Religious Studies
last updated:6/13/2002
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The Department of Religious studies brings a variety of perspectives to bear on the study of a significant aspect of human existence: the experience of, thought about, and actions concerning, the sacred, or what Paul Tillich called "ultimate concern." Our approaches to the study vary. Collectively, we bring historical, theological, philosophical, sociological, political, ethical, literary, and psychological perspectives to this enterprise. We are united in the understanding that each of these perspectives provides a different way of interpreting religious phenomena and that no single approach is adequate to, let alone exhaustive of, the work of religious studies. This means that the study of religion, as we engage it, is intrinsically interdisciplinary and multicultural.

Religious studies offers a disciplinary major and minor. It is strongly recommended students take one of the introductory courses (100 through 110) prior to any other course in the department. Students wishing to enter an upper level course without having taken an introductory course should consult the instructor. All courses toward a religious studies major or minor must be completed with a grade of C- or higher.


Requirements for the MAJOR (B.A.)
disciplinary, 11 courses

One introductory religious studies course; two courses each from two concentrations--one in each concentration should be at the 200 level and the other at the 300 level or higher (one of these concentrations must be in a specific religious tradition); REL 461 Senior Seminar; three additional religious studies courses, at least two of which are outside the student's areas of concentration; and two approved cognate courses from other departments or two other courses in the department. Cognate courses may be chosen from an accepted list or by petition to the advisor.


 Requirements for the MINOR
disciplinary, 5 courses

One introductory religious studies course, a 200-level course and a 300-level or higher course in one of the religious studies concentrations, REL 461, the Senior Seminar, and one additional religious studies course.

Course Concentrations

Introductory Courses

  • REL 100 Religions in the World
  • REL 103 Journeys and Stories
  • REL 105 Religious Imagination
  • REL 108 Religion and Alienation
  • REL 109 Imagining American Religion(s)

History of Religions Courses

  • REL 210 Hinduism
  • REL 211 Buddhism
  • REL 217 Gurus, Saints, Priests and Prophets
  • REL 312 New Heavens, New Earths
  • REL 315 Japanese Religions
  • REL 410 Sacred Space

Philosophy of Religions Courses

  • REL 251 Revelations in Religion and Science
  • REL 254 The Question of God/Goddess
  • REL 260 Religion as a Philosophical Act
  • REL 402 Conflict of Interpretations

Religion and Literature Courses

  • REL 256 Tales of Love and Horror
  • REL 257 What's Love Got to Do With It?
  • REL 258 The Qu'ran and the Bible
  • REL 402 Conflict of Interpretations

Judaic Studies Courses

  • REL 270 Modern Jewish History
  • REL 271 The Holocaust
  • REL 272 The Sociology of the American Jew
  • REL 273 Foundations of Jewish Thought
  • REL 274 Zionism, Israel and the Middle East Conflict
  • REL 276 History of East European Jewry
  • REL 278 Jewish Life and Thought in Modern Times
  • REL 279 Torah and Testament
  • REL 370 Jewish Mysticism and Hasidism
  • REL 401 Literary and Theological Responses to the Holocaust

Religion, Gender and Sexuality Courses

  • REL 281 Unspoken Worlds
  • REL 283 Que(e)rying Religious Studies
  • REL 382 Toward Inclusive Theology
  • REL 464 Seminar: God, Gender and the Unconscious

Psychological and Social Scientific ApproachesCourses

  • REL 226 Ecology and the Sacred
  • REL 263 Religion and Social Theory
  • REL 267 Psychologies of Religion
  • REL 269 Therapy, Myth and Ritual
  • REL 365 Loss of Certainty
  • REL 464 Seminar: God, Gender and the Unconscious

Christian Traditions Courses

  • REL 232 Rethinking Jesus
  • REL 237 Lived Christianity
  • REL 238 Liberating Theology
  • REL 240 What Is Christianity?
  • REL 241 Rastaman and Christ
  • REL 279 Torah and Testament
  • REL 305 Tongues of Fire: Pentecostalism Worldwide
  • REL 345 Tradition Transformers: Systematic Theology

Islamic Studies Courses

  • REL 219 Introduction to Islamic Tradition
  • REL 236 Gender and Islam
  • REL 242 Islamic Mysticism: The Inward Dance
  • REL 321 Muslim Women in Literature

Crosslisted course

  • ASN 101 Intellectual and Religious Foundations of Asian Civilization


Department Faculty

  • Lowell Bloss, Ph.D.; Professor, Co-Department Chair
  • Mary Gerhart, Ph.D.; Professor, Co-Department Chair
  • Bahar Davary, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor
  • Michael Dobkowski, Ph.D.; Professor
  • Susan E. Henking, Ph.D.; Associate Professor
  • Richard Salter, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor

Worksheets

Declaration of Major and Minor worksheets: forms to be used when first declaring a major or minor.

Audit sheets for majors and minors: forms to be used on entering the Baccalaureate year to certify a plan for complete a major or minor. These forms become part of a student's permanent record.