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Spring 2021 Courses

Explore Spring 2021 courses being offered in the Department of Religious Studies.

RELI 3130-850: Women and the Bible

This course explores the characterization of women in Hebrew and Christian scriptures as well as what we can learn about the lives of women in the ancient world from these and other sources. Attention is also given to the reception and use of these texts in later historical periods including contemporary religious contexts.

Instructor: Dr. Curtis Hutt Totally Online Link to Class Search
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RELI 3170-850: History of Christianity to the Reformation

This course examines the development of Christian theological, ritual, and social practice from the beginnings of Christianity through the Reformation.

Prereq: Junior, three hours in religion, or permission of instructor.

Instructor: Dr. Gary Eller Totally Online Link to Class Search
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RELI 3200: Islam and Muslims

What do Muslims believe? How do they practice their faith? What role does Islam and what roles do Muslims play in the 21st century? This course provides an introduction to the history, beliefs, and practices of Islam and Muslim communities, including both Sunni and Shi'i traditions, Sufis and Salafis, from the time of Muhammad ibn Abdullah to the 21st century.

Instructor: Dr. Paul Williams Totally Online Link to Class Search
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RELI 3500-852: Africana Literature of Freedom

Exploring themes of freedom, equity, and justice, this course empowers students to read, analyze, and discuss oral, written, and visual texts of the African Diaspora. Dating from the 18th to the early 21st century, the literature includes diverse genres: music (spirituals, gospel, blues, jazz, work songs, ballads), sermons, folktales, biography, poetry, short story, and novel. 

American writers such as Wheatley, Douglas, Du Bois, Johnson, Hurston, Angelou, Hughes, King, Malcolm X, and Walker, join the ranks of African writers, inclduing Gordimer, Bâ, Brutus, Evans, Achebe, Adichie, Armah, Okri, and Thiong'o to engage students with an almost 300-year tapestry of freedom literature.

Instructor: Dr. Gloria Epps Totally Online Link to Class Search
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RELI 3500-853 Special Topics: Star Wars and Religion

This course examines the ways in which the Star Wars films, shows, games, and related products intersect with and make use of ideas from religions, mythology, and spirituality, and considers the ways in which Star Wars fandom resembles religious activities.

Instructor: Dr. John Lyden Totally Online Link to Class Search
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RELI 4020-850 Buddhist Traditions

This course is an exploration of Buddhist history, thought and practices. It begins with the origins, cultural context, and development of Buddhism in South Asia and then traces the path of Buddhism through Southeast Asia, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan and North America.

Prereq: Junior or permission of instructor.

Instructor: Dr. Julien Wulfgar Totally Online Link to Class Search
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