Religion
Curriculum
Below you will find a list of our current or recent offerings. See the course catalog for descriptions and updated information.
-
19-001 SELECTED TOPICSMay be repeated with change in topic.
-
19-002 SELECTED TOPICSMay be repeated with change in topic.
-
19-003 SELECTED TOPICSMay be repeated with change in topic.
-
19-004 SELECTED TOPICSMay be repeated with change in topic.
-
19-204 INTRODUCTION TO THE CHRISTIAN TRADITIONA historical and thematic introduction to the Christian thought and practice. The survey begins with the Jesus movement and continues through the current growth of Christianity in the southern hemisphere, particularly sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Literary genres, gender issues, political co...
-
19-214 INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE TRADITIONS OF THE AMERICASA broad survey of role and function of religion and religious activity in Native American communities. The course takes a broad, multi-disciplinary approach and focuses on religious agency in Native American communities, both past and present. (H) (R)
-
19-244 INTRODUCTION TO ISLAMA survey of the history, practices and beliefs of Islam from Muhammad’s era to the modern. It investigates special themes such as mysticism, gender and politics with attention to diverse cultural contexts. (H) (R)
-
19-254 INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISMA survey of the development of Judaism from its roots in ancient Israelite religion, its emergence in the Second Temple period and in early rabbinic thought, and its contemporary practices. The course balances historical narrative with detailed examination of important topics such as rabbinic interp...
-
19-274 INTRODUCTION TO HINDUISMA historical and thematic introduction to the religious ideas and practices that developed primarily on the Indian subcontinent. The course surveys central religious concepts and myths in classical texts and popular traditions; the interaction with Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Sikhism; gender issues...
-
19-284 INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHISMA historical and thematic introduction to the central ideas and practices of Buddhism. The course begins with the historical Buddha and early developments in India, Sri Lanka and Tibet, then surveys the spread of Buddhism to China and Japan and the interaction with Confucian, Daoist and Shinto tradi...
-
19-301 SELECTED TOPICSLectures and readings on subjects of special interest. May be repeated with change in topic.
-
19-302 SELECTED TOPICSLectures and readings on subjects of special interest. May be repeated with change in topic.
-
19-303 SELECTED TOPICSLectures and readings on subjects of special interest. May be repeated with change in topic.
-
19-304 SELECTED TOPICSLectures and readings on subjects of special interest. May be repeated with change in topic.
-
19-314 THEORIES AND METHODS OF RELIGIONAn exploration of some of the theories and methods used in contemporary secular studies of religion. Reviews various scholars who, in the past century, have sought to analyze the phenomenon of religion apart from theology through the use of history, literary studies, feminist studies, psychology, so...
-
19-324 WOMEN, GODDESSES AND RELIGIONA cross-cultural study of the ways women’s voices have been heard and silenced, of the ways that their lives have been influential (as well as violently ended) and of the vital roles women have played in various religious traditions. The course also investigates ways in which female divinity has b...
-
19-334 RELIGION AND ECOLOGYAn environmental/ecofeminist investigation of the construction of “nature” and the “non-human” in the world’s religions, particularly addressing the problematic and destructive impact of religious-based anthropocentrism. The course examines whether religions encouraged human culture in its...
-
19-344 ANIMALS AND RELIGIONA cross-cultural study of the ways other-than-human animals are included in and influence several different religious traditions. The course also examines contemporary issues such as factory farming and biomedical experimentation. Ecofeminist and environmental theories and methods inform the course....
-
19-354 A NOVEL APPROACH TO AMERICAN RELIGIOUS HISTORYFrom Native American narratives to new immigrant stories, this course explores American religions through diverse protagonists and perspectives. We will consider the development of the novel within the American context and consider the role of novels in maintaining dominant religious systems and, ...
-
19-364 THE BODY AND SEXUALITY IN RELIGIONA feminist, cross-cultural examination of notions of the embodied human self in various religious traditions, focusing on sexuality and sexual desire. The course will explore how the body is conceptualized; moral proscriptions regarding the body and what they reveal about religion and culture; self-...
-
19-374 SACRED SPACE, THE ENVIRONMENT AND RELIGIONThis course looks at the ways in which groups of peoples (the focus will be primarily on Native Americans) have shaped their spiritual identities and communities around important places within the landscape, defining themselves against these places in nature and being defined by them at the same tim...
-
19-384 BALL GAMES, BASKETS AND LIVING SKIES: RELIGION ACROSS NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURESExamines activities and undertakings that, at first glance, may not seem to be particularly “religious,” but, when contextualized, actually turn out to be strongly ritualized, ceremonial activities. Students see a few of the wide variety of ways in which Native Americans, both past and present, ...
-
19-394 RASTAS, SAINTS AND VIRGINS: ETHNIC RELIGIONS IN THE US. This course looks at the study of ethnic religious traditions in the United States - religions associated with specific ethnic groups. Students will examine religious systems such as Santeria, Rastafarians and the Cult of the Virgin of Guadalupe, among others. The goal of the course is not only ...
-
19-404 HUMOR, PLAY, AND RELIGIONThis course is no joke. Humor and play are topics that have captivated ancient philosophers, post-structuralists, sociologists of religion, liberation theologians, and others. In this course, we will consider theories of humor and examine religious “play” in medieval Christianity, post-Holocau...
-
19-504 GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGYSee Classics 07-204 and English 10-204. (H) (R) (IP) (WA)
-
19-514 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGIONSee Philosophy 18-224. (H) (R)
-
19-524 ANCIENT CHINASee History 16-244. (H) (IP) (R)
-
19-534 MUSLIMS IN EUROPESee History 16-514. (H)
-
19-544 COLONIAL INDOAMERICAN INQUISITIONSSee History 16-674. (H)
-
19-604 SEMINAR ON NATIVE TRADITIONS OF THE AMERICASStudy of a selected aspect or topic related to the indigenous peoples and cultures of North America. Significant primary documents/materials are analyzed. The course includes an intensive writing component requiring analysis and in-depth research, as well as some original research on the part of the...
-
19-614 SEMINAR ON THE CHRISTIAN TRADITIONStudy of a selected aspect of or a topic related to the Christian tradition. Significant primary documents/materials are analyzed. The course includes an intensive writing component requiring analysis and in-depth research, as well as some original research on the part of students (primary document ...
-
19-624 SEMINAR ON JUDAISMStudy of a selected aspect of or topic related to the Jewish tradition. Significant primary documents/materials are analyzed. The course includes an intensive writing component requiring analysis and in-depth research, as well as some original research on the part of students (primary document analy...
-
19-634 SEMINAR ON BUDDHISMStudy of a selected aspect of or a topic related to Buddhism. Significant primary documents/materials are analyzed. The course includes an intensive writing component requiring analysis and in-depth research, as well as some original research on the part of students (primary document analysis). Cour...
-
19-644 SEMINAR ON HINDUISMStudy of a selected aspect of or a topic related to Hinduism. Significant primary documents/materials are analyzed. The course includes an intensive writing component requiring analysis and in-depth research, as well as some original research on the part of students (primary document analysis). Cour...
-
19-714 TOPICS IN RELIGIONA critical investigation of an important subject or issue in religion: religion and violence, religion and media, religious authority, religion and politics, etc. May be comparative or may focus on one tradition. This course may be repeated when topic varies. (H) (R)
-
19-901 TUTORIAL
-
19-902 TUTORIAL
-
19-903 TUTORIAL
-
19-904 TUTORIAL
-
19-914 COLLOQUIUM IN RELIGIONIntended primarily for majors in religion but open to other students with the permission of the instructor. (R) (WA)
-
19-941 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIPMust be taken Pass/D/F.
-
19-942 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIPMust be taken Pass/D/F.
-
19-943 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIPMust be taken Pass/D/F.
-
19-944 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIPMust be taken Pass/D/F.
-
19-951 INDEPENDENT STUDYReading selected to round out the student’s acquaintance with the field of religion or special areas of interest. May be repeated with changed content.
-
19-952 INDEPENDENT STUDYReading selected to round out the student’s acquaintance with the field of religion or special areas of interest. May be repeated with changed content.
-
19-953 INDEPENDENT STUDYReading selected to round out the student’s acquaintance with the field of religion or special areas of interest. May be repeated with changed content.
-
19-954 INDEPENDENT STUDYReading selected to round out the student’s acquaintance with the field of religion or special areas of interest. May be repeated with changed content.
-
19-984 HONORSBy invitation only.
