201/ACABS 200/APTIS 200/HJCS 200. Introduction
to World Religions: Near Eastern. (4). (HU).
Religions of the Book: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This course
serves two main functions: the first of these is to provide an introductory
sense of what is involved in the academic study of religion; the second,
which will occupy almost the whole term, is to introduce the major religious
traditions of the Near East, with emphasis on the development and major
structures of Israelite Religion, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
The course will keep two foci in view: one will have to do with the historical
development of these religious traditions, their sacred texts and major
personalities; the second will involve a comparative view of these traditions
by analyzing their sense of the sacred in space, time, and text, their views
on holy people. This is an introductory course: it is not necessary for
students to have any previous experience in the study of religion. The course
consists of three weekly lectures and a discussion group. Writing for the
course typically involves an essay, a midterm, and a final exam. For further
information, please contact the Program on Studies in Religion, 445 West
Hall. Cost:3 WL:4 (Williams, Knysh, Schmidt, Schramm)
203. Introduction to the Christian Tradition. (4). (HU).
A survey of the doctrine, institutions, and culture of the Christian
Churches of the West from Apostolic times to the 20th century. Secondary
reading and lectures will provide students with the framework necessary
to interpret various examples of the most important Christian literature
from the New Testament to contemporary authors. Students will learn a very
basic narrative of this long expanse of history, but they will pay closer
attention to a few select topics or periods in Christian history: the New
Testament; the age of the Latin Fathers; the religious life; the High Middle
Ages; the Renaissance and Reformation; the Enlightenment; "higher"
Biblical criticism; the churches and Nazi Germany; and modern social thought.
Two sections a week are designed to encourage discussion of this literature
- by such authors as St. Augustine, St. Francis, St. Thomas
Aquinas, Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, Bonhoeffer, and J.A.T. Robinson. Students
will be graded on class participation; three short essays on the assigned
reading; an hour exam; and a final. This is an introductory course with
no prerequisites; and although previous religious education might obviously
prove helpful, the staff will try not to assume that students have any background
in the history or doctrine of the Christian Church. Since our orientation
is academic, students need not "believe in" anything to take this
course. (Tentler)
230/Asian Studies 230/Buddhist Studies 230/Phil. 230. Introduction to
Buddhism. (4). (HU).
See Buddhist Studies 230. (Gomez)
365/Phil. 365. Problems of Religion. (4). (HU).
See Philosophy 365. (Curley)