Religious Studies 1 RLST 1003 Religion in a Comparative Key 3 Credits RELIGIOUS STUDIES Attributes: RSST RS Religious Studies Pathway This course examines different kinds of religious experience, doctrine, The Religious Studies curriculum presents a critical inquiry into the and practice through a close examination of two different religious religious dimension of human experience. After an introduction to the traditions, engaging the traditions as these appear in a variety of cultural nature of religion and the methods employed in its study, students can contexts. Previously RS 0101D. select from a variety of courses exploring specific topics such as sacred RLST 1004 Peoples of the Book, Sacred Texts, and Their texts, issues in sexual ethics, questions of life and death, and the wide Communities 3 Credits variety of devotions and practices that animate religious communities. Attributes: JST Judaic Studies Minor, RSST RS Religious Studies The study of religion allows for an informed appreciation of the Pathway motivations and values given expression in religious belief, and the This course examines the relationship between sacred text and the way in which culture shapes, and is shaped by, that belief. Students historical communities of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Focusing may take courses offered by the Religious Studies Department as part on shared narratives, such as Adam and Eve in the Garden, the course of the required core curriculum, as electives, or as part of a major or illustrates the different ways that texts are interpreted and the various minor program in religious studies under the direction of a departmental roles that Scripture plays in these communities. Previously RS 0101E. advisor. RLST 1101 Introduction to Judaism 3 Credits Attributes: JST Judaic Studies Minor, RSST RS Religious Studies Majors and minors in Religious Studies are eligible for induction to Pathway Theta Alpha Kappa, the national honor society for religious studies and This course examines ways in which Judaism has been defined and theology. In addition, each year the department honors the academic has developed as both a way of thought and a way of life. Included will achievement of an outstanding senior with the Mary Irene Gallagher be discussions of central Jewish concepts (e.g., covenant, holiness, Theology Medal, Fairfield's oldest academic award. and commandment), holidays, life-cycle ceremonies, and contemporary Core Curriculum Options Jewish religious movements. Previously RS 0100. RLST 1111 History of the Jewish Experience 3 Credits The Orientation Level of the Magis core curriculum requires students to Attributes: JST Judaic Studies Minor, RSST RS Religious Studies take an introductory course in Religious Studies, which can be any course Pathway at the 1000 level. The course examines the origin and development of Judaism and the Jewish people. It begins with the Hebrew Bible as the source of Judaism At the Exploration Level (2000-level courses), students must choose and follows its development to the modern era. This overview introduces two further courses in two separate departments, selected from History, the Jewish religion, its history, and development. Previously RS 0211. Philosophy, or Religious Studies. As such, students may select a 2000- level course in Religious Studies to fulfill part of the exploration-level RLST 1201 Hebrew Bible/Old Testament 3 Credits requirement. Attributes: JST Judaic Studies Minor, RSST RS Religious Studies Pathway This course will survey the texts that are normative for Judaism and Programs Christianity today; the Hebrew Bible (TaNaKh) and the Christian Old Testament. These texts will be studied according to a wide range of • Religious Studies Major modern methods of biblical criticism which consider carefully their • Religious Studies Minor literary and historical aspects. Special effort will be made to situate these • Religion in America Minor texts within their historical and cultural setting in the ancient near east. Previously RS 0201. Courses RLST 1203 Life of Jesus 3 Credits Attributes: RSST RS Religious Studies Pathway, RSTH RS Theology RLST 1001 Religion and the Critical Mind 3 Credits Pathway Attributes: RSST RS Religious Studies Pathway This course explores the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, the founder of Christianity and one of the most influential This course examines some of the themes in the study of religion and offers a comparative analysis of the nature, function, and purpose of people ever to have lived. The course will examine Jesus through a religion as found in a variety of models of religion. A wide variety of critical analysis of the earliest accounts of his life while also consulting contemporary religious practices will serve as discussion points for modern scholarly reconstructions. scholarly analysis. Previously RS 0101A. RLST 1211 Introduction to the New Testament 3 Credits RLST 1002 Common Questions, Traditional Response 3 Credits Attributes: RSST RS Religious Studies Pathway, RSTH RS Theology Attributes: RSST RS Religious Studies Pathway Pathway This course examines the major questions addressed by most world This course introduces students to the text of the New Testament and its religions, with special emphasis on how they are answered in a central themes regarding Jesus, his teachings, and the writings attributed specific major tradition. Topics include the nature of the sacred and its to his disciples. As students read the New Testament, they will also relationship to human persons, the problem of evil and innocent suffering, engage with critical questions surrounding its composition, authorship, religion's call for social responsibility, and the nature and function of and reception, as well as other issues such as the canonization of the ritual. Previously RS 0101C. New Testament, extra-New Testament texts, interpretive strategies, and various matters involving the New Testament and race, sexuality, slavery, and gender. 2 Religious Studies RLST 1270 Qur'an as Scripture and Experience 3 Credits RLST 1801 Asian Religions 3 Credits Attributes: RSTH RS Theology Pathway Attributes: ANMC Asian Studies Elective, INEL International Studies / This course provides students with an introductory survey to the Islamic International Business Elective, RSST RS Religious Studies Pathway, scripture of the Qur'an, its socio-historical context, and its ongoing legacy WDIV World Diversity within the wider Muslim world. Through close readings of the Qur'an and This course examines the basic religious systems of India and China, religious accounts of the Prophet Muhammad's life, students will explore including their fundamental differences, performative functions, and the nature of revelation and prophetic authority in Islam. Furthermore, worldviews. The course evaluates Euro-American theories of religion in students will critically examine the nature of interpretation and the light of Asian religious expressions. Previously RS 0101B. problems of authoritativeness, recognizing the importance of these RLST 1802 Buddhism 3 Credits issues for other religious traditions as well. Attributes: ANMC Asian Studies Elective, INEL International Studies / RLST 1402 Introduction to Catholicism 3 Credits International Business Elective, RSST RS Religious Studies Pathway, Attributes: CARS Catholic Studies: Religious Studies, RSST RS Religious WDIV World Diversity Studies Pathway This course explores the Indian Buddhist tradition, from its beginning This introduction to the beliefs, doctrines, ideas, and practices that shape in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha through the present revival of neo- the unity and diversity of the Catholic tradition explores theological, Buddhism in the activism of oppressed classes. The course considers devotional, and spiritual forms of expression in their historical and the early formative ideas of the Buddha, the Awakened One, as they cultural contexts in order to appreciate the particularity of Catholic unfold in the course of Indian history and society, and discusses Buddhist themes. The course also considers how these themes engage meditation and philosophy as procedures devised to elicit the awakened contemporary Catholic life and exercise an influence on the wider culture. state. Using written and visual works, the course examines developments Previously RS 0115. in Buddhist religious orders, lay social life, and the rise of the Great RLST 1601 Religion in the United States 3 Credits Vehicle tradition. Art and archaeology provide a context for Buddhism's Attributes: ASGW American Studies: Gateway, ASRS American Studies: compelling missionary activity throughout Central and Southeast Asia. Religion, CARS Catholic Studies: Religious Studies, RSST RS Religious Previously RS 0188. Studies Pathway, UDIV U.S. Diversity RLST 2099 Religious Studies Seminar 3 Credits This course explores the story of religion in America from a multicultural, Prerequisite: One 1000-level religious studies course. multi-faith perspective. Students will examine how different religious This seminar offers an in-depth investigation of a significant figure, issue, peoples and traditions have interacted across time and how these or problem in religious studies. Enrollment by permission only. Previously interactions and exchanges have both complicated and enriched the RS 0399. American religious landscape. Much attention will be paid to those voices RLST 2113 Jews and Judaism in America 3 Credits often left out of the master narrative of American religion for reason of Attributes: