Religion 323fs - Topics in Contemporary Theology

Institution:

Mount Holyoke College

Subject:

Description:

Fall 2008 323f(01) Modern Mythmaking and Religion The power of sacred myths to shape cultural worldviews is extraordinary. This course examines, compares, and critiques this phenomenon in an attempt to understand how it informs the spiritual journey. From Siddhartha toThe DaVinci Code, chronicles on religious personalities have commanded rapt attention throughout history. using the structural analysis of Geertz, Tillich, Eliade, and Crites, texts such as Life of Pi, The Alchemist, The Matrix, and other prominent accounts will be placed against the great spiritual stories of major religious traditions in order to determine their status as contemporary sacred myths. Meets Humanities I-B requirement J. Grayson Prereq. 8 credits in department or permission of instructor; 4 credits Spring 2009 323s(01) FeministTheologies (Same as Gender Studies 333) Mary Daly, Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, Phyllis Trible, and Judith Plaskow, among others, have argued that traditional Jewish and Christian theological systems have overlooked the needs, concerns, histories, and contributions of women. Their challenges range from the historical modification of a presumably unbiased religious system to the outright rejection of a so-called patriarchal establishment. Whatever their approach, feminist theologies offer diverse and incisive tools for understanding how a theological system operates, how transitory cultural assumptions become embedded in ongoing doctrines, and how apparently minor adjustments can have significant ripple effects. Meets Humanities I-B requirement J. Crosthwaite Prereq. 8 credits in department or permission of instructor; 4 credits 323s(02) TheWomenWho Shaped the Mind of Frederick Douglass Eight women--Harriet Bailey, Betsey Bailey, Sophia Auld, Anna Murray, Julia Cro?s-Griffiths, Annie Douglass, Ottilia Assing, and Helen Pitts--occupied crucial roles in the formation of Frederick Douglass's mind. In this seminar we will read closely Douglass's three autobiographies and related primary sources in order to discern the theological significance these women had for him. Students also will be introduced to contemporary readings in theological hermeneutics in order to consider its implications for reading and interpreting autobiography. Meets Humanities I-B requirement J. Grayson Prereq. 8 credits in department or permission of instructor; 4 credits

Credits:

8.00

Credit Hours:

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Instructional Type:

Lecture

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Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.mtholyoke.edu

Phone Number:

(413) 538-2000

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Semester

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