2007-08 Academic Catalog	home FAQs request

Courses

First Core Religion Course

REL 100 — Christianity and Religious Diversity, 1.0 credit. E.
This course seeks to meet the needs of all students for a better understanding of religion as a basic feature of human life and of Christianity’s classic and contemporary expressions and the rich diversity of religion. Various methods appropriate to the study of religion will be used to examine the complexity of religion in the modern world. The course offers an important initial opportunity for integrative study that is characteristic of a liberal arts education. It invites students to engage in thoughtful and informed reflection upon religious questions.

Interpretive Studies

REL 313 — Jesus the Jew — Jesus the Christ, 1.0 credit. E1 or E2.
This course is an examination of the Jewish context and character of Jesus of Nazareth. This course will investigate Jesus’ life, ministry, and death in the social and religious context of first-century Palestine. In addition, it will focus on the character of the Gospels as literary narratives that tell the stories of Jesus. Jesus also came to be the object of worship and devotion, and this course will investigate how it is that Jesus became the focal point of the churches’ thought and ritual practice.

REL 314 — Paul: Apostle or Apostate, 1.0 credit. E1 or E2.
This course is a study of the historical circumstances of Paul, the religious and theological significance of his epistles, and his legacy for the Christian church. Paul is one of the most important people in the formation of early Christianity, and has left us some of the most significant documents in the New Testament, the Pauline Epistles. Paul, however, was not appreciated by many of his contemporaries or by many people in the church since his time. He has been a figure of much
controversy historically, and this course will explore why that is the case.

REL 316 — Texts and Community in the Old Testament, 1.0 credit. E1 or E2.
This course is a study of the Old Testament in light of questions of significance for contemporary readers and communities. Attention will be given to the culture and experiences that shaped Israel’s faith and community life. Readings from sociology, anthropology, contemporary essays and novels will assist students in critical reflection on these texts and on the shape of contemporary faith and community.

REL 317 — Interpretation of the Bible, 1.0 credit. A1 or A2 (2008-2009).
This course is an investigation that will present and integrate the various methods which biblical scholars have developed for the study of the Bible. Consideration will be given to the manner in which the biblical text, the biblical context and the interpreter of the Bible interact. The class will be conducted as a seminar and students will be expected to complete designated readings, contribute to class discussion and write interpretive papers on selected biblical texts.

REL 318 — Women, Religion and Literature, 1.0 credit. A1 or A2 (2008-2009).
This course is an investigation of the images and status of women in the Judeo-Christian tradition and in Western literature from an interdisciplinary perspective. The interplay of these scripts in the psychosocial and spiritual formation of contemporary men and women will be assessed.

Historical Studies

REL 224 — Women in Religious History, 1.0 credit. A1 or A2 (2007-2008).
This course is a religious, historical and feminist study of the place, writings and theology of women throughout the history of the Church. This course will focus upon key religious women figures — their lives and ideas — as well as women’s experience in general concerning the life of faith and practice over the centuries.

REL 324 — The Legacy of Luther, 1.0 credit. E1 or E2.
This course is a study of the life and work of Martin Luther, who will be looked at in the context of Medieval and Reformation Europe. The legacy of Luther’s ideas and their impact on movements and denominations down to the modern
age will also be examined.

REL 325 — Studies in Religious History, 1.0 credit. E1 or E2.
This course is an examination of the historical development of religious institutions and theological traditions. It will investigate diverse groups and significant individuals that have shaped specific religious traditions. It will study the development of the thought and religious practices, such as prayer, worship, and other expressions of faith, of these traditions.

REL 326 — Christian Theologies and Ethics, 1.0 credit. E1 or E2.
This course is a study of the historical development of central theological beliefs of the Christian Church and of its ethical thought through the centuries. The course will explore representative Christian teachings in theology and ethics, investigate their evolution over time, and consider their expressions in church creeds and wider cultural life.

REL 327 — Eastern Orthodoxy, 1.0 credit. D.
This course is an introduction to the Eastern Orthodox tradition. This course will first survey the roots, theology and development of Christianity in the East. It will then explore the particular manifestation of eastern Christianity in a variety of historical locations including Greece, Istanbul, Russia, and/or elsewhere by examining the historical, theological, and cultural expressions of Orthodox communities around the world. Russian Studies minors who take this course will focus specifically on the Russian Orthodox Church

REL 328 — Catholicism, 1.0 credit. D.
This course is an introduction to the institution known as Roman Catholicism: its practices, beliefs, doctrines, and history. The teachings of the Roman Catholic Church will be examined, as well as its historical tradition. Attention will also be given to distinctively Catholic expressions as found in theologians, saints, mystics, popes and typical piety. In other words, the course will try to explain what Catholics do, what they believe and why.

REL 372J — Christian Spirituality, 1.0 credit. A1 or A2 (2008-2009).
“Christian Spirituality” is an examination of the historical development of Christian spiritual movements. In particular, this course will take a historical look at experiential expressions of the Christian faith as they are manifest in spiritual traditions, such as monastic and/or mendicant communities, mysticism, Christian social and political activist groups, fundamentalists, and the like. It will do so by studying the development of the classic religious spiritual writings, art and artifacts, practices and thought, and public expressions of faith.

Comparative Studies

REL 234 — Symbol, Myth and Ritual, 1.0 credit. A2 (2007-2008).
This course is an analysis of belief and action, concentrating on the symbols and metaphors employed to express, link and act meanings. For the purpose of examining two or more religious traditions, myths will be considered symbols in story or narrative, and rituals will be viewed as symbols in action. The aim will be to understand the various functions and goals of symbolic activity.

REL 331 — Understanding Religion, 1.0 credit. A1 or A2 (2007-2008).
This course is an exploration of modern attempts to account for the presence of religion in all human cultures and societies. We will analyze and assess a variety of arguments about the nature, causes and effects of religious phenomena. Texts studied will be drawn from the disciplines of philosophy, psychology, sociology, theology, the history of religions and cultural anthropology.

REL 332 — American Religions: Natives and Immigrants, 1.0 credit. A1 or A2.
This course is an exploration of the diverse religious beliefs and practices found in the United States. This course will examine Native American religions and religions of foreign origin, as well as the ways in which religious traditions have developed in the United States. We will also discuss whether we may speak not only of American religions, but also of an “American religion,” a set of beliefs and practices shared by the majority of Americans.

REL 334 — Monotheisms: Jewish, Christian and Muslim, 1.0 credit. E1 or E2.
This course is a study of Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions through introductory texts as well as the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Qur’an. Classroom work will focus on beliefs and faith; acts and rituals; history and tradition; persons and lives; and structures and themes. Theories and methods will be used to engage in the comparative study of religion.

REL 338 — Religions of Asia, 1.0 credit. E1 or E2.
This course is an introduction to two or more of the major religious traditions of Asia, focusing on the history, ideas and practices of these religions. The student will consider ways in which members of these traditions view themselves, society and the world. This course also provides an introduction to theories and methods for the comparative study of religion.

REL 339J — World Christianity, 1.0 credit. E1 or E2.
This course looks at the current manifestation of Christianity as a global religion in its diversity and complexity, studying the most important contemporary developments in Christianity around the globe (outside the North Atlantic.) These developments are considered, first, as social (religious) phenomena, which need to be studied in relation to local (and sometimes global) political, historical, economic, social, and religious factors. Yet the course also engages specifically Christian theological questions that arise from the development of Christianity as a global yet diverse reality.

REL 382J — Religion and the Body, 1.0 credit. A2 (2007-2008).
This course explores the role of the human body in world religions (especially Buddhism but also Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Taoism, Islam, and indigenous religions) and in contemporary American culture. It examines the ambiguity of the body in these contexts: its function as both an obstacle and a vehicle on the path towards spiritual growth and well-being. This ambiguity raises a number of interesting questions about the relationship between the ‘mind’ and the ‘body,’ and we will explore these questions not only through assigned readings and discussions but also through the study of Aikido, a Japanese martial art that emphasizes the neutralization of aggressive force through non-destructive resolutions. Students who enroll in this course must also sign up for P ED 112 — Aikido, which meets two nights a week throughout the semester and fulfills the 0.25 P ED Core requirement. Aikido training instills a sense of personal and social responsibility, which students will further cultivate through a service-learning project. At the beginning of the semester, students sign up to do a service project through the Campus Service Commission (CSC). Students are required to devote at least two hours a week to their service project and to participate in all of the meetings, (i.e. orientation, reflections, etc.) that CSC offers and write short papers connecting their service to ideas and issues discussed in the class.
Prerequisite: REL 100 — Christianity and Religious Diversity Constructive Studies

REL 244 — Religion and Popular Culture, 1.0 credit. A1 or A2 (2007-2008).
This course is a study of the interrelationship between religion and contemporary popular culture. This course will analyze how religious faith shapes culture, as well as how contemporary popular culture affects the understanding and expression of religious faith. It will focus upon the portrayal of religious faith in contemporary expressions of culture in mass media (e.g. print, film, television, music and computer technology), social issues and institutions. The course will introduce students to the variety of religious and theological understandings currently present in American society. Students will learn how to do theological analysis and critique of popular cultural movements and expressions.

REL 340 — The Ethics of Aid and Development, 1.0 credit. A1 (2008-2009).
This course is an examination of voluntary responses to war, civil conflict and natural disaster, with a focus both on individual action and organizations. The course addresses both “aid” (direct financial and material support) and “development” (the upward social, economic and political trajectory of escape from conflict and poverty), and explores what can be accomplished with reference to real-world cases.

REL 341 — Christian Sexual Ethics, 1.0 credit. A1 or A2.
This course is a study in constructive moral reflection upon sexuality and sexual relations in the Christian life. This course will examine questions about how Christians should cultivate and order human interests in love, intimacy, bodily pleasure
and procreation. It aims to equip students to think critically and responsibly about various issues, including sexual violence, divorce, homosexuality and non-marital sexuality.

REL 342 — God: The Question and the Quest, 1.0 credit. E1 or E2.
This course is a study of the questions, as well as the quest, for an understanding of God in contemporary life and thought. This course will address understandings of the concept of God in the face of such issues as the existence of evil and suffering, religious pluralism, gender identity and natural scientific analysis. It will also treat the spiritual quests for meaning that these issues elicit. After exploring several examples of such contemporary quests, this course will address responses from within the Christian tradition. Students will learn how to do theological analysis and critique of contemporary understandings of God and their religious implications.

REL 343 — Science and Religion, 1.0 credit. A1 (2007-2008).
This course is an examination of the similarities and differences in methodology between several of the natural sciences and religion. Focusing upon issues of interdisciplinary importance, this course will assist in analyzing the interaction of different views and the presuppositions involved. The relation of creation and evolution, life and mind, and other such issues will be addressed.

REL 344 — Christian Ethics in Human Community, 1.0 credit. E1 or E2.
This course is a study in constructive moral reflection on roles and relations in the Christian life. This course will examine questions about how Christians should live as people of God, as friends and family members, as workers, as citizens of a democratic state and a pluralistic global society. It aims to equip students to think critically and responsibly about living with persons in different social contexts and communities.

REL 345 — Death and Dying, 1.0 credit. D.
This course is a study in constructive moral reflection upon finitude and mortality in the Christian life. This course will examine questions about how Christians should respond to the failure of life in conversation with theological beliefs about the meaning of dying and the finality of death. It aims to equip students to think critically and responsibly about a range of topics, including cultural attitudes and trends, medical care and suicide, ritual practices and life after death.

REL 346 — Business Ethics, 1.0 credit. D.
This course is a study in constructive moral reflection upon economic activity in the Christian life. This course will examine questions about how Christians should create and sustain productive institutions that are just and humane. It aims to equip
students to think critically and responsibly about basic norms for economic life in a global market system.

REL 347 — Biomedical Ethics, 1.0 credit. D.
This course is a study in constructive moral reflection upon health and medical care in the Christian life. This course will examine questions about how Christians should respond to disease, disability, and bodily decline. It aims to equip students to think critically and responsibly about the “biomedical revolution,” its expressions and implications for our society and world.

REL 348 — Ethics of Sustainable Community, 1.0 credit. A1 (2007-2008).
This course is a study in constructive moral reflection on human relations to nature within the Christian life. The course will examine questions about whether Christians should love nature and if so, how? It aims to equip students to think critically and responsibly about the Christian and American environmental traditions, about current and expected challenges to sustainable planetary life, and about norms and practical strategies.

REL 349 — Christian Ethics in the Material World, 1.0 credit. A1 or A2 (2008-2009).
This course is a study in constructive moral reflection on roles and relations in the Christian life. This course will examine questions about how Christians should relate to planet Earth, to created things or artifacts, to the body. It aims to equip students to think critically and responsibly about living in a biophysical world, of which humans are parts, products and participants.

REL 392 — Religion and World Affairs, 1.0 credit. A2 (2007-2008).
This course looks at religion in the context of global issues that are relevant to the present day, especially on an international, but also on a local level. Topics for the course will vary depending upon the issues of the present day and scholarly expertise of the instructor.

Language

REL 211, 212 — Biblical Hebrew I and II, 1.0 credit each. A1, A2 (2008-2009).
This course is a study of the language of the Hebrew Bible, including the basic grammar, and leading to the reading of prose passages.

Other Courses

REL 250 — Pre-May Seminar, 1.0 credit. D.

REL 300 — May Seminar, 1.0 credit. MS.

REL 380 — Special Topics, 1.0 credit. D.
Courses covering various topics of interest in this particular discipline are offered regularly. Contact department or program chair for more information.

REL 390 — Cooperative Education, 0.5 to 1.0 credit. E.

REL 402 — Advanced Religion Seminar, 1.0 credit. E2.
This course is designed primarily for religion majors and minors (students must have completed at least 5.0 credits in Religion before enrolling in the course). It offers students an opportunity to study a particular topic, theme, or figure
in significant depth. The course aims to expose students to advanced level work in the field of religion, in preparation for further work in the field after graduation. Students will be encouraged to pursue original research on the seminar topic/theme/figure through a variety of research opportunities. The subject of the course will rotate among the four areas for the study of religion (interpretive, historical, comparative, constructive), and course credit will be assigned to one of these areas.

REL 410 — Research Seminar, 1.0 credit. E1.
Limited to religion majors and minors, this course uses the seminar format to engage students in systematic reflection about the ways in which the subdisciplines in the field of religion can contribute to the consideration of a common topic. Each student will complete a research project under the supervision of the instructor and present the results in a paper to the seminar for criticism and discussion.

REL 480 — Independent Study, 0.25 to 1.0 credit. D.
This course provides an opportunity for individual students to conduct in-depth research of a particular topic under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Contact the department or program chair for more information.

REL 490 — Practicum, 1.0 credit. D.