Requirements for the Major
Honors in Religious Studies
Certificate
Courses
Introductory Courses
Religious Traditions
Approaches to Religion
Capstone (Required) and General Courses
Course Descriptions
1A Ingraham Hall, 1155 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1397; 608/265-1854; fax 608 265-1856; rsp@wisc.edu; http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/rsp/relstud.htm
Director: Quitman Phillips, 216 Chazen Museum of Art, 800 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706; 608/263-2289; qephilli@wisc.edu
Professors Brantly, Brenner, Bˆºhnemann, Cohen, Courtenay, Doane, Donnelly, DuBois, Elder, Fox, Hardin, Hildner, Hutchinson, Kaplan, Khazanov, Kleinhenz, Kornblatt, Koshar, Langer, Loewenstein, McClure, Memon, Miernowski, Moore, Morgan, Murray, Nadler, Narayan, Niles, Numbers, Ohnuki-Tierney, Pekarsky, Phillips, Powell, Reames, Salomon, Schamiloglu, Schleicher, Schulenburg, Sorkin, Wandel, Whitehead, Winichakul, Wink, Wolf, Yandell; Associate Professors Bird, Chamberlain, Csikszentmihalyi, Hallisey, C. Miller, Schweber, Thal, Weisbard, Zaeske; Assistant Professors Allen, Davis, Howard, F. Miller, Moustafa, Shelef, Shoemaker; Lecturers Rosenhagen, Troxel, Vajracharya
Undergraduate advisor and honors advisor in the major: Ronald Troxel, 1348 Van Hise Hall; 263-1972; rltroxel@wisc.edu
Faculty diversity liaison: program director
Religious studies is an academic discipline that looks at religious phenomena worldwide from a variety of angles in order to achieve an understanding of the many roles that religion plays in human life. Students of religion use different methods for different goals. These include historical methods to understand how religions change in time; critical literary methods to understand religious ideas; aesthetic methods to understand religious art; social-scientific methods to understand the relationship between religion and society and culture. Some ways of studying religion emphasize understanding religions on their own terms, other ways use comparative methods to discern differences and similarities between religions. Above all, the field of religious studies assumes a willingness to learn different ways of thinking and interpreting human life.
Students earning a major in religious studies are expected to:
Accordingly, a baccalaureate major in religious studies requires students not only to complete a series of courses, but also to acquire the skills to analyze religion and to communicate their findings cogently.
To be accepted as a major in the Religious Studies Program, a student must file a campus transcript, major declaration form and a student information form (available on the program Web site) with the program administrator, preferably after consulting with the undergraduate advisor. There are no prerequisites for declaring the major, but students are advised to declare in time to take Religious Studies 600 in the junior year.
To earn a major in religious studies, students must complete at least 31 credits:
All students must fulfill the L&S requirement of at least 15 credits of upper-level work in the major completed in residence. Religious Studies courses numbered 207, 227, 234, 235, 237, 251, 253, 257, 261 and all courses numbered 300-699, except 332, count toward this requirement.
To earn Honors in the Major in Religious Studies, students must:
Writing a thesis (Religious Studies 681/682, or Religious Studies 691/92) is recommended but not required.
A certificate in religious studies is available to all undergraduates and special students studying at UW-Madison. To be admitted for the certificate, students must have a faculty advisor, with whom they will develop their curriculum, and with whom they should continue to consult as they progress through their course work. Students apply by filling out a certificate declaration form and the L&S Major Declaration form, available on the program Web site, and submitting the completed forms to the program office. The certificate form must be signed by both the student's advisor and the undergraduate advisor. To earn the certificate, students must complete:
For complete information, including a list of courses in each category, contact the program office or see polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/rsp/relstud.htm.
Courses are listed below according to the major requirements they fulfill. Check with the program office for information on specific courses. Courses listed in italics are taught infrequently.
Please note that, because religious studies is an interdisciplinary program drawing upon many departments, some courses may have prerequisites in their home departments that must be fulfilled even though the prerequisites themselves have no bearing on progress within the religious studies major. Students are responsible for ensuring that they have met all the prerequisites to enter a course before they enroll in it.
208 Foundations of Western Religious and Intellectual History
234/6 Genres of Western Religious Writing
271 Religion in History and Culture: The West
235 Genres of Asian Religious Writing
273 Religion in History and Culture: The East
The following course may be substituted for either A1 or A2 but not both:
261 Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion
211 Introduction to Judaism
227 Introduction to Biblical Literature in English
231/332 Prophets of the Bible
237 Biblical Poetry in Translation
328 Classical Rabbinic Literature in Translation
341 Hebrew Literature—Biblical Period
346 Jewish Literature of the Greco-Roman Period
348 Literary Aspects of the English Bible [Old Testament]
372 Jews of Eastern and Central Europe
376 Ancient Jewish Psychology and Ethics
377 Jewish Cultural History [ancient and rabbinic]
378 Jewish Cultural History [medieval and modern]
417 History-telling in the Bible
435 Jewish Philosophy from Antiquity to the Seventeenth Century
446 Holy Places and Sacred Times in Rabbinic Literature
448 Classical Rabbinic Texts
475 Education and Jewish Civilization
529 Intellectual and Religious History of European Jewry 1648-1939
613 Jewish Law and Ethics in Comparative Perspective
253 Literature in Translation: Dante's Divine Comedy
312 The Medieval Church
317 Medieval Social and Intellectual History, 400-1200
318 Medieval Social and Intellectual History, 1200-1450
325 Eastern Christianity/Russian Orthodoxy in Global Perspective
331 Science, Medicine, and Religion
333 Early Christian Literature: Matthew—Revelation
334 The Protestant Reformation
349 Literary Aspects of the English Bible [New Testament]
360 The Anglo-Saxons
361 Early Christian Literature: Pauline Christianity
366 Medieval Monasticism
434 Milton
437 Western Christianity from Augustine to Darwin
451 American Religious History to the Mid-Nineteenth Century
472 Early Christian Literature: The Gospels
205 The Making of the Islamic World: The Middle East 500-1500
217 Islamic Mystical Poetry in Translation
257 Literatures of Muslim Societies in Translation
357 Literatures of Muslim Societies
370 Islam: Religion and Culture
379 Islam in Iran
439 Islamic History from the Origin of Islam to the Ottoman Empire
444 Introduction to Sufism
459 Islamic Culture: Meanings and History
614 Social Structures of Muslim Societies
618 Political Islam
251 Civilizations of India—Classical Period
274 Religion in South Asia
355 Hinduism
358 Asian Meditation and Martial Arts
367/424 Jainism: Religion of Non-Violence
402 The Thought of Gandhi
416 Introduction to Religions of South Asia
418 Religions of India—Studies in the Vedic Tradition
422 Hinduism and Religions of Modern South Asia
463 Introduction to Indian Philosophy
551 Religious and Love Poetry in Mediaeval Hindi
620 Studies in Religions of Asia
623 Yoga: Methods and Goals
625 Sanskrit and Asian Cultures
634 Social Structure of India
353 Buddhist Cult Practice
364 Introduction to Buddhism
365 History of Buddhist Thought
421 Survey of Tibetan Buddhism
423 Buddhist Iconography
425 Readings in Chinese Buddhist Texts
426 Readings in Chinese Buddhist Texts
427 Readings in Japanese Buddhist Texts
428 Readings in Japanese Buddhist Texts
436 History of Chinese Buddhism
438 Buddhism and Society in Southeast Asian History
453 Buddhist Ethics
455 History of Japanese Buddhism, 550-1333
456 History of Japanese Buddhism, 1333-1965
460 History of Buddhism and Social Institutions
466 Buddhist Thought
461/471 Topics in Contemporary Buddhism
476 Studies in Buddhist Literature
503 Survey of Buddhist Meditational Literature
504 Research Methods in Buddhist Study
525 Intermediate Readings in Chinese Buddhist Texts
526 Intermediate Readings in Chinese Buddhist Texts
527 Intermediate Readings in Japanese Buddhist Texts
528 Intermediate Readings in Japanese Buddhist Texts
553 Ritual in Buddhist Life
576 Buddhism and Literature
592/3 Buddhist Doctrinal Systems
621 Buddhism in the History of South and Southeast Asia
650 Proseminar in Buddhist Thought
660 Proseminar: History of Buddhism and Buddhist Social Institutions
670 Proseminar: The Culture of Buddhist Tibet
340 Introduction to the I-Ching: Book of Change
350 Introduction to Taoism
363 Introduction to Confucianism
477 Portraiture in Premodern China
478 Art and Religious Practice in Medieval Japan
342 In Translation: The Mythology of Scandinavia
351 Religions of the Ancient Near East
352 Shamanism
359 Myth
375 Civilization of Ancient Egypt
450/464 Goddesses and Feminine Powers
517 Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean
517 Ancient Religion and the Early Church
537 Ancient Religion Tutorial
666 Anthropology of Shamanism and Occult Experience
151 The Bible in the English Tradition
309 The Crusades: Christianity and Islam
368 The Bible in the Middle Ages
369 Ethnic and Minority Religions in America
420 Hinduism and Islam in Medieval South Asia
470 Religious Thought in Modern Europe
622 Cross-Cultural Spread of World Religions
624 Meditation in Indian Buddhism and Hinduism
626 Gods and Goddesses of South Asia
343 Anthropology of Religion
374 Rhetoric of Religion
465 Religion in Politics
479 Ritual and Ritual Theory
501 Philosophy of Religion
502 Special Topics in the Philosophy of Religion
516 Religion and Public Education
615 Sociology of Religion
616 Problems and Methods in the Study of Religion
600 Religion in Critical Perspective
695 Research Colloquium
697 Independent Research for Majors
200 Introductory Topics in Religious Studies [Humanities]
201 Introductory Topics in Religious Studies [Social Sciences]
400 Topics in Religious Studies [Humanities]
401 Topics in Religious Studies [Social Sciences]
681/82 Senior Honors Thesis
691/92 Senior Thesis
699 Directed Study
Please check with the program office for information on specific courses.
151 The Bible in the English Tradition. (Crosslisted with English) I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (L-E). Introduction to the Bible in English. Selected readings from the Old and New Testaments and of English literature formed or heavily influenced by the Bible. P: Open to Fr.
200 Introductory Topics in Religious Studies (Humanities). I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (H-E). Topics in religious studies in the humanities at an introductory level. P: Open to Fr.
201 Introductory Topics in Religious Studies- Social Studies. I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (S-E). Topics in religious studies in the social sciences at an introductory level. P: Open to Fr.
205 The Making of the Islamic World: The Middle East, 500-1500. (Crosslisted with History, LCA) I; 3-4 cr (H-E). Development of society and culture in the Middle East and North Africa from the emergence of Islam (7th century) to early modern times. P: Open to All Undergrads.
208 Foundations of Western Religious and Intellectual History. (Crosslisted with History) I or II; 3 cr (H-E). Discussion of the origins of important themes in the history of western thought, with emphasis on the rise of Athens in the 5th century B.C.; to "primitivism" in Hellenistic thought; and to issues in the Christian philosophy of history. P: Open to Fr.
211 Introduction to Judaism. (Crosslisted with Hebr St, Jewish) I or II; 4 cr (H-E). General introduction to Judaism covering the biblical, classical rabbinic, medieval, and modern periods. P: Open to Fr.
217 Islamic Mystical Poetry in Translation. (Crosslisted with Littrans, Cen Asia) I; 4 cr (L-E). Critical analysis and discussion of Islamic mystical (Sufi) masterworks (in English translation) originally in languages such as Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Punjabi, Pushto, and Sindhi from the Qur'an to premodern times. P: Open to Fr.
227 Introduction to Biblical Literature (in English). (Crosslisted with Littrans, Jewish) I; 4 cr (L-I). Introduction to the literature and literary history of the Old Testament, Apocrypha, Dead Sea Scrolls, Talmud, and Midrashim. P: Open to Fr. Not recom for Grads.
234 Genres of Western Religious Writing. (Crosslisted with ILS) I or II; 3 cr (b-H-I). Writing intensive course based on the conventions in which Western writers have expressed religious ideas. Readings from Jewish, Christian, and other spiritualities. P: Successful completion of or exemption from Com A requirement. Open to Fr.
235 Genres of Asian Religious Writing. (Crosslisted with E Asian, LCA) I or II or SS; 3 cr (b-H-I). Writing intensive course based on the conventions in which Asian writers have expressed religious ideas. Readings introduce major Asian religious traditions and expressive genres. P: Successful completion of or exemption from Com A requirement. Open to Fr.
237 Biblical Poetry in Translation. (Crosslisted with Hebr St, Jewish, Littrans) I or II; 3 cr (L-E). A study of the poetry of the Hebrew Bible as literature within the context of other ancient Near Eastern poetry. Influence of biblical poetry on the Dead Sea Scrolls, New Testament, medieval Hebrew poetry, and Jewish and Christian liturgies. P: Open to Fr.
251 The Civilizations of India-Classical Period. (Crosslisted with LCA) II; 4 cr (H-I). Traditional civilization considered historically and interpreted through its literature, art, philosophical systems and religions. P: Open to Fr.
253 Literature in Translation: Dante's Divine Comedy. (Crosslisted with Littrans, Medieval) I; 3 cr (L-I). P: So st or cons inst.
261 Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion. (Crosslisted with Philos) I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (Z-I). Doctrines and arguments of Western and Eastern religious and philosophical traditions: deity, human nature, immortality, resurrection, religious experience, faith, reason, good, evil, etc. P: So st or cons inst.
271 Religion in History and Culture: The West. I or II or SS; 3 cr (H-E). An interdepartmental, multidisciplinary survey of the major religious traditions of prehistory; the ancient near east; the ancient Mediterranean; biblical, post-biblical and contemporary Judaism; Christianity; Islam; and selected topics for comparative-historical study. P: Open to Fr.
273 Religion in History and Culture: The East. (Crosslisted with LCA, E Asian) I or II or SS; 3 cr (H-E). An interdepartmental, multidisciplinary survey of the major religious traditions of South Asia (India and adjacent countries); China; Japan; Southeast Asia; non-literate societies; and selected topics for comparative-historical study. P: Open to Fr.
274 Religion in South Asia. (Crosslisted with LCA) II; 3 cr (H-E). Introductory survey of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, etc., and an examination of the cultural, historical, ritual, and philosophical foundations of South Asian religion. P: Open to Fr.
309 The Crusades: Christianity and Islam. (Crosslisted with History, Medieval) I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (H-D). An examination of the Crusades from both Christian and Islamic perspectives; the historical, social, and religious context and significance of the Crusades for both Christians and Muslims. P: So st.
312 The Medieval Church. (Crosslisted with History, Medieval) Alt yrs.; 3-4 cr (H-D). The course covers the formation and development of ecclesiastical institutions and religious life in Western Europe from the fourth century to the Protestant Reformation. P: Open to Fr with cons inst.
317 Medieval Social and Intellectual History, 400-1200. (Crosslisted with History, Medieval) I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (H-I). Emphasis on interrelation of social structures and ideology. P: So st or cons inst.
318 Medieval Social and Intellectual History, 1200-1450. (Crosslisted with History, Medieval) I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (H-I). Emphasis on social change and intellectual developments. P: So st.
325 Eastern Christianity/Russian Orthodoxy in a Global Context. (Crosslisted with Slavic) Irr.; 3 cr (H-I). The course will focus on the history and doctrine of Eastern Christianity from its origins in the early Church through today, with special emphasis placed on the cultural manifestations of Orthodox doctrine, including liturgy, iconography, ritual practice. P: So st.
328 Classical Rabbinic Literature in Translation. (Crosslisted with Hebr St, Jewish, Littrans) II; 3-4 cr (L-I). Introduction to the literature of the Classical Rabbinic or Talmudic period of Judaism (2nd to 7th centuries CE). Historical and intellectual background; the interrelation of liturgy, legal and non-legal literature. P: Open to Fr.
331 Science, Medicine and Religion. (Crosslisted with Med Hist, Hist Sci) Irr.; 3-4 cr (H-D). Science, medicine and religion from antiquity to the present, with emphasis on Western civilization. P: Jr st and cons inst.
332 Prophets of the Bible. (Crosslisted with Hebr St, Jewish, Littrans) I or II; 4 cr (L-E). An introduction to the thought, literature, and history of the prophets of ancient Israel (in English). P: Open to Fr.
333 Early Christian Literature: Matthew-Revelation. I; 3 cr (L-I). An exploration of Christianity's charter documents in the light of what modern scholarship has discovered about the New Testament's sociohistorical context, composition, theologies, and presentations of Jesus. Open to Fr.
334 The Reformation. (Crosslisted with History) I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (H-I). The division of Western Christendom, 1500-1650, and its impact on Europe and the world. P: So st.
340 Introduction to the I-Ching: Book of Change. (Crosslisted with E Asian) I or II; 3-4 cr (H-I). Early religious and historical background of the Book of Changes, the composition of the I-Ching, the formation and structure of the hexagrams and their symbolism, the interpretations of the texts associated with the hexagrams, and techniques of divination. P: So st; Undergrad majors, 4 cr; non-major Undergrads & Grad majors, 3 cr. No prev knowledge of Chinese required for non-major Undergrads.
342 In Translation: Mythology of Scandinavia. (Crosslisted with Littrans, Folklore, Medieval) I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (L-A). P: Jr st or cons inst.
343 Anthropology of Religion. (Crosslisted with Anthro) I or II; 3-4 cr (S-I). Anthropological approaches. Illustrated by critical considerations of outstanding contributions. Selected religious systems; areal and topical comparative studies; religion as an ethnographic problem. P: Anthro 104 or cons inst.
346 Jewish Literature of the Greco-Roman Period. (Crosslisted with Hebr St, Jewish) II; 3 cr (L-I). Jewish literature from 350 BCE to 150 CE. The Greek and Hebrew sources include stories, religious poetry, wisdom books and apocalyptic texts. Readings (in translation) from the Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, and the Dead Sea Scrolls in their historical, cultural and literary setting.
348 Literary Aspects of the English Bible. (Crosslisted with English) I or II or SS; 3 cr (L-D). Old Testament. P: 6 cr of intro lit.
349 Literary Aspects of the English Bible. (Crosslisted with English) I or II or SS; 3 cr (L-D). New Testament. P: 6 cr of intro lit.
350 Introduction to Taoism. (Crosslisted with E Asian) I or II; 3-4 cr (H-I). A study of the writings attributed to Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu and their concepts, and the history and various aspects of religious Taoism. Consideration is given to Taoist influences on literature. Undergraduate majors register for 4 cr; non-majors and graduate majors register for 3 cr. P: So st; Undergrad majors register for 4 cr, Undergrad non-majors and Grad stdts register for 3 cr.
351 Religions of the Ancient Near East. (Crosslisted with Hebr St) I; 2 cr (H-D). The gods in ancient Israel, Egypt, Mesopotamia and Canaan: their stories, deeds, characters, and demands, and how they were worshipped. P: So st.
352 Shamanism. (Crosslisted with Folklore) II; 3 cr (e-Z-I). Survey of shamanism as a religious tradition and sociocultural force in Siberian, Asian, and Native American societies. Exploration of shamanic rituals, roles, cosmology. Cultural and political uses of shamanism in traditional and modern contexts.
355 Hinduism. (Crosslisted with LCA) I; 4 cr (Z-I). An historical survey of Hindu scriptures, rituals, philosophies, and ethics from the ancient to the contemporary world. Concepts such as karma, yoga, and reincarnation will be put in the broader contexts of Hindu theism, worship, and law. P: Open to Fr.
357 Literatures of Muslim Societies. (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (L-I). Survey in English of the literatures of the Islamic Middle East and South West Asia in Turkish, Persian and Arabic. Emphasis on comparative approaches within an Islamic cultural continuum and reactions to this heritage in the modern and post-modern periods. P: Open to Fr.
359 Myth. (Crosslisted with Folklore) I or II; 3 cr (H-D). The relationship between myth and tale, history, culture. Myth research; methodological approaches; world mythologies; myth and modern times. P: So st.
360 The Anglo-Saxons. (Crosslisted with English, Medieval, History) I or II or SS; 3 cr (L-D). Life and literature during the Old English period (c450-c1100). Primary emphasis on the vernacular and Latin writings of the Anglo-Saxons themselves. Extensive historical and archaeological background; attention to the development and character of monasticism, to the production of manuscripts, etc. All reading in translation. P: 6 cr of intro lit.
361 Early Christian Literature: Pauline Christianity. II; 3 cr (L-I). By conventional reckoning, Paul was a major contributor to the development of Christianity. This course analyzes both Paul's and other contemporary writings to assess the extent to which he contributed to the development of the early church. P: Open to Fr.
363 Introduction to Confucianism. (Crosslisted with E Asian) I or II; 3 cr (H-I). The development of Confucianism in pre-Buddhist China emphasizing interactions with competing viewpoints. Particular attention to issues of morality and human nature, stressing the roots of Confucianism in more general theories of value. All readings in translation. P: So st.
364 Introduction to Buddhism. (Crosslisted with E Asian, LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (H-I). The basic thought, practices and history of Buddhism, including selflessness and relativity, practices of meditation, merit-making and compassion from both local and translocal perspectives. Includes a discussion of Buddhism as a contemporary, North American religion. P: Open to Fr.
366 Medieval Monasticism. (Crosslisted with Medieval, History) I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (L-D). Christian monasticism from the Egyptian desert fathers through Benedict's Rule to the eventual fragmentation and decline in the later Middle Ages, with attention on the early, formative period. P: So st.
367 Jainism: Religion of Non-Violence. (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (H-I). An examination of the theological, ritual, and social frameworks of the Jain tradition; explores the moral and physical implications of asceticism and non-violence from a Jain perspective through a study of sacred texts and contemporary practice. P: Open to Fr.
368 The Bible in the Middle Ages. (Crosslisted with Medieval, Hebr St, History) I or II; 3 cr (L-D). Medieval Bible and its shaping effect on medieval culture. P: So st or cons inst.
369 Ethnic and Minority Religions in America. (Crosslisted with Asian Am, LCA) I or II; 3 cr (e-H-I). Overview of major world religions and diversity of religion in America from colonies to present with focus on late-20th-century U.S. Comparative studies of selected minority religions using historical, anthropological, and sociological perspectives. P: So st.
370 Islam: Religion and Culture. (Crosslisted with African, LCA) I; 4 cr (H-I). The emergence and development of Islam; schism; theology; asceticism; speculative and popular mysticism; literatures in diverse Islamic languages. P: Open to Fr.
372 Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. (Crosslisted with Anthro, Jewish) I or II; 3-4 cr (S-D). Course will focus on main characteristics of Central and Eastern European Jews (Ashkenazim) in their cultural-historical development. P: So st or cons inst. Open to Fr with cons inst.
374 The Rhetoric of Religion. (Crosslisted with Com Arts) I, II; 3 cr (H-I). Rhetorical character of religious controversy and sectarian persuasion in Western religion. P: So st.
375 Civilization of Ancient Egypt. (Crosslisted with Classics, African) I or II; 3 cr (H-I). A study of texts and art from the Old Kingdom through the Roman Imperial period. P: So st.
376 Ancient Jewish Psychology and Ethics. (Crosslisted with Hebr St, Jewish) II; 3 cr (H-I). Examines the views of ethics and self-cultivation held by rabbis of late antiquity and the early medieval period. Focuses on primary texts in translation but also includes theoretical and comparative studies of the topic. P: Open to Fr.
377 Jewish Cultural History (in English). (Crosslisted with Hebr St, Jewish) I or II; 4 cr (H-I). Survey of Jewish cultural history from the Biblical to Talmudic and early Muslim periods; and its interaction with other cultures, including Hellenistic, Roman, and Muslim. P: So st.
378 Jewish Cultural History (in English). (Crosslisted with Hebr St, Jewish) II; 3-4 cr (H-I). Jewish cultural history from the medieval to the modern period; emphasis on socio-economic and cultural conditions, Jewish civilization in various countries to the First World War. P: So st.
379 Islam in Iran. (Crosslisted with History) I or II; 3 cr (H-A). History of Islam in Iran from Arab conquest in the seventh century to the Islamic Revolution in 1978-89. P: So st.
400 Topics in Religious Studies—Humanities. I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (H-I). Topics may include religion in specific societies or regions; religion in the arts; contemporary themes in religion. P: So st or cons inst.
401 Topics in Religious Studies—Social Studies. I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (S-I). Topics in religious studies in the social sciences. .
402 Thought of Gandhi. (Crosslisted with LCA) Alt yrs.; II; 3 cr (H-I). Critical analysis of Gandhi's social, political, and religious thought, tracing his experiences in South Africa and India, noting links between his concepts and classical Hinduism, examining criticisms raised against Gandhi's thought, and identifying contemporary continuities of Gandhi's thought in India, Europe, and the U.S. P: So st or cons inst.
417 History-telling in the Bible. (Crosslisted with Hebr St, Jewish) II; 3 cr (H-A). The biblical books of Genesis through 2 Kings, together with 1 and 2 Chronicles, recount ancient Israel's history. This course investigates how their authors composed their stories and explores what their interests and intentions were.
420 Hinduism and Islam in Medieval South Asia. (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (H-I). Survey of the interaction of Islam and Medieval Hinduism on the Indian subcontinent. Emphasis on Arabic, Turkish, and Persian components of Islam in India, developments in Indian Muslim jurisprudence and dogma, sectarian tendencies in both traditions. Sufism and Bhakti, the Panthic movement, and the Sikhs. P: One of: LCA/Relig St 205, 370, 444, Relig St 217 or cons inst.
421 A Survey of Tibetan Buddhism. (Crosslisted with LCA) Alt yrs.; II; 3 cr (H-I). By studying the distinctively Tibetan forms of Buddhism, we also examine more general issues, such as the relationship between theory and practice, the politics of "world-making," and the connection between identity and experience. P: So st or cons inst; prev study of Buddhism strongly recommended.
423 Buddhist Iconography. (Crosslisted with LCA, Art Hist) I or II; 3 cr (H-I). The history of Buddhist art and architecture in India, Tibet and China, with emphasis on the development of artistic form in relation to Buddhist philosophy and of architecture as a setting for monastic life and ritual. P: So st.
434 Milton. (Crosslisted with English) I or II or SS; 3 cr (L-D). Major poems and selected prose. P: 6 cr of intro lit.
435 Jewish Philosophy from Antiquity to the Seventeenth Century. (Crosslisted with Philos, Jewish) Alt yrs.; II; 3 cr (H-D). A survey of major philosophers and philosophical currents within Judaism from antiquity through the seventeenth century. P: 3 credits in philosophy.
437 Western Christianity from Augustine to Darwin. (Crosslisted with History) Alt yrs.; II; 4 cr (I). A survey of Christianity from the fourth century through the nineteenth. Explores the culture of Christianity—architecture, literature, images, and mosic—in order to understand how Christianity has become a world religion. P: Open to Fr with cons inst.
438 Buddhism and Society in Southeast Asian History. (Crosslisted with History, LCA) II; 3-4 cr (Z-I). Therevada Buddhism in Southeast Asia; ideas and basic tenets; history and its impact on social and political institutions; the monastic order and relations with the states; roles in the early history up to the present; focus on Thailand and Burma. P: So st.
439 Islamic History From the Origin of Islam to the Ottoman Empire. (Crosslisted with History) I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (H-I). Political action and organization in medieval Islam (ca 600-1500), with focus on selected states. P: So st.
444 Introduction to Sufism (Islamic Mysticism). (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (H-I). The rise and development of mysticism in Islam; basic Sufi doctrines, values and practices; life and works of important speculative and popular Sufi saints; Sufi brotherhoods in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa. P: So st & LCA/Hist/Relig St 205, Littrans 217, Relig St 271, LCA/African/Relig St 370, or cons inst.
446 Holy Places and Sacred Times in Rabbinic Literature. (Crosslisted with Hebr St, Jewish) II; 3-4 cr (H-I). Examines the ways that space and time were understood and made meaningful by the rabbis of Late Antiquity, whose thought and practice have influenced the religious life of most Jews to the present day. P: For lec: So st or cons inst. For opt disc: Hebr St 302 or 324, or cons inst.
448 Classical Rabbinic Texts. (Crosslisted with Hebr St, Jewish) I or II; 3 cr (L-A). Introduction to the language and literature of the rabbinic period in Judaism (2nd-7th century CE). Acquisition of language skills to read Hebrew texts of this period, including Mishna, Tosephta, and Midrash. P: Hebrew 202 or 324 or cons inst.
451 American Religious History to the Mid-Nineteenth Century. (Crosslisted with History) I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (H-I). The development of a national religious culture characterized by voluntarism, pluralism, evangelicalism and denominationalism, with attention to the scriptural and European background, popular piety and magic, sectarian and communitarian groups, Amerindian and Afro-American Christianities, and social reform movements. P: So st.
453 Buddhist Ethics. (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (H-A). Analysis of the development of Buddhist doctrine and its technical formulation in response to internal and external challenge: the growth of argument and logic. P: So st & LCA/Relig St 364 or 465, or cons inst.
459 Islamic Culture: Meanings and History. (Crosslisted with LCA, African) Irr.; 3 cr (H-A). Muslim culture through religious and rational sciences (Quranic exegesis, mysticism, philosophy, scholasticism, schism), art, and literature. P: So st & LCA/Relig St 273 or 444 or African/LCA/Relig St 370, or cons inst.
463 Introduction to Indian Philosophy. (Crosslisted with Philos, LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (H-I). Philosophical ideas in India. P: Jr st & 3 cr in philos or cons inst.
465 Religion and Politics. (Crosslisted with Poli Sci) I or II or SS; 3-4 cr (S-D). Exploration of how, who and with what consequences religion and politics interact in the United States. P: Jr st.
466 Buddhist Thought. (Crosslisted with LCA, E Asian) Irr.; 3 cr (H-I). Survey of the fundamental trends in Buddhist thought through the works of major philosophers. Themes include the concept of "selflessness" and concomitant theories of essencelessness, perception, language and rationality. Previous study of Buddhism or philosophy is strongly recommended. P: So st or cons inst. Prev study of Buddhism or philos strongly recommended.
470 Religious Thought in Modern Europe. (Crosslisted with History) I or II or SS; 3 cr (H-I). History of religious thought in modern Europe (19th and 20th centuries) as reflected in theology, philosophy, literature, and political and social theory. Major emphasis on Protestant and Roman Catholic traditions but with additional discussion of Judaism and Orthodoxy. P: So st.
471 Topics in Contemporary Buddhism. (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (H-I). A survey of Buddhist thought and practice in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with special attention to the impact of the processes of globalization on Buddhist communities. P: So st & LCA/Relig St 364 or 465, or cons inst.
472 Christian Literature: The Gospels. II; 3 cr (L-A). The first century Gospels show how early Christians used traditions about Jesus' deeds and words to define themselves and others. This course investigates how those Gospels were composed and how their authors portrayed Jesus so as to address their concerns.
475 Education and Jewish Civilization. (Crosslisted with Ed Pol, Jewish) I or II; 3 cr (Z-A). Examines the changing role of education in Jewish history and debates within Jewish civilization concerning the nature and value of learning. Topics include: relationships between learning and life; ethical and pedagogical dimensions of teacher-student relationships; gender and learning. P: So st or cons inst.
477 Portraiture in Premodern China. (Crosslisted with Art Hist) Irr.; 3 cr (H-A). Examines the creation and use of portraits in China for rituals of commemoration, worship, and assertions of status. Besides issues of resemblance ("likeness") and artistic expression, we consider the development of visual codes used to construct social identities. P: Art Hist 203 or 370 or 371 or 472; or E Asian 356 or 357; or cons inst.
478 Art and Religious Practice in Medieval Japan. (Crosslisted with Art Hist) Alt yrs.; II; 3 cr (H-I). A study of spaces, objects, and images within the context of religious belief and practice in Japan between 1300 and 1600, when great Zen monasteries grew up alongside older Buddhist/Shinto religious "megaplexes," and new salvationist sects spread throughout Japan. P: Undergrads: a prev crse in art hist or relig studies & satisfaction of Com B requirement. Knowledge of Asian religion recommended.
479 Ritual and Ritual Theory. (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (H-I). Theoretical and comparative historical studies of sacrifice, domestic and community worship, life-cycle rites, spirit possession, pilgrimage, festivals, performance traditions. P: Jr st or above.
501 Philosophy of Religion. (Crosslisted with Philos) I or II; 3-4 cr (Z-A). Analysis of religious experience and activity, and examination of principal religious ideas in light of modern psychology, philosophy, science, and anthropology. P: Jr st or cons inst.
502 Special Topics in Philosophy of Religion. (Crosslisted with Philos) Irr.; 3 cr (Z-A). One or more topics selected from among the following: religious discourse, God, evil, survival, great philosophers of religion, etc. Variable content. P: Jr st or cons inst.
516 Religion and Public Education. (Crosslisted with Curric, Ed Pol) II; 3 cr (S-D). Examines theories and practices related to the role of religion in public schooling and its accompanying tensions: political and philosophical, practical and personal. P: Jr st or cons inst.
517 Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean. (Crosslisted with Classics, History) I or II; 3 cr (H-I). Ancient religions in their political, social and cultural contexts; topics include ritual, literary and artistic representations, religious persecutions, and/or modern approaches to the study of ancient religions. Chronological and geographical focus will vary between Greece, Rome, Judaea and Egypt. P: So st.
529 Intellectual and Religious History of European Jewry, 1648-1939. (Crosslisted with History, Jewish) I; 4 cr (H-I). Main movements and trends of thought, religion, and culture as European Jewry gained emancipation and adjusted to mass society. P: Hist 119 or 120 or 512 or 513; or Hist/Jewish 220; or Hebr St/Jewish 471 or 472.
553 Ritual in Buddhist Life. (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (H-A). A survey of the place of ritual in Buddhist life across Asia. Special attention will be given to meditation, both as a form of ritual and as an ancillary to ritual. P: LCA/Relig St 364 or cons inst.
576 Buddhism and Literature. (Crosslisted with LCA, E Asian) Irr.; 3 cr (L-A). Examination of Buddhist involvement in literary culture in South and East Asia. P: LCA/E Asian/Relig St 273 or 364 or LCA/Relig St 416.
600 Religion in Critical Perspective. I or II; 3 cr (A). Readings in the analysis of religion as a human phenomenon from various perspectives, such as: skeptical and sympathetic views toward religion; theories of religion's origins and functions; and examinations of religious awe. Should be taken junior year. Seminar format. P: Jr st & cons inst. Preference given to religious studies majors.
613 Jewish Law and Ethics in Comparative Perspective. (Crosslisted with Jewish, Med Hist) I or II or SS; 3 cr (Z-D). History, sources and methods of Jewish Law reflecting the diversity of Jewish life and culture. Topical focus on family law, the role and status of women, and bioethical issues. Some comparisons with other systems of religious law, secular law and secular philosophical ethics. P: Jr st; some prior coursework in Jewish studies, law or both, or cons inst.
614 Social Structures of Muslim Societies. (Crosslisted with Soc, LCA) Alt yrs.; 3 cr (S-A). Analysis of legal, religious, familial, educational, and political institutions in Muslim societies, with special attention to the interaction between these institutions and contemporary social and economic processes. P: Jr st or cons inst.
615 Sociology of Religion. (Crosslisted with Soc) I or II or SS; 3 cr (S-A). Function of religion in society; religious and societal variation; interrelations between religion and social structure, economic development, and character; the nature of religious movements. P: Jr st & intro course in soc.
620 Proseminar: Studies in Religions of Asia. (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (H-A). Historical and structural analysis and discussion of specific topics in one or more religions of Asia. P: So st or LCA/Relig St 273 or cons inst.
621 Buddhism in the History of South and Southeast Asia. (Crosslisted with History) I or II; 3 cr (H-A). The rise, development, and spread of Buddhism in South Asia 1000 BCE to the present. An examination of how and why Buddhism became a major faith throughout South and Southeast Asia while being superseded in the lands of its origin. P: 1 crse in either Buddhism or the history of South and/or Southeast Asia, or cons inst.
622 Cross-Cultural Spread of World Religions. (Crosslisted with Anthro) I or II; 3-4 cr (e-S-D). A review of the origins, spread, and competition of three world religions: Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism in cross-cultural perspective. P: Sr or Grad st or cons inst.
623 Yoga: Methods and Goals. (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (H-A). Explores Yoga techniques propagated in the ancient Indian texts, as well as their adaptations in the Western world. P: So st & one crse in S Asian religions or cons inst.
624 Meditation in Indian Buddhism and Hinduism. (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (H-A). Examines contemplative practices in the two major Indian religions, Buddhism and Hinduism. Covers practices described in ancient texts but also provides an overview of selected modern practices. P: So st & one crse in S Asian religions or cons inst.
625 Sanskrit and Asian Cultures. (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (H-A). Addresses the nexus between the classical Indian language, Sanskrit and Sanskritic-Brahamanical culture in South Asia. Also explores influences on other Asian cultures. P: So st & one crse in S Asian religions or cons inst.
626 Gods and Goddesses of South Asia. (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 3 cr (H-A). Explores the deities of South Asia by examining the development of iconographic concepts and devotional practices associated with the worship of deities. P: So st & one crse in S Asian religions or cons inst.
634 Social Structure of India. (Crosslisted with Soc, LCA) Alt yrs.; 3 cr (S-A). Analysis of the major institutions of India with special attention to the relationship between Hindu community organization, caste and the family; the effects of political developments, population growth, industrialization, and urbanization. P: Jr st & intro course in soc, or cons inst.
650 Proseminar in Buddhist Thought. (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 2-3 cr (H-A). Advanced topics in Buddhist thought. P: Jr st or cons inst. 1 crse in Buddhism strongly recommended.
660 Proseminar: History of Buddhism and Buddhist Social Institutions. (Crosslisted with LCA, Anthro) Irr.; 3 cr (H-A). A workshop on the promises and problems of reconstructing the religions and social lives of Buddhists in medieval India. P: Jr st & two crses at 300 level or higher in Asian religions or cons inst.
666 The Anthropology of Shamanism and Occult Experience. (Crosslisted with Anthro) II; 3 cr (A). Shamanism is a global form of religious practice involving direct contact with the spirit world through ecstatic and magical techniques. This course examines shamanic practice and considers allied forms of occult experience outside of the major world religions. P: So st.
681 Senior Honors Thesis. I or II; 3 cr (A). Independent research undertaken by students in the honors program. P: Honors candidate & cons inst.
682 Senior Honors Thesis. I or II; 3 cr (A). Independent research undertaken by students in the honors program. P: Honors candidate & cons inst.
691 Senior Thesis. I, II; 3 cr (A). P: Cons inst.
692 Senior Thesis. I, II; 3 cr (A). P: Cons inst.
695 Research Colloquium for Majors. I, II; 1 cr (A). Colloquium for students conducting research under Relig St 697, which must be taken concurrently. Discussion of problems that arise in conducting research, interpreting evidence, and composing an argument. Students will present research-in-progress for group discussion. P: Relig St 600, major in religious studies, & cons inst. Con reg in Relig St 697.
697 Independent Research for Majors. I, II; 3 cr (A). Original research project supervised by individual faculty; only for students majoring in religious studies. Topics depend upon students' interest and faculty members' expertise. Students must register concurrently in Religious Studies 695. P: Relig St 600, major in religious studies, & cons inst. Con reg in Relig St 695.
699 Directed Study. I, II, SS; 1-4 cr (A). P: Cons inst.