RELI 1. Introduction to Religion (4)
An introduction to key topics in the study of religion through a comparative reading of religious texts and/or artifacts. The intent is to develop basic strategies of interpretation for undertaking a critical, disciplined study of religion.

RELI 110A. The Modern Study of Religion: Religion in Modernity (4)
This class examines the history of the term “religion,” focusing upon the development of religion’s contemporary significance within the Reformation and Enlightenment, and questioning what it means to be “modern.” Topics change yearly. Special attention to contemporary culture and politics.

RELI 110B. The Modern Study of Religion: Social and Cultural Theories of Religion (4)
An introduction to basic srategies of interpretation in the study of religion, including issues of category formation, theory, and method. Special attention paid to prominent voices of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including Marx, Freud, Durkheim, Eliade, etc.

RELI 112. Texts and Contexts: The Holy Book in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (4)
An introduction to the scriptures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, with the aim of providing a comparative perspective on the “bibles” of Western civilization.

RELI 113. Texts and Contexts: Textual Communities in South Asia (4)
This class considers important texts belonging to one or more of the following South Asian Traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, or Sikhism. It introduces students to the ways in which religious identities are formed and contested within a pluralistic society.

RELI 130. Religion, Science, and Magic (4)
Religion, science, and magic provide scholars with a set of analytic categories for the comparative study of cultural forms and modes of thinking. What are the ideological underpinnings and political implications of these categories? This class addresses this question using comparative avenues involving literary sources. Prerequisites: upper-division standing or consent of instructor.

RELI 131. Topics in Religion and Sexuality (4)
How does religioisity as a significant cultural component help mold gender and sexuality identities? The class offers topical investigations into this question. Prerequisites: upper-division standing or consent of instructor.

RELI 132. Topics in Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy (4)    Religious dogmas often develop in dialogue with alternative viewpoints that ultimately are rejected by heterodox by the dominant group. This class presents case studies in the interpretation of such ideological and sociological pairings using scriptural, literary, and analytic sources. Prerequisites: upper-division standing or consent of instructor.

RELI 134. Topics in American Religion (4)
Topical studies in the history of religion in American society, ranging from the Puritans to the New Age. Prerequisites: upper-division standing or consent of instructor.

RELI 140. Death and Religion (4)    This interdisciplinary course uses literary sources to explore the relationship between death and religion on a historical and global scale; the relationship between political religious rituals and symbolism of rebirth; examination of carnival, death pollution, and symbolism of gender. Prerequisites: upper-division standing or consent of instructor.

RELI 141. Public Sphere and Religion (4)
This interdisciplinary course will explore the historical and theoretical relationship between public sphere and religion, particularly focusing on the manifestation of religious power, public ritual, and sacred theatricality in everyday spaces of life. Prerequisites: upper-division standing or consent of instructor.

RELI 142. Secularization and Religion (4)
Surveys the relationship between religion and modernity, in particular the problematic of the secularization theory; covers cases such as Catholic liberation theology and Islamic fundamentalism, with particular focus on the “deprivatization of modern religion.” Prerequisites: upper-division standing or consent of instructor.

RELI 188. Special Topics in Religion (4)
Students in this lecture will investigate important problems in the study of religion or the history of particular religions. May be repeated for credit up to three times when topics vary. Prerequisite: upper-division standing.

RELI 189. Seminar in Religion (4)
This seminar requires the intensive analysis of critical problems in the study of religion or the history of particular religions. May be repeated for credit up to three times when topics vary. Prerequisites: upper-division standing; RELI 110A or 110B.

RELI 196H. Honors Thesis Research (4)
Honors thesis research for students accepted into the Honors Program. Research is conducted under the supervision of a program faculty member. Prerequisite: program approval into the Honors Program.

RELI 197. Directed Advanced Readings (4)
A faculty member will direct a student in advanced readings on a topic not generally included in the Program for the Study of Religion’s curriculum. Students must make arrangements with the program and individual faculty. May be repeated for credit up to three times for credit. Prerequisites: upper-division standing; RELI 110A or 110B; overall GPA of 2.5.