Spring 2014 Courses

RELS 225: Christian Origins
Rob Kugler
MWF 11:30-12:30

Exploration of early Christianity, from the turn of the eras to 400 C.E. Focus on the development of the religion in the multicultural, pluralistic context of the Greco-Roman world. Study of the archaeological and written evidence for Christian origins (i.e., the archaeology of Jerusalem, the Galilee, and the Dead Sea Scrolls community; the New Testament, the writings of “orthodox” and “heretical” early Christian thinkers, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and other relevant Judean texts). Analysis of key themes in early Christian studies (i.e., gender, orthodoxy and heterodoxy, early Christianity’s relationship to early Judaism, Christianity and empire).

RELS 242: Religions and Cultures in East Asia
Jessica Starling
MWF 1:50-2:50

Chinese and Japanese worldviews. Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Shintoism: their origins, development, interactions. Mutual influence of folk and elite traditions, expansion of Buddhism and its adaptation to different sociopolitical environments, effects of modernization on traditional religious institutions.

RELS 253: Religion in American History- Civil War
Susanna Morrill
TTh 9:40-11:10

Introduction to major themes and movements in American religious history from colonial origins to the Civil War. Consideration of Native American religious traditions, colonial settlement, slavery and slave religion, revivalism, religion and the revolution, growth of Christian denominationalism, origins of Mormonism, using a comparative approach in the effort to understand diverse movements. Central themes: revival and religious renewal, appropriation of Old Testament language by various groups (Puritans, African Americans, Mormons), democratization of religion.

RELS 262: Modern Judaism
Sylvia Frankel
MWF 12:40-1:40

Exploration of how the emancipation period in Europe transformed the Jewish world, beginning in the latter part of the 18th century. Includes some of the early personalities, such as Moses Mendelssohn, Samson Raphael Hirsch, Leopold Zunz; the emergence of new denominations in Europe in the 19th century, such as the Reform and neo-Orthodox movements; and denominations developed in the United States in the 20th century.

RELS 274: Islam in the Modern World
Paul Powers
MWF 10:20-11:20

The religious, social, and political dynamics of the Islamic world, circa 1300 C.E. to present, especially the 19th-21st centuries. Earlier developments (e.g., the Qur’an, Muhammad, Muslim dynasties) considered in relation to the modern context. European colonialism, postcolonial change, reform and “fundamentalist” movements, Sufism, Muslim views of “modernity,” and changing understandings of politics, gender, and relations with non-Muslims.

RELS 298: Science and Christianity                                                           David Galaty
MWF 12:40-1:40

Throughout history, science and religion have been complementary enterprises. Both have sought knowledge about something that was thought to exist outside of human consciousness: nature on the one hand and the Divine on the other. Both have worked to develop methods for accessing this knowledge, both have built communities of adherents to pursue these methods, and both have needed to express in rational symbolic language ideas about that which
exists beyond symbol and reason. In the process, both have continually confronted questions of authority and legitimacy. It should come as no surprise, then, that science and Christianity have learned from one another, at times cooperatively and at times confrontationally and painfully. This is a course in intellectual history that traces theological and scientific ideas as they developed in a social and institutional context, from late antiquity through the scientific revolution and a bit beyond. We will pay particular attention to the development of ontological (What is real?), epistemological (What is knowledge?), and cosmological (What is natural order?) approaches. We will do a great deal of work with primary sources in translation, bolstered by significant secondary works. In the process we will discover unexpected ideas and relationships that will startle and delight.

RELS 330: Jesus: History, Myth/Mystery
Rob Kugler
MWF 9:10-10:10

Survey of the history of cultural appropriations of Jesus through the centuries, ending with the contemporary search for the historical Jesus and its pop culture congeners. A case study in the appropriation of a classical religious figure.
Gospel records; evidence of other ancient sources, including noncanonical gospels; early Christian writings; Western cultural appropriations of Jesus; and Jesus in modern film and literature.

RELS 451: Seminar in American Religion
Susanna Morrill
TTh 11:30-1:00

Major trends in American religion from the Puritans to the feminist and liberation theologies of the 20th century. Intensive reading of works by major American figures and scholars. With instructor consent, may be taken twice for credit.

RELS 452: Seminar: Topics in Asian Religions
Jessica Starling
TTh 1:50-3:20

Advanced seminar in Asian religions with an emphasis on East Asia. Topics may include Zen and/or Pure Land Buddhist doctrine and practice; religion and family in East Asia; female religious adepts and theories of women’s salvation. Intensive readings in primary texts and student research projects. May be taken twice for credit with change of topic.

RELS 490: Senior Thesis
Rob Kugler
TTh 8:00-9:30

Advanced readings and major works in religion. In consultation with faculty, selection of a thesis topic and further reading in the discipline and research in the topic area. Substantial written document demonstrating mastery of theory and methodology in the study of religion and the ability to integrate these into the thesis topic.