Courses approved as of Fall 2002:
This is a full listing of courses offered by the Department of Religiuos Studies. Courses designated with a † are approved and will be offered in the near future as soon as new faculty is hired.

510-World of the Hebrew Bible. (3)

An examination of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) in the context of the history, literature, and religion of the ancient Near Eastern world.

514-The Quest of the Historical Jesus. (3)

Examination of studies on the historical Jesus from 1778 to the present. Attention given to the relationship between “the Jesus of history” and “the Christ of faith.”

521-Readings in Religion. (3)

A program of reading and consultation will be arranged to provide for independent research and concentrated study in an area of particular interest to the student.

532-Dialogue of Reason and Faith. (3)

Criticism and defense of religious belief in historical perspective.

550-Comparative Black Religion. [AFRO 550] (3)

The comparative study of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Rastafari among African Americans from an interdisciplinary perspective.

† 551-Tradition and Transformations in Islamic Cultures. [ANTH 515] (3)

Islam as a dynamic cultural tradition; emphasis on the tension between Islamization and the larger Islamic tradition.

† 552-Buddhist Studies Seminar. (3)

Examination of a theme or problem central to the study of Buddhism in a seminar emphasizing intensive reading and creative discussion. Course content varies; individual seminars will be announced

† 553-Reading Pali Buddhist Texts I. (3)

Introduction to Pali Buddhist texts, focusing on the acquisition of basic Pali reading skills and the analysis of texts. Completion of this course does not satisfy language proficiency requirements. (Prereq. or Co-reg: RELG 701 or instructor's consent.)

† 554-Reading Pali Buddhist Texts II. (3)

Intermediate study of Pali Buddhist texts, focusing on translation and the analysis of texts. Completion of this course does not satisfy language proficiency requirements. (Prereq.: RELG 553.)

572-Religious Classics. (3)

Selected “classic” works of the Western religious tradition, from Song of Songs to The Seventh Seal. Emphasis on theologies communicated and on evolving cultural context.

573-Religion in the South. (3)

Regional faith traditions in Southern cultural context; the African-American church, influence of evangelical piety, Lost Cause idealism, fundamentalism, civil religion.

592-Topics in Texts and Traditions. (3)

Reading and research on selected topics in the study of religious texts in the life of religious communities.Course content varies and will be announced by suffix and title. May be repeated twice as topics vary.

593-Topics in Theology and Religious Thought. (3)

Reading and research on selected topics in the study of doctrines, cosmologies, spiritual practices, and ethics of religious traditions. Course content varies and will be announced by suffix and title. May be repeated twice as topics vary.

594-Topics in Religion and Society. (3)

Reading and research on selected topics in the study of religious institutions, practices, and experiences in relation to societies. Course content varies and will be announced by suffix and title. May be repeated twice as topics vary.

700-Problems in the Comparative Study of Religion. (3)

Introduction to formative thinkers in the discipline of religious studies, with attention to the methodological problems of comparison.

701-Foundational Readings. (3)

Foundational texts appropriate to the student's areas of specialization and required for advanced course work and thesis preparation.

710-Christology of the New Testament. (3)

Examination of the four major New Testament titles: Son of Man, Christ, Lord, and Son of God. Attention also given to some lesser-known titles and to Christology in context.

740-Israelite Religion. (3)

Beliefs and practices in ancient Israelite religion, with particular attention to the emergence of monotheism. Comparison with other ancient Near Eastern religions.

751-Great Asian Religions. (3)

An exploration of the great religious traditions of South and East Asia, each from its inception to modern expressions.

760-Religion and Literature. (3)

Introduction to historical and contemporary approaches to the cross-disciplinary study of the inter-relations of the religious and literary imaginations.

770-Black Christianity in America. (3)

Elements in the religion of the black slave in early America, the development of black churches and theological movements.

771-Black Liberation Theology. (3)

Tenets, themes, and representative figures in black and liberation theology in the United States and in Central and South America.

772-Nineteenth-Century American Evangelical Thought. (3)

The diverse heritage of American evangelism, with special emphasis on its socio-political and theological origins in the late 18th and 19th centuries.

773-Twentieth-Century Christology. (3)

Various 20th-century christological perspectives, with special emphasis on the person and work of Jesus as bases for addressing life/death and hope/despair issues.

780-World Spirituality. (3)

An examination of the perennialist approach to the mystical and contemplative teachings of the major religious traditions.

789-Seminar in Philosophical Theology. (3)

Examination of contemporary problems in the philosophical foundations of religion.

792-Special Topics in Texts and Tradition. (3)

Topics related to the study of texts in the life of specific religious communities. Course content varies; individual topics will be announced.

793-Special Topics in Theology and Religious Thought. (3)

Topics related to the study of religious doctrines, cosmologies, spiritual practices, and ethics. Course content varies; individual topics will be announced.

794-Special Topics in Religion and Society. (3)

Topics examining religious institutions, practices, and experiences in relation to other cultural forms. Course content varies; individual topics will be announced.

797-Independent Study. (3)

799-Thesis Preparation. (1-9)