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COURSE
OFFERINGS
RS 101:1
Introduction to Western Religions-- CRN# 4381 R. Mourad-- MWF 11:10 a.m.-12:00 p.m.—Palenski 311 Course Description: Contemporary Americans must contend with an unprecedented plurality of religious viewpoints. In this course, we will seek to address this situation responsibly by examining three prominent ‘Western’ religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We will analyze the characteristic beliefs and practices of these three traditions so as to understand and appreciate their similarities and differences. While we will survey the distinctive origins and histories of these religions, we will also study their contact with one another and explore the conditions necessary for dialogue between them. Our approach will be academic rather than confessional or apologetic. Requirements: Evaluation: Texts: RS 101:2 Introduction to Western Religions-- CRN# 4382 Humanities Core Credit under the old core; Historical and Cultural Analysis Mode Credit for new core; Required for Religious Studies Major J. Messana, TR 12:10-1:30, Vulg 102 Course Description: The focus of this class will be the traditions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Zoroastrianism. Through the textbook, primary sources, and other materials, students will develop and understanding of the ancient as well as modern-day manifestations of the traditions covered. By the end of the class, students will posses an understanding of the history, system, and dynamics of these four traditions. In addition, students will have acquired a vocabulary for each tradition, which will aid in further study as well as real-life encounters. The class will also briefly look at how these religions have been recently portrayed in popular culture. Text: Evaluation: RS 102 Introduction to Eastern Religions—CRN# 4383 Humanities Core Credit under the old core; Historical & Cultural Analysis Mode Credit for new core; Required for Religious Studies Major J. Messana, TR 2:10-3:30, Vulg 201 Course Description: This class will seek to acquaint students with the major traditions of the East: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism & Sikhism, Taoism & Confucianism, and Shinto. The class will focus on both historical and contemporary manifestations of these religions by using primary sources and audiovisual material in addition to the textbook. Students will become familiar with the history, system, and dynamics of the traditions and will develop tradition-specific vocabularies which will prepare them for further classes in religion, as well as multicultural encounters outside the classroom. The class will also briefly look at how these religions have been recently portrayed in popular culture. Text:
Evaluation: R.S. 122 History, Literature, and Religion of the New Testament—CRN# 4385 Fulfills Humanities requirement (old core), Fulfills Textual Analysis mode requirement (new core), Fulfills Biblical Studies Requirement for RELS Majors S. Metso: TR 1:10-2:30, Vulg 123 Course Description: The New Testament is not a single book, but an anthology reflecting different authors, historical circumstances, literary genres, and theological agendas. This course is designed as an introduction to the critical study of this and related literature, and of the Jewish, Hellenistic, and Roman cultural environment that was its background. In the context of this environment, we shall examine how a small group of Jews connected with a prophet named Jesus became a separate religion with its own rituals and literature about one they regarded as ‘Son of God’. We shall analyze the earliest extant Christian documents (the letters of Paul), the production of ‘gospels’ about Jesus, and the development of the early Christian movement, as reflected both in canonical and extracanonical literature. Our aim in this course is to reconstruct the history, literature, and religion of the first Christians in their various shapes. We shall also explore biblical scholarship as an academic field of the liberal arts, and why every educated person ought to know about its findings of the last 200 years. Our main task, however, is to understand what the New Testament writings may have meant in their original, historical context. Students will read the entire New Testament as well as selected extracanonical documents. GOALS: 1. To
acquire a general understanding of the methods and results of modern New
Testament scholarship. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS: Bart
D. Ehrman, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early
Christian Writings (3rd ed.; New York: Oxford University Press,
2003). EVALUATION: 1.
Attendance and participation 25%. RS 210 Feminine in World Religions—CRN# 4386 Fulfills Gender Category Requirement S. Raj: MW 10:10-11:30; Stockwell 305 Course Description: This comparative course examines the role of society and culture in defining the character of the Divine Feminine on one hand and in determining the position of women in World Religions on the other. The Hindu segment of the course will examine the mythology of three Hindu Goddesses: Lakshmi, Kali, and Village Goddess and discuss whether or not their mythologies serve as "model for" for the social roles and functions of women in Hindu society. The East-Asian component will include a critical study of the history and mythology of the Chinese Bodhisattva (Goddess) Kuan Yin and the Japanese Goddess Amaterasu. For Christianity, we will study the role and function of the Virgin Mary and the role and position of women in the Catholic Church and other Christian traditions. We will examine the position of women in Islam in light of the teachings of the Quran and the Sharia, paying particular attention to the issues of women's rights,and the practices of polygamy, and Hijab or Purdah.in the Muslim world. A brief treatment of the position of women in Judaism will conclude the Judeo-Christian segment. The final segment will examine the position of women in Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Texts: Evaluation: RS 234 Philosophy of Religion—CRN# 4387 R. Mourad: MWF 2:10-3:00, Vulg 102 Course Description: This course will examine several classic problems in the philosophy of religion and allow students the opportunity to answer some of these important questions for themselves. We will ask about the nature of God, the arguments that might be offered for God’s existence, and whether human language can adequately refer to God. We will also discuss the religious problems of evil and suffering, miracles, and the afterlife. A variety of modern and contemporary philosophers of religion will be our conversation partners. Requirements: 1. Attend all classes. Texts: Michael Peterson, et
al. Reason and Religious Belief:
An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion,
2nd Edition Grading RS 289 (270) Liberation Theology—CRN # 4388 Fulfills Global Studies Category Requirement R. Mourad: TR 3:10-4:30, Vulg 204 Course Description: Proponents of liberation theology argue that authentic Christian faith requires more than abstract belief; Christians must also act in a way that contributes to universal social and economic justice. Liberation theologians therefore seek to interpret their social situations according to the radical, revolutionary ethic that they consider central to the Gospel. We will examine the origins of this movement in 1960s Latin America and analyze one of the most influential statements of its key themes from Peruvian priest Gustavo Gutierrez. Liberation theology has subsequently flourished in many parts of the world where Christian communities struggle with poverty and injustice, including the United States. We will study two American theologians, Rosemary Radford Ruether and James Cone, who offer prominent responses to social injustices related to gender and race. Marx’s influence on liberation theology will be an underlying theme of the course. Texts:
Leonardo Boff,
Introducing Liberation Theology Requirements and Evaluation: Exam 1:15% RS 311 Religion & Ecology—CRN#4389 Fulfills Environmental Category Requirement S. Raj: MW 1:10-2:30; Vulg 202 Course Description: The relation between religion and ecology has attracted the attention of scholars and students of religion. The course will critically examine the relation between humans, the natural and the sacred in selected religious traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese Religions, the Native American Religion, Christianity and Judaism. We will ask throughout the course how and if the different ways individuals and religious communities define and value nature and its relation to the sacred affect their actual uses and treatment of their surroundings. We will also examine some examples of the contemporary eco-religion discussion such as ecotheolgy, ecofeminism, and deep ecology.
Texts:
Evaluation:
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Albion College ◦ Albion, Michigan
◦ 517/629-1000
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