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Course Criteria
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4.00 Credits
What is myth, and why have scholars spent so much time arguing over its nature How have various groups used narratives and other related forms to describe the origins and nature of humans, animals, love, death, and the cosmos Do myths exist in our present-day culture How have people brought themselves into contact with myth through ritual, drama, possession, music, art, pilgrimage, and other activities Do people really believe their myths Do myths change the way in which we experience the world This class will explore the role of myth in religion and culture, with an emphasis on examples outside of the more familiar ancient Greek and Roman traditions. Our focus will be on the religious aspects of myth, but we will also explore perspectives drawn from Folkloristics, Literary Criticism, Art History, Philosophy, and other academic disciplines. Through readings, lectures, slides, videos, and hands-on experiences, we will investigate case studies from many cultures and historical periods. We will explore aspects and uses of myth including myth theory, archetypes and psychological transformation, cosmology and the idea of social charters, myth as a kind of scientific thought, the use of myth in art and performance, political control and subversion, and recent efforts to utilize or create new myths in the form of literature and film. Every other year. (4 credits)
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4.00 Credits
This course studies the interaction of Jewish, Christian, and pagan cultures, and the protracted struggle for selfdefinition and multi-cultural exchange this encounter provoked. The course draws attention to how the other and cultural and religious difference are construed, resisted, and apprehended. Readings include Acts, Philo, Revelation, I Clement, pagan charges against Christianity, Adversus Ioudaios writers, the Goyim in the Mishna, and apologetic literature. Alternate years. (4 credits)
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4.00 Credits
The revelation of the Qur'an is the instigator of Islamic traditions, but 'tradition' in Islam in its large sense is complex phenomenon. The Prophet Muhammad's statements and actions hold an important place and can be referred to simply as the "Tradition" of the Prophet. Qur'anic exegetes and commentators on the Prophet's liand example provide much that became part of the 'tradition' broadly defined. This course will cover these andother related concepts in order to enable students to be conversant in the current discussions about authority in Muslim societies. Not offered 2008-2009 (4 credit)
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4.00 Credits
The course begins with an explanation of the concept of philosophy in Islam and explores Islamic philosophical writings addressing a broad range of themes. These include 1) natural disposition and knowledge, 2) how can we know "what we know," 3) reconciling revelatory and philosophical knowledge, 4) the possibility of universallogic, 5) the evolution of religion in community, 6) the meaning of history and civilization, 7) the relationship between law and morality, among others. Philosophers discussed include Farabi (d.950), Ghazalia (d. 1111), Ibn Tufayl (d.1185), Ibn Rushd (d. 1198), and Ibn Khladun (d. 1409). Not offered 2008-2009. (4 credits)
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4.00 Credits
Over the years, Tibet has been portrayed as a forbidden realm of snows and monasteries, a peaceful and egalitarian paradise, a land of feudal lords and bandits, a sanctuary for ancient Buddhist knowledge, and a corrupt kingdom in which the Buddha's teachings were intertwined with magic and sex. Today, Tibet is frequently in the news, and the Twin Cities have become home to one of the largest Tibetan exile communities in North America. This course will explore the changes that occur as religions and individuals move across cultural intersections. Starting with brief introductions to early Tibet and the life and ideas of Shakyamuni (the historical Buddha), we will consider the uniquely Tibetan culture that developed as Buddhism took root in a turbulent and shamanistic society. By examining rituals, folklore, art, architecture, music, and other cultural traditions, students will develop an understanding of religion as it is intertwined with everyday life. The class will also look at Islam as a minority religion in Tibet. We will explore the changes that have occurred in the wake of China's invasion of Tibet, as some Tibetans have attempted to preserve their culture in the exile communities of India, Nepal and North America. Finally, we will delve into the often contradictory images of Tibet presented by Tibetans, the Chinese government, and the practitioners, artists, journalists, and scholars of America and Europe. Previous coursework in Buddhism is recommended, but not required. Not offered 2008-2009. (4 credits)
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4.00 Credits
Why does food play such a big part in so many sacred traditions How do people use food to make sense of the world Why do we fast, kill animals, feed spirits, and throw potluck suppers in the name of religion This course will introduce students to the study of religion, using food as an entry point. Through readings, lectures, slides, videos, and hands-on experiences, we will investigate case studies from many cultures and historical periods. We will explore aspects of foodways such as cooking, farming, sacrifice, aesthetics, and display as they relate to myth, magic, ritual, healing, ethics, and doctrine. Students will be expected to keep up with an intensive but interesting schedule of reading, to participate in class discussions and activities, and to complete written assignments including responses, several mini-projects, and a final library or field project on a topic of their choice. Not offered 2008-2009. (4 credits)
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4.00 Credits
This course will survey Judaism's basic beliefs and practices, from the Bible to the present day, through examination and discussion of religious and social literature created by the Jewish people. Alternate years. (4 credits)
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4.00 Credits
The course is an introduction to some of the important theoretical and methodological work conducted by scholars in various disciplines who hope to better define and understand religious phenomena. This seminar begins with some of the early twentieth century texts that are often cited and discussed by contemporary scholars of religion (e.g., Durkheim, Weber, Freud) and then turns to a number of investigations stemming from engagement with earlier theorists or refracting new concerns. The course inquires into the problems of defining and analyzing religious cultures, and the researcher's position or positions in this analysis, as this has been approached from anthropological, sociological, and religious studies perspectives. Every year. (4 credits)
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4.00 Credits
A study of the religious tradition of Roman Catholicism. Some attention will be given to the theology and historical development of the Roman Catholic Church, but major emphasis will fall on the relationship of the Catholic religion to various Catholic cultures, including Ireland, Mexico, Poland, and the United States. Not offered 2008-2009. (4 credits)
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3.00 Credits
This course explores relationships between the work ethos and the religious teachings, practices, and beliefs that inform the cultures of the United States and Japan. It addresses a wide range of issues in response to two central questions: What roles do the religious traditions play in their respective cultures in producing the kinds of workers necessary to fuel advanced forms of global, consumer capitalism Conversely, what roles do these traditions play in challenging and destabilizing the assumptions, values, and practices on which the respective capitalist economies are based The course will approach these questions from an interdisciplinary perspective that includes historical, social scientific, philosophical, and theological angles of vision. The course is open to all interested students. No prerequisite. Not offered 2008-2009. (4 credits)
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