Religious Studies Courses

Introductory course in the academic study of religion. Required for majors and minors. 4 credits (UQ or GP)

Formation and meaning of religious ethics in contemporary life. Human responsibility, community, racism, sexism, violence, war. 4 credits (UQ or GP or US)

Literature of the Old Testament: its form, content, historical development, and interpretation. 4 credits (UQ or VP)

Literature of the New Testament: its form, content, historical development, and interpretation. 4 credits (UQ or VP)

Literature of the Qur'an: its form, content, historical development, and interpretation. Course designed especially for students with some familiarity with Old and New testament narrative. Provides students an opportunity for further study of the major world faith that is Islam. 4 credits (UQ or VP or GP)

Comparative introductory study of major philosophical traditions of east and west: ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of religion. 4 credits (UQ or GP)

Study of Greek grammar; readings from the New Testament; use of exegetical tools. With 201 (Greek Readings), meets the language requirement for the BA. 5 credits

Greek from the New Testament, Stoic authors, Hellenistic Jewish texts, and early church fathers. Prerequisite: 200. 3 credits

Elements of Hebrew grammar. Language tapes and class exercises to give the student experience in spoken, elementary, Modern Hebrew; readings from prose sections of the Hebrew Bible. With 203, meets the language requirement for the BA. 5 credits

Selected passages from the prose and poetry of the Hebrew Bible. Prerequisite: 202. 3 credits

Selective introduction to prominent Buddhist traditions of Asia and contemporary West. Introduction to basic Buddhist doctrines, practices, institutions and material culture. Analysis of Buddhist sacred literature with attention to historical context and contemprary lived realities. 4 credits (UQ or GP)

Prominent people, movements, and doctrines within Christianity. Special attention to primary source materials and biographies. 4 credits (UQ or VP)

Exposition of contemporary theologians through primary reading sources. 4 credits (UQ)

Comparative anthropological study of traditional oral literature: myths, legends, folktales, riddles, proverbs, jokes. Dynamics of folklore, its creation, performance, and transmission; functions of folklore and myth in diverse cultures, including the contemporary United States. 4 credits

Prominent periods and events in the formation and development of the three major religious traditions of the Middle East: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Historical context, the prophet, conquest and empire, crisis and disaster, Holy Text. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or above. 4 credits (UQ or VP or GP)

Examination of the relationship between politics & religion in varying contexts: theories of the role of religion in government and society, religious social movements, contemporary political controversies involving religion. Prerequisite: POLS 201, 210, or 220; or RELS 110 or 115, or consent of instructor. 4 credits

A study of the role and practices of pilgrimages in major religious traditions. Exploration of symbolic pilgrimages including the use of labyrinths. Relevance for personal practice and sacred journeys. 4 credits (UQ or GP)

A study of the theology, role and practices of forgiveness in four major religious traditions: Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Includes examination of forgiveness, revenge, reconciliation and restorative justice. Case studies will focus on individuals, group/cultures, and national contexts. Relevance for personal practice will be explored. 4 credits (UQ)

History of prominent religious experiences in America. Protestant empire, Native American presence, minority appropriation, post-Christian responses. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or above. 4 credits (UQ or VP or US)

Study of western monasticism and the way of the mystic. Focus on Trappists, their community and spiritual disciplines. Visits to Trappist Abbey, dialogue with monks. Additional trip to Brigittine monastery and Benedictine convent. Academic reflection and personal exploration. 4 credits (UQ)

The discovery, content, and historical context of the Dead Sea Scrolls. What the Scrolls tell us about Second Temple Judaism, the origins of Christianity, the history of the biblical text, the Qumran community. Making the scrolls available to the general public. NOTE: Not open to those who have taken INQS 125 "The Dead Sea Scrolls." 4 credits. (UQ or VP)

Examination of the Gnostic Christian texts discovered at Nag Hammadi, Egypt, as context for the Gospel of John. Topics include: the variety of early Christian communities; roles of women in early Christian churches; the so-called Q Document; the politics of Christian canon formation; the Gospel of John as an orthodox response to Gnostic Christians. Not open to those who have taken INQS 125: John and the Gnostic Gospels. 4 credits. (UQ or VP)

The invention of the alphabet. How the Bible became a book. The Canaanite origin of the Biblical God. How to read a Northwest Semitic inscription. The ancient world of the patriarch Abraham. 4 credits (UQ)

Introduction to Buddhism of Tibet and the Tibetan diaspora communities, particularly in India and the Himalayan region (Nepal, Bhutan, etc.), as well as that of westerners (Americans, Europeans, Australians, etc.) who identify themselves as Buddhist within a specifically Tibetan tradition. Basic Tibetan Buddhist doctrines and practices, institutions and identity formation, historically and in a contemporary context. 4 credits (UQ or GP)

American ways of death and dying. Cultural immorality, obscenity, confrontation, technicalities, realities, living. 4 credits (UQ)

Advanced opportunity for outstanding students to assist faculty members in the classroom. Normally the student will function as a tutor in a language course or introductory content course. Focus on course content and pedagogy. Prerequisites: application and consent of instructor. 1-4 credits (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) (EL)

Independent study for students of advanced standing under the supervision of departmental faculty. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. 1-5 credits.

First course of departmental capstone sequence. Examination of academic approaches to the understanding of religious phenomena. Focus on theories and methods of analysis. Leads to completion of a proposal for the senior thesis. Prerequisite: consent of department. 4 credits.

Individualized learning in applied religion through working in a church, synagogue, temple, or other institution related to a denomination or ecumenical group. Letter grades. Prerequisite: consent of department. 4 credits (EL)

Second course of departmental capstone sequence. Advanced research and writing in consultation with one or more members of the department. Prerequisites: 485 and senior standing. 4 credits (MWI)