LSU Religious Studies Courses


	Religious Studies Courses
faculty course index library resources requirements for a concentration/minor religious studies program philosophy philosophy and religious studies home	The information provided here has been supplied by the teaching faculty who offer these courses, and is intended to supplement, but not replace, the official course descriptions that are contained in the LSU catalog. The descriptions given here are for informational purposes only, and are subject to change without notice. 1000 Religions of the World 1001, 1002 Beginning Hebrew 1004 Old Testament 1005 New Testament 1006 HONORS: New Testament 1007 HONORS: Old Testament 1015 HONORS: Religions of the World 2000 Introduction to the Study of Religion 2001 Faith and Doubt 2003, 2004 Intermediate Hebrew 2006 HONORS: Jesus in History and Tradition 2027 Asian Religions 2028 Philosophy of Religion 2029 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 2030 HONORS: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 2034 Indigenous Religions 2120 The Holocaust 2925 Independent Study/Tutorial 3002 Modern Catholicism 3004 Archaeology and the Bible 3005 Paul and Early Christianity 3010 Special Topics in Religious Studies 3015 Christian Philosophy 3028 Mysticism 3033 Native American Religions 3051 Apocalypse: Then and Now 3090 Comparative Mythology 3092 Fundamentalisms and Religious Nationalism 3100 Judaism 3101 American Judaism 3102 American Catholic History 3104 Ancient Hebrew Prophets 3124 The Literature of the English Bible 3201 Psychological Theories of Religion 3203 Religion and Parapsychology 3236 Literature and Religion: An Overview 3238 Religion and Film 3300 Women and Religion 3786 The Religion of Islam 4001 South Asian Society, Polity, and Culture 4005 History of the Christian Church: 50-450 4006 History of the Christian Church: 450-1350 4010 Selected Topics in Religious Studies 4011 The Age of Reformation 4012 History of Modern Christian Thought 4031 Comparative Religions 4032 Religion, Gender, and Society 4041 Women and Witchcraft 4050 A History of God 4060 Ideas of the Afterlife 4095 The Middle East to 1800 4096 The Modern Middle East 4097 Political Theology 4098 Muslims of South Asia 4124 Studies in African Diaspora Religions 4125 History of Ancient Israel 4161 History of Religion in the United States 4171 Religion in Southern Culture 4191 Religions of China and Japan 4227 Contemporary Christian Thought 4228 Major Religious Thinkers 4236 Studies in Literature and Religion 4301 Theories of Religion 4350 Religious Ethics 4500 Seminar in Biblical Studies 4600 Hinduism 4800 Buddhism 4928 Medieval Philosophy 4939 Kierkegaard 4944 Philosophical Theology 4990 Independent Reading and Research 7250 Seminar: Theoretical Study of Religion 7600 Seminar: Western Religions 7700 Seminar: Asian Religions 7990 Independent Study REL 1000: Religions of the World (3) A general introduction to the world's religions, including major traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as smaller indigenous traditions. The approach of the course is objective and academic; it is not designed to advocate any particular religious perspective or ideology. This course fulfills the General Education Humanities requirement and is intended primarily for students not majoring in Religious Studies. REL 1001: Beginning Hebrew (4) (also HEBR 1001) This course introduces the Hebrew alphabet and writing system, and then introduces the basic vocabulary and sentence structures of biblical Hebrew (the language of the Jewish Bible/the Christian Old Testament). Early in the semester, students will begin to read the books of Jonah and Malachi from the Bible, learning additional grammar and syntax as they occur in the biblical text itself. Students are expected to complete daily assignments and take short quizzes throughout the semester. A final examination covers all material introduced throughout the semester. There are no prerequisites. Students who take this course under the HEBR rubric can receive credit for the foreign language requirement of the College. REL 1002: Beginning Hebrew (4) (also HEBR 1002) Prerequisite: REL/HEBR 1001, or permission of the instructor. A continuation of REL/HEBR 1001 with similar requirements. During this semester, the class will read the first fourteen chapters of the biblical Book of Exodus, again learning grammar, syntax and vocabulary as they occur in the text itself. Students who take this course under the HEBR rubric can receive credit for the foreign language requirement of the College. REL 1004: Old Testament (3) A survey of the writings of the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) against the background of the history and religious life of ancient Israel and its near eastern neighbors. Typically, this course covers the "Mosaic" books and the "Deuteronomistic History" (Genesis-2 Kings), several of the prophetic writings, some of the Psalms, and several books of the "Wisdom literature" (e.g., Proverbs, Ecclesiastes). Primary attention is directed toward examining the development of the theological traditions of the ancient Israelite religion and their function in specific social and historical situations. This course also introduces students to modern methods of biblical interpretation including source criticism and literary analysis. Requirements generally include one or two in-class exams and a final examination. REL 1005: New Testament (3) This course will examine the earliest period of Christianity, from about 30 to 150 C.E. It will focus on the literature, history, and religion of this period of Christianity, and the way in which Christianity arose out of the Jewish religion and spread in the Greco-Roman world. A variety of writings from this period will be examined, including the collection of early Christian literature known as the New Testament. Students will also learn the historical, critical methods by which scholars study these writings as sources for our knowledge of the origins of Christianity. Course requirements generally include regular homework essays, class participation, and three exams. REL 1006: HONORS: New Testament (3) This course is not currently offered. REL 1007: HONORS: Old Testament (3) Similar in scope and content to REL 1004, but with a smaller class size that combines short lectures with seminar discussions and student presentations. Intended for Honors credit, the course requires significant writing assignments (e.g., short papers, book reviews) in addition to in-class and final examinations. REL 1015: HONORS: Religions of the World (3) Similar to REL 1000 but intended for Honors credit. Class size is reduced, but students are expected to participate in seminar-type discussions and presentations. Substantial attention is given to the development of student writing skills, usually in the form of short papers and essay-type exams. REL 2000: Introduction to the Study of Religion (3) This course provides a general introduction to the study of religion as an academic and humanistic subject. Though it discusses many different religions, it does not survey the religions of the world. Instead it investigates the nature and scope of religion itself, raising the question, "What is religion?" In the process it introduces students to various theories about religion and the various methods used by scholars who study religion. REL 2001: Faith and Doubt (3) Arguments for and against believing in God (or in Christianity or Judaism) lie at the heart of this course. In order to give these arguments clear focus, the course examines the writings of some of the most famous critics of the Judeo-Christian tradition including Thomas Paine, Sigmund Freud, and Albert Camus. We will also consider the responses of believers such as C. S. Lewis, Paul Achtemeier, and Harold Kushner. This is a challenging course: the arguments we consider are very powerful, especially to students encountering them for the first time. Still, most students find this course highly stimulating. In addition to a final exam, students complete two short papers. REL 2003: Intermediate Hebrew (4) (also HEBR 2003) Prerequisite: REL/HEBR 1002, or permission of the instructor. Continued readings from the narrative sections of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. Students are also instructed in the use of a standard Hebrew lexicon as a tool for translating. Students who take this course under the HEBR rubric can receive credit for the foreign language requirement of the College. REL 2004: Intermediate Hebrew (4) (also HEBR 2004) Prerequisite: REL/HEBR 2003, or permission of the instructor. Readings will be taken from narrative sections not read in previous courses, as well as an introduction to basic Hebrew poetry. Continued development of syntax, vocabulary, and the skills of textual criticism. Students who take this course under the HEBR rubric can receive credit for the foreign language requirement of the College. REL 2006: HONORS: Jesus in History and Tradition (3) In the first part of this course we will examine traditions about Jesus of Nazareth both ancient and modern. These include portrayals of Jesus in the New Testament, in ancient writings outside of the New Testament, and in modern "apocryphal" texts about Jesus. At various points in the course we will also consider portraits of Jesus in contemporary fiction and film. In the second part of the course, we will see how modern scholars evaluate the ancient traditions to reconstruct "the historical Jesus," that is, Jesus as he actually was. Course requirements normally include regular essays, class participation, and a book report or short research paper. Designed for students in the Honors Program and Religious Studies majors. Other students may be admitted with the permission of the instructor. REL 2027: Asian Religions (3) This course surveys the histories, myths, rituals, and philosophies of the major traditions of Asia including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto. The format is lecture but with a generous sprinkling of lively discussion and films. Requirements include in-class and final examinations (identifications and essays) and some short writing assignments (e.g., book reviews or short essays). REL 2027 is a required course for religious studies concentrators. REL 2028: Philosophy of Religion (3) (also offered as PHIL 2028) This course considers the nature and function of religion as a pervasive phenomenon in human societies; the idea of God and arguments for and against the existence of God; the structure of faith and the relationship between faith and reason. Other topics may be addressed as time permits, such as the problem of evil, miracles, life after death, and the "conflict" between science and religion. Class format combines lectures and discussions. Readings are drawn from both primary and secondary sources. REL 2029: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (3) A survey of these three great religions that are linked by their monotheism, written scriptures, and common history. This course gives attention to these common themes as well as to the historical and cultural situations that have given rise to differences in social, political, and religious thought. REL 2029 is a required course for religious studies concentrators. REL 2030: HONORS: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (3) Similar in scope and content to REL 2029, but with a smaller class size that combines short lectures with seminar discussions and student presentations. Intended for Honors credit, the course requires significant writing assignments (e.g., short papers, book reviews) in addition to in-class and final examinations. REL 2034 Indigenous Religions (3) This course is not currently offered. REL 2120: The Holocaust (3) The responses of Judaism and Christianity to the Nazi attempts to exterminate the Jews. We will consider the questions raised about God and suffering, human morality, and western civilization and modernity. REL 2925: Independent Study/Tutorial (1) A student may take REL 2925 for one-hour credit but may repeat the course for a maximum of three hours total credit. This course is designed to allow students to earn course credit for participating in conferences, small research projects, or short reading courses under the direction of a faculty member. Prerequisite: Students must have completed at least three semester hours of REL courses and have a GPA of 2.50 or above. REL 3002: Modern Catholicism (3) This course will examine the development of Catholicism and the Roman Catholic Church from about the year 1500 to the present. Topics to be discussed include the Catholic and Counter-Reformations of the sixteenth century; missionary expansion into Asia and the Americas; the Church’s response to science, biblical criticism, democratic liberalism, and “modernism”; popular piety and the “devotional revolution”; ecumenism; the reforms of the Second Vatican Council; and the development of Liberation Theology and Catholic Traditionalist movements. Requirements usually include critical reviews of 3-4 scholarly monographs, midterm and final examinations (primarily identifications and essays). REL 3004: Archaeology and the Bible (3) (also ANTH 3004) Since Napoleon's expedition to Egypt and Palestine in 1798, archaeologists have discovered a vast quantity of artifacts and documents from the ancient Near East that have greatly influenced our historical understanding of biblical times. This course examines some of these archaeological finds and assesses their importance. Individual topics vary slightly from year to year, but typical topics include the pioneers of biblical archaeology, principles of the archaeological method, the Primeval History, the Israelite settlement of Palestine, the royal cities of Solomon, the Omride kings, prophecy, the reign of Hezekiah, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Herod the Great, and Calvary and the tomb of Jesus. Requirements generally include a quiz, two in-class exams, and a comprehensive final examination. REL 3005: Paul and Early Christianity (3) This course is not currently offered. REL 3010: Special Topics in Religious Studies (3) Under the REL 3010 rubric, professors may offer courses and topics that are not a part of the regular course offerings of the department. Some recent courses offered in this way include Religion and Food, History of Anti-Semitism, and Contemplative Spirituality. REL 3010 may be taken for a maximum of twelve of credit when topics vary. NOTE: More than one section of REL 3010 may be offered in a given semester; students must ensure that they register for the appropriate section since topics will vary by section! REL 3015: Christian Philosophy (3) (also PHIL 3015) This course is a more specialized version of REL/PHIL 2028. It looks philosophically at themes definitive of Christian belief and understanding such as Trinitarian monotheism; the structure and reasonableness of lived faith; Christian emotions (e.g., love, humility); and ideas of incarnation, atonement, and sacrament. Readings include selections from Pascal's Thoughts and from a variety of contemporary Christian philosophers such as Alvin Plantinga, Robert Roberts, Catherine LaCugna, and Diogenes Allen. Graded work includes three or four narrowly focused "reading quizzes," two five-page papers on chosen topics, and a final exam. Maximum enrollment is thirty. Prerequisite: One course in either Religious Studies or Philosophy or the equivalent. REL 3028: Mysticism (3) This course begins by trying to define and classify what we mean by mysticism and mystical experience. We will then examine mystical texts from sources such as the Bible (Ezekiel and 2 Corinthians 12), writings by Christian mystics (e.g., Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross), and writings from Asian religious traditions (e.g., the Upanishads). Our attention will then turn toward interpretation as we examine philosophical, sociological, anthropological, psychological, and "pharmaceutical" issues in the study of mysticism. REL 3033: Native American Religions (3) This course is not currently offered. REL 3051: Apocalypse: Then and Now (3) This course examines ideas, from ancient times to modern, concerning the end of history or the end of the world. For example, we will trace the historical development of ideas about a coming Antichrist, a "rapture," a final battle between good and evil, a messianic kingdom, final judgment, resurrection from the dead, and a new heaven and earth. The first part of the course will focus on the "apocalypse," a type of ancient Jewish and Christian literature that claims to reveal heavenly secrets, usually concerning the end of history. Among others, we will study the best-known example of this genre, the book of Revelation in the New Testament. We then turn our attention to the way in which such ideas have influenced religious movements and literature down to the present day. Topics generally include religious movements that anticipate an imminent end of the world; apocalyptic themes in modern fiction and film; and an examination of scientific ideas about the end of the world. Requirements for the course generally include regular attendance, a weekly essay (2-3 pages) relating to a reading assignment, participation in class discussion, and a final essay reflecting on the course as a whole. REL 3090: Comparative Mythology (3) (also CLST 3090) Offered through the Classics program. Prerequisite: CLST 2090 or permission of instructor. Introduction to myths from around the world with comparisons to Greek and Roman mythology. REL 3092: Fundamentalisms and Religious Nationalism (3) (also INTL 3092) Many of the worst conflicts in modern history have been based upon nationalism and on the ideological use of religious symbolism. This course is a comparative exploration of explosive combinations of religion and politics in movements such as the Islamic Iranian revolution, the Islamic Palestinian movement, Jewish fundamentalism in Israel, Hindu nationalism in India, and Christian religious nationalism in Bosnia. The course will survey a number of recent theoretical treatments of the categories of fundamentalism and nationalism including the relationship between the ideological aspects of religious nationalism and the tendencies of fundamentalists to dominate women. It is not assumed or required that students have a background in the various religions or cultures discussed in the course. Prior coursework in foreign cultures, religion, or politics is helpful. REL 3100: Judaism (3) One of the most important components of Western civilization, the religion of Judaism grew out of the ancient Israelite religion about 500 BCE. In the 2500 years since, Judaism has shown a remarkable ability to adapt to various historical and cultural circumstances, and influenced the rise of both Christianity and Islam which find their own roots within the Israelite/Jewish tradition. This course examines the development of Judaism from biblical times to the modern age, including the rise of variant forms of Judaism such as Hasidism and Reform Judaism that have taken shape in the past few centuries. Requirements generally include two in-class exams, a comprehensive final, and a short paper. REL 3101: American Judaism (3) This course will explore the creative tension in American Jewish life today through an examination of the development of the many forms of American Judaism: Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, and mystical, rationalist, feminist, and Zionist influences. After a brief introduction to the Jewish faith, we will examine the basic positions and practices of the four leading denominations in American life as well as the contemporary havurah and Jewish renewal movements. All of this is set in the context of tracing the history of Jewish immigration to the United States and issues of assimilation from 1645 to the present. REL 3102: American Catholic History (3) Since the middle of the nineteenth century, Roman Catholics have composed the largest single religious tradition in the United States, yet their history has been marked by a harsh skepticism concerning their ability to assimilate fully into a Protestant-dominated culture. American Catholics have thus been a people of two worlds: one that is Roman, ecclesiastical, and international; the other American, civil, and national. This course explores the tension Catholics have faced in being both Roman and American, and explores how this tension has shaped the American Catholic experience. Requirements generally include three or four short papers or critical book reviews as well as midterm and final examinations. REL 3104: Ancient Hebrew Prophets (3) This course examines the messages and functions of the ancient Israelite prophets within their religious, social, and political settings. The course begins by reviewing both ancient and modern ways of interpreting the prophets and then begins an analysis of the prophetic office as described in the biblical books of Samuel and Kings. The central part of the course focuses on the messages of several of the classical prophets, usually including Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, "Second Isaiah," Haggai, and Zechariah. Finally, we will look at the special perspective of apocalyptic prophecy and its view of history and divine action as presented in the book of Daniel. Requirements generally include two short papers and a final examination. REL 3124: The Literature of the English Bible (3) (also ENGL 3124) A study of the Christian Bible and its influence on Western tradition through the Renaissance. We will begin with an introductory and interdisciplinary examination of the of the history, theology and literature of the biblical books, engaging basic questions about the writing, structure, and literary forms of the Bible. In particular, we will focus on the history of the "people of God" whose stories are told here: What were their attitudes about God? The place of the individual within nature? How do they differ from people in other great world religions? How did they formulate some of the enduring questions of the Western world? Requirements generally include a midterm and a final examination, brief papers, and participation in class discussions. REL 3201: Psychological Theories of Religion (3) (also PSYC 3201) This course offers a broad survey of different psychological approaches to the study of religion. Specific topics generally include: religion and the psychoanalysis of Freud and Jung; moral and religious development and developmental psychology; the negative impact of thoroughgoing behaviorism; and approaches to religion from perspectives such as neuropsychology, logo therapy, and existential psychology. REL 3201 does not teach psychology as a scientific discipline but rather examines psychological concepts and the insights they bring to understanding religious phenomena. REL 3203: Religion and Parapsychology (3) This course will study beliefs about the dark and miraculous aspects of religion and related extraordinary human experiences. Topics include witchcraft, ESP (extrasensory perception), prophecy, psychokinesis (mind over matter), miracles and healing, out of body sensations, near death visions, hauntings, possession, shamanism, reincarnation, and mediumship Contact instructor for link to study materials. REL 3236: Literature and Religion: An Overview (3) (also ENGL 3236) Comparative analysis of world views in representative works of Western literature; theory and practice of the religious interpretation of literary texts; writers studied may include Aeschylus, Dante, Shakespeare, Melville, and Walker Percy. REL 3238: Religion and Film (3) Building on a review of film language with emphasis on cinema's unique form of artistic communication, this course explores the history of the interaction of religion and film in the United States with a view to understanding both the theories of their interrelationship and the related methods of interpreting film from a religious perspective. Ten to twelve films will be screened; these have included works such as Jesus of Montreal, The Passion of Joan of Arc, La Dolce Vita, The Godfather, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Agnes of God, Places in the Heart, and Grand Canyon. Assignments include weekly exercises related to the films as well as readings from and discussions of essays on the religious interpretation of film. REL 3300: Women and Religion (3) Most religions have endorsed the exclusion of women from participation in the spheres of sacred and secular power. In some instances, however, women have been central to the concepts of divinity and to the ability of religions to reform radically their societies. In every era, the image of religious transcendence offers hope for the empowerment of women at the same time that religious institutions often crush that hope. This course examines foundational myths about women and gender in different religions and cultures, the representations of the great goddesses of the world, important theological appropriations and social manifestations of religious texts, and the effect of asceticism on women. Students will also explore the careers of some women who are religious or who have grappled seriously with religion. There are some lectures in the course, but in general the course will rely heavily upon the analysis of readings through class discussions. Evaluation is usually based on essay exams and additional writings assignments. REL 3786: The Religion of Islam (3) (also INTL 3786) This course seeks to introduce the major religious and cultural dimensions of the Islamic world, both those that express its diversity and those that express its continuity. No prior work is presupposed. Emphasis will be given to the development of classical Islamic institutions and ideas as well as the diverse forms of Islamic religious and cultural life over the past fourteen centuries as the Islamic tradition has spread around the world. A major purpose of the course is to provide students with a better and deeper understanding of the Islamic past and through this, the Islamic world today. While this is not a history course, anyone taking it should come away with a basic grasp of the larger historical framework within which Islamic civilization has developed. REL 4001: South Asian Society, Polity, and Culture (3) (also INTL 4002, GEOG 4002, ANTH 4002) Designed as an advanced introductory seminar, the course will examine the history of current conditions in South Asia by tracing the five major cultural/political legacies that have shaped the region's post-colonial world: Hinduism, Islam, European colonialism, and nationalism. Variously focusing on India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, we shall study the historical background necessary to understand contemporary issues of ethno-nationalist identity, religion, caste, class, and gender that currently inform political discourse and communal conflict in the region. Close attention will be paid to the colonial legacy of "Orientalism" that complicates contemporary conceptions of tradition, modernity, and the state. Combining several disciplinary perspectives (history, anthropology, cultural studies), readings will include ethnographies, scholarly articles, a novel (Bapsi Sidhwa's Cracking India), and some films. REL 4005: History of the Christian Church: 50-450 (3) (also HIST 4005) This course examines the development of Christianity as a social and theological institution in the ancient western world. Beginning with the earliest communities of Christians of which we have knowledge in the decades just after the death of Jesus, we will consider both the institutionalization of the Church (e.g., the development of theology, the questions of authority, the beginnings of Christian worship and ritual) and the relationship of Christianity to the larger Greco-Roman culture. Along the way, we will address the great Christological controversies and councils, the rise of the papacy, the emergence of Christian asceticism, the relation of Christianity to the Roman state, and the growing importance of the figure of Mary in Christian thought. We conclude with an examination of these and other issues in the age of Augustine, as the Church and western Europe stood poised on the brink of the "Middle Ages." Readings consist of both secondary and primary materials (in English translation). REL 4006: History of the Christian Church: 450-1350 (3) (also HIST 4006) Medieval Latin Christianity; emphasis on central role of the church in culture, politics, and social organization. REL 4010: Selected Topics in Religious Studies (3) Similar to REL 3010, but at a more advanced level; graduate credit is usually available if the instructor is a member of the graduate faculty. May be taken for a maximum of twelve hours of credit when topics vary. REL 4011: The Age of the Reformation (3) (also HIST 4011) A survey of the history of Western Christianity from the later Middle Ages to the mid-seventeenth century, with special emphasis on the great reformations both Protestant and Catholic. The course concentrates particularly on the theological, political, and cultural ramifications of these reform movements. Readings include The Imitation of Christ, and selections from the writings of Erasmus, Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Loyola, Montaigne, and Descartes. Requirements generally include class participation, midterm and final examinations, and two short papers (6-8 pages each). REL 4012: History of Modern Christian Thought (3) (also HIST 4012) This course covers the period 1500-1900. Beginning with key ideas during the period of the Reformation and the Catholic and Counter-Reformations, we then move on to selected figures such as Galileo, Pascal, and John Locke in the seventeenth century; Jonathan Edwards in the eighteenth century; and Schleiermacher, Feuerbach, Kierkegaard and Newman in the nineteenth century. Evaluation is by exams that include both short answer and essay questions. Prerequisite: one previous REL course. REL 4031: Comparative Religions (3) (also ANTH 4031) Religious systems in their different levels of sociocultural evolution. REL 4032: Religion, Gender, and Society (3) (also ANTH 4032) This course examines the link between religious ideas and gender formulations within simple and complex societies and certain religious communities. Each society features a uniquely configured gender "system" as part of its cultural repertoire. In virtually every case, these systems are anchored and articulated by means of religious metaphors and ideas. In this class we will examine religious and ritual constructions of gender relations within various societies in particular contexts, with the aim of making the strange familiar and the familiar strange. REL 4041 Women and Witchcraft (3) This course is not currently offered. REL 4050: A History of God (3) This course explores religion as a belief in, and response to, a divine being or beings. It is focused on, but not limited to, conceptions of God in Western civilization. (1) From a historical perspective, it traces the development of the concept of God from primitive animism to contemporary theology. Topics may include archaic polytheism, the Hebrew God, the God of Greek philosophy, the Christian God, the God of Gnosticism, the God of Islam, the God of classical theism, the God of mysticism, the God of process theology, the modern death of God, and the rebirth of the Goddess. (2) From a theoretical perspective, it introduces several classical theories of religion, specifically as these relate to the concept of God. Theories examined may include those of Tylor, Freud, Feuerbach, and Durkheim. (3) With respect to method, it employs several different approaches to the study of religion: specifically, the history of religions, the philosophy of religion, and literary criticism. The course will examine the concept of God not only in classical religious texts but also in contemporary fiction and film. Requirements for the course generally include regular attendance, a weekly essay (2-3 pages) relating to a reading assignment, participation in class discussion, and a final essay reflecting on the course as a whole. REL 4060: Ideas of the Afterlife (3) This course traces the development of ideas, from ancient times to modern, concerning life after death. We examine beliefs about the afterlife in various world religions, such as primal religions, ancient Egyptian religion, Eastern religions, and biblical religions. We give special attention to otherworld journeys, narratives in which an individual travels to the realm of the afterlife and returns to describe it. Modern forms of otherworld journeys, such as visions of heaven and hell, near-death experiences, and out-of-body experiences, are included, as are portrayals of the afterlife in contemporary fiction and film. Requirements for the course generally include regular attendance, a weekly essay (2-3 pages) relating to a reading assignment, participation in class discussion, and a final essay reflecting on the course as a whole. REL 4095: The Middle East to 1800 (3) (also HIST 4095) History and culture of the Arab people in the Middle East and the Maghrib from the pre-Islamic period to the end of the 18th century. REL 4096: The Modern Middle East (3) (also HIST 4096) Major problems of the Middle East and North Africa in the modern period; internal Arab social, economic, and intellectual developments; Muslim responses to European colonialism; modern Arab nationalism and political trends; Islamic reformist and revivalist movements; problem of Palestine. REL 4097: Political Theology (3) (also POLI 4097) An exploration of the relationship between theology and politics from the ancient Greeks and Hebrews to contemporary political theologians; emphasis on the Judeo-Christian tradition, but the political theology of other religious traditions, such as Islam, Hinduism, and Confucianism may be included. REL 4098: Muslims of South Asia (3) (also HIST 4098) Islamic history and culture in India, Pakistan, etc. REL 4124: Studies in African Diaspora Religions (3) (also AAAS 4124) This is a variable topics course that may be taken for a maximum of six semester hours of credit when topics vary. It analyzes religious philosophies, rituals, and practices and their roles in the lives of African Diaspora peoples. REL 4125: History of Ancient Israel (3) (also HIST 4125) This course surveys Israelite history from its beginning to the advent of Alexander the Great in 332 BCE. The goal of the course is to move behind the theologically shaped presentation of Israel's history in the Hebrew Bible to a critical reconstruction of the nation's history. The investigation involves the careful reading and assessment of biblical and ancient near eastern texts, as well as attending to the relevant archaeological evidence. Requirements usually include regular attendance, one quiz, two midterm tests, and a comprehensive final. REL 4161: History of Religion in the United States (3) (also HIST 4161) The First Amendment guarantee of religious liberty has made the United States one of the most religiously pluralistic societies in modern history. Yet the common experience of being American has made the United States, as G. K. Chesterton once observed, a "nation with the soul of a church." Thus, the study of religion in America is more than an examination of the various religious groups that compose American society; it is an attempt to grapple with the very meaning of America itself. This course examines the development of the major religious traditions that have influenced American history (Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism) as well as the "outsiders" who have helped shape this central core. It also analyzes the religious elements of American life (e.g., civil religion or gender roles and domestic religion) that help define our cultural identity. Requirements usually include critical reviews of 3-4 scholarly monographs, midterm and final examinations (primarily identifications and essays). REL 4171: Religion in Southern Culture (3) Religion in its many manifestations -- whether denominational, civil, domestic, or folk -- has had a tremendous influence in shaping the history and the culture of the American South. The two primary objectives of this course will be (1) to investigate the development of the primary religious groups in the South; and (2) to explore, using a number of conceptual perspectives and methodological approaches, the meaning and function of "religion" as a cultural phenomenon in Southern life. Special attention will be given to the religions and cultures of Louisiana. Readings usually include scholarly monographs as well as a range of articles and chapters from both contemporary and classic interpretations of religion in the South. Requirements usually include critical reviews of 3-4 monographs, midterm and final examinations (primarily identifications and essays), and/or student presentations. REL 4191: Religions of China and Japan (3) (also HIST 4191) Major religious traditions of East Asia: Confucianism, Taoism, Mahayana Buddhism, Shinto, and Chinese and Japanese folk religion; religion in the context of Chinese and Japanese cultural history. REL 4227: Contemporary Christian Thought (3) Contemporary theologians like Karl Barth and Paul Tillich have addressed two questions. First, how does theology relate to philosophy? Second, is theology a viable discipline in modern times? Their theologies have emerged out of the discussion of theoretical issues in the academy and the Christian church, and thus they are highly intellectual and systematic. In this course, we read such theologians as Barth and Tillich, but also other, less traditional Christian thinkers -- liberation theologians, Latin Americans, blacks, and women, who have shifted theology towards a concern with ordinary human experience. Their theologies are generally more ethical than philosophical, combining the spiritual with the political. The course consists largely of student presentations and class discussion. Requirements generally include regular attendance, a presentation of a 5-7 page paper, several short (2-3 pages) critical papers, and a final examination. REL 4228: Major Religious Thinkers (3) This course examines the thought of a major religious thinker. Some important figures who have been treated in past offerings include Søren Kierkegaard, Mircea Eliade, John Henry Newman, and Martin Luther. Although the course concentrates on the work of one religious theorist, it always places the writer within his or her intellectual and historical context, so that several figures may actually be considered. The requirements may vary but often include an essay final exam and a paper (10-15 pages). This course may be taken for up to six credit hours when the topics vary. REL 4236: Studies in Literature and Religion (3) (also ENGL 4236) A variable topics course; some recent topics have included "Major Religious Novelists," "Literature of Illness and Death," "Moral Universes of Greek and Christian Tragedy," and "Creation Stories"; as well as studies of authors such as Sophocles, Dante, Shakespeare, Donne, Hawthorne, Eliot, O'Connor, and Morrison. This course may be taken for up to six credit hours when the topics vary. REL 4301: Theories of Religion (3) Theories about the origin, nature, and function of religion, drawn from various disciplines. REL 4350: Religious Ethics (3) This course is not currently offered. REL 4500: Seminar in Biblical Studies (3) Special topic courses in biblical studies are occasionally offered under this rubric. Past topics include the Gospel of John, the Gospel of Matthew, and biblical theology. Students may take REL 4500 for up to six credit hours when the topics vary. At least one previous course in biblical studies is a prerequisite. REL 4600: Hinduism (3) Hinduism, the intricate religious and social system that developed on the Indian subcontinent, is unique in all the world although it has connections to other Indo-European religions, especially those of ancient Greece and Rome. This course explores the history, philosophies, ethics, myths, and rituals of this ancient religion in their textual and popular manifestations. Course texts are supplemented with readings from primary sacred texts, myth narratives, and films whenever possible. Evaluation is usually based on class discussion and exams that include identifications of terms and essay questions; students may also write research papers on topics of their own choosing. REL 4800: Buddhism (3) Based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), who lived in India in the 6th century BCE, Buddhism quickly became a world religion. Founded on the dual principles of insight and compassion, it has never lost its appeal for societies and individuals all over the world, despite its non-evangelical character. Buddhism has influenced greatly the cultural development of most Asian societies and has inspired some of the subtlest philosophical systems and most beautiful art the world has ever known. In this course, we will examine the rise and spread of Buddhism in its various manifestations. Considerable reading and discussion will supplement the lectures. Course assessment generally is based on the identification of terms and concepts, as well as essay exams; students may also write term papers. REL 4928: Medieval Philosophy (3) (also PHIL 4928) All philosophical figures of the Middle Ages must eventually come to grips with the intersection of secular learning and rational discourse with structures of religious belief and authority, especially as these interstices were explored in the Patristic period by Augustine and by Thomas Aquinas in the High Middle Ages, whose chief opponents were the Latin followers of the Islamic philosopher and theologian, Averroes. We will be looking particularly at the work of Augustine on the mind and the soul, which will draw us into a consideration of his work in defining a theology of the Trinity and his opposition to a Manichaean anthropology. (Early works on the soul include On the Trinity, On a Literal Reading of Genesis Against the Manichaeans). We will then consider the controversy about mind and soul between Averroes ("Letter on the Possibility of Conjunction," selctions from Great Commentary on the Soul) and Aquinas (On the Unity of the Soul Against the Averroists, selections from Summa Theologiae). Pre-requisites: None, but one prior course in philosophy would be extremely helpful. Typical assignments include daily readings and frequent but short written assignments, as well as one short and one longer (15 pp. max.) course paper. There is also and essay midterm and final. REL 4939: Kierkegaard (3) (also PHIL 4939) A study of Kierkegaard's principal works such as Either/Or, The Sickness Unto Death, Fear and Trembling, Concluding Unscientific Postscript, Stages on Life's Way, and The Present Age. REL 4944: Philosophical Theology (3) (also PHIL 4944) Philosophical theology is theology based on reason and argument rather than on appeal to texts that particular religious groups regard as sacred or revealed. In this course students study the recent discussion of various questions in philosophical theology. For example, is it reasonable to think of God as a personal agent? Can rational arguments confirm the existence of God? How can God's relation to and action in the world be conceived intelligibly? What is the nature and use of religious language? What is the nature of faith, and how does faith relate to reason? Can a belief in God and God's agency be squared with scientific understanding? What can we known philosophically about such matters as prayer, sacrament, miracle, and so on? Course enrollment is limited to 20-30 students. The class format emphasizes seminar discussion, but there is some lecturing. Weekly reading usually consists of 40-100 pages from such authors as Robert Solkolowski, Alvin Plantinga, Paul Tillich, Austin Farrer, D. Z. Phillips, Richard Swinburne, Charles Hartshorne, Merold Westphal. Students write summaries of chapters from assigned readings to be presented to the class, and a term paper will serve as a final examination. REL 4990: Independent Reading and Research (1-3) Open to advanced students with prior approval of faculty member who will direct the course. Student is responsible for selecting area of reading and research and gaining agreement of faculty member to direct the course. May be taken for a maximum of six credit hours when topics vary. REL 7250: Seminar: Theoretical Study of Religion (3) This course is not currently offered. REL 7600: Seminar: Western Religions (3) This course is not currently offered. REL 7700: Seminar: Asian Religions (3) This course is not currently offered. REL 7990: Independent Study (3) Prior permission of faculty director needed. Students may take REL 7990 for a maximum of six semester hours.