RELIGST 111   INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN RELIGIONS   3 Units

An introduction to the major religious traditions in the cultural areas of South, Southeast, and East Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shinto.

RELIGST 112   INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN RELIGIONS   3 Units

An introduction to the major religious traditions that have shaped Near Eastern and Western culture; especially Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

RELIGST 135   INTRODUCTION TO ISLAMIC CIVILIZATIONS   3 Units

This course examines emergence and evolution of Islamic Civilizations from the seventh century though the modern era. It covers the birth and spread of Islam, the rise and fall of Muslim Empires, religious and political institutions, scientific and cultural achievements, and the position of women and religious minorities.

RELIGST 222   INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM   3 Units

A basic introduction to Judaism, this course explores Jewish traditions from their origins in ancient Israelite religion; Rabbinic Judaism; Jewish philosophy and mysticism; contemporary Jewish movements; the primary texts of Judaism; and the religious experience, values, beliefs, practices, and symbols of a variety of "Judaisms" throughout the world.

RELIGST 232   BUDDHISM: THE MIDDLE WAY   3 Units

This course introduces the wide range of Buddhist ideas and practices that have developed in Asia. It considers the social context in which Buddhism developed, the philosophical bases of all Buddhist schools, the development of the Mahayana, Buddhist Tantra, and Buddhist practices in South, Southeast and East Asia.

RELIGST 242   NATIVE AMERICAN RELIGIONS   3 Units

This course explores the historical development and manifestations of Native American religions from before European contact to the present. The course examines the diverse experiences of Native Americans, analyzes the changing roles of Native American religions, and questions traditional conceptions of Native Americans and Native American religions throughout American history.

RELIGST 252   THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE   3 Units

This course will survey the Bible and some other related Near Eastern literature, focusing on the development of genres, motifs, and other literary forms that have influenced the form and content of Western literature, including the parable, the proverb, the loss of Eden, exile and return, origin stories, and hero stories.
PREREQ: ENGLISH 100 OR ENGLISH 101 OR ENGLISH 105

RELIGST 262   HINDUISM IN CONTEXT   3 Units

India is well-known as the land of Hinduism, but it is also the birthplace of Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, and it is the home to a substantial portion of the world's Muslims. In this class, we will learn about each of these major Indian religions, as well as the way in which they relate to each other historically.

RELIGST 301   CRITICAL ISSUES IN MODERN RELIGION   3 Units

An introduction to selected critical issues relating to contemporary academic concerns and modern culture. A variety of intellectual and religious positions will be analyzed and discussed.

RELIGST 302   RELIGIOUS ETHICS   3 Units

The comparative study of the ethical dilemmas and discourse within religious narratives and traditions. The course presents selected ethical dilemmas and raises questions requiring students to analyze the positions embedded within religious narratives, and develop their own informed ethical positions. Topics include war, human rights, ecology, economic justice, and sexuality.
PREREQ: SOPHOMORE STANDING OR CONSENT OF INSTRUCTOR

RELIGST 303   ASIAN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT   3 Units

A study of selected texts and religious thought from India, China, and Japan in relation to their impact on personal spiritual development and cultural integration.
PREREQ: SOPHOMORE STANDING OR CONSENT OF INSTRUCTOR

RELIGST 304   CONTEMPORARY ISLAMIC THOUGHT AND PRACTICE   3 Units

This course will explore - thematically rather than chronologically - major trends in contemporary Islamic thought and practice through a study of key thinkers and a close reading of their works. Such trends include modernism, reformism, fundamentalism, nationalism, centrism, liberalism and feminism.

RELIGST 330   RELIGION, SEXUALITY AND GENDER   3 Units

This course will trace changing conceptions of gender roles and the functions of women in various religious traditions. Feminine and masculine images of divinity will be compared and recent scholarship in feminist theology on questions such as the nature of divinity, immortality, and religious devotion will be examined.
PREREQ: MINIMUM SOPHOMORE STANDING OR INSTRUCTOR CONSENT

RELIGST 333   GEOGRAPHY OF RELIGION   3 Units

This course examines the role of religion in contemporary American society and in communities around the globe from a geographic perspective. Significant places and spatial patterns associated with religions will be investigated along with the relationship between religion and the political landscape. Students will be expected to identify, visit, and analyze two religious sites in their community.

RELIGST 340   EVIL AND RELIGION   3 Units

This course presents a variety of ways of examining the problem of evil in several of the world's religious traditions--as a philosophical and theological problem for understanding the relationship between God and human beings in monotheistic religions, but also in broader comparative perspective through the confrontation of evil in polytheistic and non-theistic religions.

RELIGST 351   RELIGION IN AMERICAN CULTURE   3 Units

An examination of the significant role played by religious ideas and traditions in American society from colonial times to the present in historical and cultural perspectives.
PREREQ: SOPHOMORE STANDING OR CONSENT OF INSTRUCTOR

RELIGST 353   SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION   3 Units

A study of the function and forms of religious groups in primitive and contemporary societies; a theoretical examination of religion as a basic social institution.
PREREQ: SOPHOMORE STANDING OR CONSENT OF INSTRUCTOR

RELIGST 365   RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON DEATH AND DYING   3 Units

A critical examination of philosophical and religious materials dealing with death and dying. Issues such as the nature of death, the fear of death, the possibility of an afterlife, the concept of immortality, ethical and legal problems raised in the dying process, the ethics of hospice care, and the morality of euthanasia will be considered.
PREREQ: SOPHOMORE STATUS OR CONSENT OF INSTRUCTOR

RELIGST 371   MODERN RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS   3 Units

Modern Religious Movements will introduce students to the historical development and contemporary manifestations of various religions or religious traditions throughout the world from the early modern era to the present. It explores both those religious forms born within the modern era and those religious movements that are shaping religious expression today.

RELIGST 388   THE HOLOCAUST: NAZI GERMANY AND THE GENOCIDE OF THE JEWS   3 Units

This course will examine the origins, implementation, and legacies of the Nazi Holocaust against the Jews. It is intended to help students gain an appreciation of the importance of the Holocaust to the Jewish experience, while understanding that other groups also were victimized.
PREREQ: MINIMUM SOPHOMORE STANDING

RELIGST 490   WORKSHOP   Repeatable   1-3 Units

Variable topics. Group activity oriented presentations emphasizing `hands on` and participatory instructional techniques. Repeatable

RELIGST 494   SEMINAR   Repeatable   1-3 Units

RELIGST 496   SPECIAL STUDIES   Repeatable   1-3 Units

Variable topics. Group activity. Not offered regularly in the curriculum but offered on topics selected on the basis of timeliness, need, and interest, and generally in the format of regularly scheduled Catalog offerings. Repeatable

RELIGST 497   EXCHANGE STUDY   Repeatable   1-12 Units

Variable topics.

RELIGST 498   INDEPENDENT STUDY   Repeatable   1-3 Units

Study of a selected topic or topics under the direction of a faculty member. Repeatable