91959

REL   103   

Buddhist Thought and Practice

Rae Erin Dachille-hey

. T . Th .

1:30 pm – 2:50 pm

HEG 106

HUM/DIFF

Cross-listed:  Asian Studies; Theology   This course introduces Buddhism as a tradition best understood by looking at the rich historical, philosophical, narrative, artistic, and ritual traditions that define it.  We begin by examining the assumptions we bring to the study of Buddhism as a “religion” and the circumstances of the initial Western encounter with Buddhist traditions.  We then look at the Indian origins of Buddhism and its relationship to other Indian religious and philosophical traditions. In particular, we consider how Buddhism evolved in relation to other major developments in Indian culture such as the invention of writing and the rise of images as a form of religious expression. Next, we explore representations of the Buddha’s birth and enlightenment in the art and texts of the early tradition. As we proceed to look at key aspects of the tradition, thinking about how Buddhism challenges existing ideals of self and identity will feature prominently in our discussions.  While much of the course focuses upon the rise of Buddhism as an Indian religion, we will also consider how the tradition was reinvented in its spread to Southeast and East Asia and the Himalayas.   Class size: 22

 

91832

REL   106   

 The Islamic Tradition

Tehseen Thaver

M . W . .

1:30 pm – 2:50 pm

OLIN 204

HUM/DIFF

Cross-listed:  Global & Int’l Studies, Middle Eastern Studies  An examination of the intellectual and lived traditions of Islam. In addition to early Muslim political history this course will also familiarize students with the major disciplines in Islam including the Qur’an, Hadith, theology, Islamic law, Islamic philosophy, and Sufism. The concluding segments of this course interrogate the interruptions of modernity in these traditions through the study of contemporary Muslim reform movements, Muslim modernism, and Islamism. We will utilize a variety of sources including primary sources (in translation), historical works, anthropological and literary sources, and films to guide our discussion. Through the study of Islam, this course will also provide students a solid theoretical foundation in larger conceptual questions and categories pertinent to the academic study of religion and to the humanities more broadly. Class size: 20

 

91823

REL   111   

 The Hebrew Bible

David Nelson

. T . Th .

11:50 am -1:10 pm

OLIN 101

HUM/DIFF

Cross-listed: Jewish Studies, Theology   The Hebrew Bible is arguably one of the most important works of Western culture. This course will survey the text, meaning, historical background and ancient near eastern literary and cultural context of the Hebrew Bible, and will provide a crucial introduction to all further studies of the three Abrahamic faiths. We will examine the interplay between history and myth, the various forms and purposes of biblical law, the phenomenon of biblical prophecy, and the diverse literary genres that are found within the Bible. Our goal will be to understand the work as a religious, historical, legal, and narrative work that reflected the society from which all of later Judaism, Christianity and Islam grew.  Class size: 20

 

91820

REL   117   

 Hindu Religious Traditions

Richard Davis

M . W . .

3:10 pm -4:30 pm

OLIN 101

HUM/DIFF

Cross-listed: Asian Studies; Theology   This course will provide an historical overview of the series of religious movements in India collectively referred to as ‘Hinduism.’ For the foundations of classical Hinduism, we will read from a vast corpus of mythic and epic literature and familiarize ourselves with the gods, goddesses, and heroes that have been central to Hindu religious practice throughout history. We will explore a range of social and devotional paths taken by Hindus by examining caste structure and social location, as well as the paths of action, devotion, and wisdom (karma, bhakti, and jnana, respectively). Moving into the contemporary context, we will focus on modern ethnographic accounts of how the tradition is lived, both in India and the United States, with a special eye to the construction of sacred space through temples and pilgrimage. Religion program category: Historical   Class size: 20

 

91821

REL   140   

 SANSKRIT

Richard Davis

. T . Th .

. . W . .

10:30 am- 11:30 am

10:30 am- 11:30 am

OLIN LC 118

OLIN 101

FLLC

Cross-listed:  Asian Studies, Classical Studies   Sanskrit is the language of ancient India, the language in which such works as the Bhagavad Gita, the great Hindu epics Mahabharata and Ramayana, and the Upanisads were written.  In this course students will learn the grammar and syntax of Classical Sanskrit and acquire a working vocabulary.  In the second semester students will read substantial portions of original texts in Sanskrit.   Religion program category: Interpretive  Class size: 15

 

92281

REL   254  

Buddha imagined

Rae Erin Dachille-hey

. T . Th .

3:10 pm – 4:30 pm

RKC 103

HUM

What does it mean to imagine the Buddha?  This course examines representations of the Buddha in art, narrative and ritual.  We will look specifically at the tools Buddhism provides for understanding what an image is and what imagination and representation are all about.  The tension between iconic and iconic modes of representation in early Indian Buddhist artistic representations of the Buddha will serve as a point of departure.  We will explore textual and visual representations of the stories of the Buddha’s past lives. We will also consider the role of images in the spread of Buddhism beyond India to better understand how cultures adapted Buddhist images in making them, and the tradition itself, their own.  Turning to the relationship of art and ritual, the course will include some comparative exercises as well, bringing Buddhist relic worship and image consecration rites into dialogue with Medieval Christian traditions.  The course will conclude with a brief exploration of Tibetan tantric Buddhism and the questions it raises about the relationship between humans and the divine.  What does it mean to imagine yourself as a Buddha?  Program category: Historical    Class size: 22

 

91847

REL   269   

 Sacred Pursuits

Bruce Chilton

. . W . F

1:30 pm -2:50 pm

CENTER FOR JAMES

HUM

Cross-listed:  Jewish Studies, Theology   This seminar is devoted to developing theoretical self-awareness in the study of religion. In order to achieve that end, we will read some of the key theorists in the study of religion, apply their insights to case-studies, and refine their approaches as seems necessary.  Class size: 18

 

91833

REL   336   

 Sufism

Tehseen Thaver

M . W . .

6:20 pm – 7:40 pm

OLINLC 210

SSCI/DIFF

Cross-listed:  Global & Int’l Studies, Middle Eastern Studies  This course examines the mystical tradition of Islam or Sufism. We will cover a range of topics including Sufism and Orientalism, the intellectual and institutional history of Sufism, Sufi textual traditions, Sufi orders and the master-disciple relationship, gender and Sufism, Sufism and modernity, and online Sufism. A major focus of this class will be on the close reading of primary texts from multiple intellectual disciplines, time periods, and regions (all in translation).  Class size: 15

 

91883

REL   COL   

 Religion Colloquium

Richard Davis

M . . . .

5:00 pm -6:00 pm

OLIN 101

 

2 credits  The religion colloquium is a two-credit course open to all students, but required of religion moderands. The purpose of the colloquium is to foster a community of scholarship among students and faculty interested in the study of religion, and to prepare public presentations of independent research. The colloquium is designed to encourage interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives on students’ topics of particular interest. Weekly sessions will be devoted to discussion of new books, films, CD-roms, etc. as well as regular updates of progress on senior projects. Public sessions of the colloquium will be scheduled three or four times each semester; students who enroll for credit will shoulder the responsibility for preparing papers to present in these sessions. Outside speakers and faculty members may also be invited to present papers in these public sessions.  Program category:  Theoretical   Class size: 20