area

REL 323. History of Christianity III. 4 Credits.

Course of Christian history in East and West; relations between spirituality, doctrine, and institutional forms. Covers modern Western Christianity, from the Reformation to the present (1500 to the present).
Additional Information:
 Social Science Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 324. History of Eastern Christianity I. 4 Credits.

Byzantine Christianity from the founding of the Christian Roman Empire to the Fall of Constantinople in the 15th century.
Additional Information:
 Social Science Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 325. History of Eastern Christianity II. 4 Credits.

The Eastern churches from the 15th century to the present.
Additional Information:
 Social Science Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 335. Introduction to the Qur'an. 4 Credits.

An introduction to the nature of the Qur'an and the various ways it has been interpreted throughout history by both Muslims and non-Muslims.
Additional Information:
 Arts & Letters Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 353. Dark Self, East and West. 4 Credits.

Comparative examination of selfhood in Eastern and Western religious thought and cultural contexts. Focus on dark side or problematic dimensions of Buddhist, Christian, Daoist, Jewish, and other thought.
Additional Information:
 Arts & Letters Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 355. Mysticism. 4 Credits.

The experiential or mystical dimensions of the three major Abrahamic faiths. Exploration of the original writings of men and women from each spiritual tradition.
Additional Information:
 Arts & Letters Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 357. War, Terrorism, and Religion. 4 Credits.

Offers an examination of the theme of war, terrorism, and religion, focusing on cases of religiously motivated acts of violence in the contemporary era.
Additional Information:
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 359. Religion After Atheism. 4 Credits.

Atheist critiques of religion, analyses of secularism from multiple disciplinary perspectives, and responses to atheism and secularism by modernist Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist writers.
Additional Information:
 Arts & Letters Area
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 399. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times

REL 401. Research: [Topic]. 1-4 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times

REL 403. Thesis. 1-4 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times

REL 405. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-4 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times

REL 407. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-4 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times

REL 408. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times

REL 409. Terminal Project. 1-12 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times

REL 410. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-4 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times

REL 411. Making Sense of Religion. 4 Credits.

History of the study of religion, from the late 19th century to the present, as an expression of society, agent of oppression, psychological experience, symbolic system, and Western concept. Junior standing required.

REL 414. Biblical Book: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Close reading of one or more books of the Judeo-Christian Bible in literary, historical, and cultural contexts; history of interpretation; and critical scholarship. Repeatable twice when topic changes for a maximum of 12 credits.
Repeatable 2 times for a maximum of 12 credits when topic changes

REL 432. Islamic Mysticism: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Inner dimensions of Islamic piety and righteousness, from the Koranic and prophetic foundations to principal thinkers in the medieval Arabic and Persian Sufi traditions. Repeatable twice for a maximum of 12 credits.
Repeatable 2 times for a maximum of 12 credits

REL 440. Readings in Buddhist Scriptures. 4 Credits.

Readings in representative scriptures in English translation. Selection based on their import in development of Indian Buddhist philosophy and their impact on evolution of East Asian forms of Buddhism.
Additional Information:
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 444. Medieval Japanese Buddhism. 4 Credits.

Medieval Japanese Buddhism of the 12th and 13th centuries. Examination of religious thought and cultural history including Zen and Pure Land.
Additional Information:
 Cultural Literacy: Global Perspectives

REL 507. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-4 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times

REL 508. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times

REL 510. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-4 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times

REL 511. Making Sense of Religion. 4 Credits.

History of the study of religion, from the late 19th century to the present, as an expression of society, agent of oppression, psychological experience, symbolic system, and Western concept.

REL 514. Biblical Book: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Close reading of one or more books of the Judeo-Christian Bible in literary, historical, and cultural contexts; history of interpretation; and critical scholarship. Repeatable twice when topic changes for a maximum of 12 credits.
Repeatable 2 times for a maximum of 12 credits

REL 532. Islamic Mysticism: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Inner dimensions of Islamic piety and righteousness, from the Koranic and prophetic foundations to principal thinkers in the medieval Arabic and Persian Sufi traditions. Repeatable twice for a maximum of 12 credits.
Repeatable 2 times for a maximum of 12 credits

REL 540. Readings in Buddhist Scriptures. 4 Credits.

Readings in representative scriptures in English translation. Selection based on their import in development of Indian Buddhist philosophy and their impact on evolution of East Asian forms of Buddhism.

REL 544. Medieval Japanese Buddhism. 4 Credits.

Medieval Japanese Buddhism of the 12th and 13th centuries. Examination of religious thought and cultural history including Zen and Pure Land.

REL 605. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times

REL 608. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times

REL 609. Terminal Project. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.
Repeatable 99 times