Explore Spring 2025 courses being offered in the Department of Religious Studies.
- RELI 1010: Introduction to World Religions
- RELI 2020: Religion and Human Rights
- RELI 2120: Hindu Scriptures
- RELI 3020: Native American Religions
- RELI 3130: Women and the Bible
- RELI 3060: Religions of the West
- RELI 3500: Topics in Religious Studies
- RELI 4030: Africana Religions
- RELI 4180: History of Christianity II
- RELI 4250: War, Reli, Human Rights
- RELI 4450: Religion and Horror
- RELI 4830: Greek Myth, Religion & Magic
- RELI 8036: Africana Religions
- RELI 8186: History of Christianity II
RELI 1010: Introduction to World Religions
This course will introduce students to ways of understanding religion as a phenomenon in human culture and history, while surveying a wide variety of the religions of the world.
| Various Instructors | In-person and online | Link to Class Search |
RELI 2020: Religion and Human Rights
This course introduces students to the intersection of religion and human rights. It takes human rights as a moral tradition and asks how it impacts and is impacted by religious moral thought.
| Instructor: Dr. Laura E. Alexander | TR | ASH 188 | 11:30AM - 12:45PM | Link to Class Search |
RELI 2120: Hindu Scriptures
An introduction to some of the foundational scriptures of Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) from traditional and modern perspectives, including the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad-Gita.
| Instructor: Dr. Michele Desmarais | TR | ASH 313 | 2:30PM - 3:45 PM | Link to Class Search |
RELI 3020: Native American Religions
This course examines the life-ways, oral narratives, ceremonies, and philosophies of selected Native American tribal nations and communities from the major cultural regions of North America, utilizing historical, anthropological, and literary approaches. No single Native spiritual tradition or culture represents all Native North American beliefs and customs. Thus, attention will be given both to similarities among different tribal groups, and also the great diversity among the hundreds of indigenous ways of life on the North American continent, both ancient and modern. Particular topics addressed include the following: healing traditions and maintaining personal and communal balance, pilgrimages to sacred sites, and, critically, Native American creation stories inform the manner in which Native communities approach the natural world, including plants and animals as "other-than-human" persons.
| Instructor: Dr. Brady Desanti | MW | ASH 100 | 1:00PM - 2:15PM | Link to Class Search |
RELI 3060: Religions of the West
The stories and histories, practices, communities, and interactions among Jews, Christians, and Muslims are part of a larger history of inter-religious encounters and development. In addition to learning about the ideas and scriptures, the ritual and ethical practices, and the forms of social organization of these religious communities, students will analyze how each one of these major religious traditions not only impacts each other, but also play significant roles in the emerging global community. With this additional perspective, students will be able to understand and discuss Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as dynamic forces historically and in the twenty-first century.
| Instructor: Dr. Paul Williams | Totally Online | Link to Class Search |
RELI 3130: Women and the Bible
The stories and histories, practices, communities, and interactions among Jews, Christians, and Muslims are part of a larger history of inter-religious encounters and development. In addition to learning about the ideas and scriptures, the ritual and ethical practices, and the forms of social organization of these religious communities, students will analyze how each one of these major religious traditions not only impacts each other, but also play significant roles in the emerging global community. With this additional perspective, students will be able to understand and discuss Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as dynamic forces historically and in the twenty-first century.
| Instructor: Dr. Paul Williams | Totally Online | Link to Class Search |
RELI 3500: Topics in Religious Studies
The content of this course varies from semester to semester, giving instructor and students an opportunity to investigate various subjects of interest in religious studies. Typically, students will learn through reading, viewing, discussing, and writing about the topic under study. Some sections may include service learning and other forms of experiential learning. (May be repeated for credit as long as the topic is different, up to 18 hours of credit.)
| Instructor: Dr. Michele Desmarais | Topic: Spirituality and Madness | M | ASH 313 | 6:00PM - 8:00PM | Link to Class Search |
| Instructor: Dr. Bharat Ranganathan | Topic: Religion, Medicine & Ethics | TR | ASH 143 | 10:00AM - 11:15AM | Link to Class Search |
RELI 4030: Africana Religions
An introduction to religions in Africa and the diaspora, including African Traditional Religions, Christianity, Islam, and Afro-Caribbean religious traditions, using anthropological, historical, and other academic approaches to the study of religious and spiritual traditions. In particular, students will learn about the role of spirits, ancestors, witches, and other invisible agents in ideas and practices regarding health and healing. Finally, the class will examine the complex inter-relationships between religious ideas and practices and contemporary post-colonial political-economic realities, including the consequences of genocide and other human rights violations and the role of religious communities in social and economic development.
| Instructor: Dr. Paul Williams | Totally Online | Link to Class Search |
RELI 4180: History of Christianity II
This course will focus on the historical development of Christian ideas, practices, and institutions from the reformations of the sixteenth century CE through the early twenty-first century CE. In addition to the theological claims, students will examine the history of ritual practice and organizational development of the principal varieties of Christianity - Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and other eastern churches, Protestant, and Pentecostal.
| Instructor: Dr. John Lyden | Totally Online | Link to Class Search |
RELI 4250: War, Reli, Human Rights
What is the connection between human rights, religion, conflict, and peacebuilding? Does religion cause war or help to stop it? How can human rights violations be prevented or stopped, and can religious actors be engaged in this work? Is the use of force ever appropriate to protect human rights? This course engages all of these questions by examining the ethical thought of multiple religious traditions; the work of human rights organizations; the just war tradition; and questions about sovereignty, peacebuilding, and the use of force worldwide. It includes discussion of historical issues and contemporary case studies. (Cross-listed with RELI 8256).
| Dr. Laura Alexander | MW | ASH 380 | 1:00PM - 2:15PM | Link to Class Search |
RELI 4450: Religion and Horror
Examining the genre of horror in books, films, and television, students will explore the ways in which horror in its many forms illuminates upon an array of religious ideas. Some of the major subjects and themes examined in this class include: various cultural interpretations of sleep paralysis, the fear of death and dying badly, Hell and Satan, nature horror, body horror, and the breakdown of the established order of reality and its replacement with one that is alien and hostile to it. In addition to these themes, we will also explore horror in Native American and Eastern social and cultural contexts. Emphasis is placed on the genre's ability to portray complex religious, philosophical, sociological, and anthropological subject matter. (Cross-listed with RELI 8456).
| Dr. Brady Desanti | W | ASH 378 | 5:30PM - 8:10PM | Link to Class Search |
RELI 4830: Greek Myth, Religion & Magic
Students will examine the impact of ancient Greek myth and belief on actual religious practice: e.g., "lived" religion. Areas covered include formal civic sacrifice, wartime religion, family and personal devotions, mystery cults, oracles and seers, plus the popular pursuit of magic. (Cross-listed with HIST 8836, HIST 4830, RELI 8836).
| Dr. Jeanne Reames | M | ASH 216 | 6:00PM - 8:40PM | Link to Class Search |
RELI 8036: Africana Religions
An introduction to religions in Africa and the diaspora, including African Traditional Religions, Christianity, Islam, and Afro-Caribbean religious traditions, using anthropological, historical, and other academic approaches to the study of religious and spiritual traditions. In particular, students will learn about the role of spirits, ancestors, witches, and other invisible agents in ideas and practices regarding health and healing. Finally, the class will examine the complex inter-relationships between religious ideas and practices and contemporary post-colonial political-economic realities, including the consequences of genocide and other human rights violations and the role of religious communities in social and economic development.RELI 8186: History of Christianity IIThis course will focus on the historical development of Christian ideas, practices, and institutions from the reformations of the sixteenth century CE through the early twenty-first century CE. In addition to the theological claims, students will examine the history of ritual practice and organizational development of the principal varieties of Christianity - Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and other eastern churches, Protestant, and Pentecostal.RELI 8836: Greek Myth, Religion & MagicStudents will examine the impact of ancient Greek myth and belief on actual religious practice: e.g., "lived" religion. Areas covered include formal civic sacrifice, wartime religion, family and personal devotions, mystery cults, oracles and seers, plus the popular pursuit of magic. (Cross-listed with HIST 8836, HIST 4830, RELI 8836).
| Instructor: Dr. Paul Williams | Totally Online | Link to Class Search |
RELI 8186: History of Christianity II
This course will focus on the historical development of Christian ideas, practices, and institutions from the reformations of the sixteenth century CE through the early twenty-first century CE. In addition to the theological claims, students will examine the history of ritual practice and organizational development of the principal varieties of Christianity - Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and other eastern churches, Protestant, and Pentecostal. (Cross-listed with RELI 4180).
| Instructor: Dr. John Lyden | Totally Online | Link to Class Search |
RELI 8836: Greek Myth, Religion & Magic
Students will examine the impact of ancient Greek myth and belief on actual religious practice: e.g., "lived" religion. Areas covered include formal civic sacrifice, wartime religion, family and personal devotions, mystery cults, oracles and seers, plus the popular pursuit of magic. (Cross-listed with HIST 8836, HIST 4830, RELI 4830).
| Instructor: Dr. Jeanne Reames | M | ASH 216 | 6:00PM - 8:40PM | Link to Class Search |