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Course Criteria
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3.00 Credits
The Qur'an, believed by Muslims to be the perfect Word of God, has played a central role in the life of the Muslim community since its appearance in the seventh century. This course will explore the sacred text of Islam through its foundational concepts and terminologies, history of the text and thematic development, literary style, connection to Jewish and Christian sacred texts, history and methods of interpretation, and role in Muslim ritual life. We will also explore manifestations of the Qur'an in the literature, visual arts, and music of the Muslim world. 1.00 units, Lecture
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1.00 Credits
Introduction to the foundations of religion through an examination of religious phenomena prevalent in traditional cultures. Some of the topics covered in this course include a critical examination of the idea of primitivity, the concepts of space and time, myths, symbols, ideas related to God, man, death, and rituals such as rites of passage, magic, sorcery, witchcraft, and divination. (May be counted toward anthropology and international studies/comparative development.) 1.00 units, Lecture
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1.00 Credits
An anthropological study of the religions of the Americas' indigenous peoples. Emphasis will be given to their ethnohistory, oral traditions, myths, symbols, and ritual performances. The course will also consider culture change and the rise of modern nativistic movements among Amerindians. 1.00 units, Lecture
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3.00 Credits
For over a thousand years, Sufism has been a dynamic expression of the inner quest for God-consciousness in Islam. Sufis have often expressed their devotion in literary form: from poetry and ecstatic utterances to metaphysical theoretical prose works. This class explores the emergence of Sufism from the Qur'an and the life and words or the Prophet Muhammad, and traces its historical development from the formative period to the age of trans-national Sufi orders. The course will study key constructs of this tradition: the relationship between God and humankind, the stages of the spiritual path, contemplative disciplines, the idea of sainthood, ethical perfection, the psychology of love, the idea of the feminine, and Sufi aesthetics. It also considers the modern expression (and transformation) of Sufism in the United States. 1.00 units, Lecture
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1.00 Credits
A study of the indigenous African religious traditions with consideration of their contemporary interaction with Western religious traditions. Topics include the African concepts of God, man, ancestor reverence, sacrifice, witchcraft, and magic. (Enrollment limited.) (May be counted toward international studies/African studies.) 1.00 units, Lecture
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3.00 Credits
This course explores Muslim social and spiritual expression in the United States. We'll look at the teachings of representative groups and their founders, asking how each group presents Islam and why, how they discourse on Muslims in America, how they discourse on America, and how they position themselves as Americans. Topics include religious movements among African-American and immigrant groups, educational, cultural and youth initiatives , Sufism and new-age movements, civil rights groups, Progressive Muslims, women's and feminist movements, and Islam in the media. The course requires that students participate in a community learning project to gain first-hand experience with the diverse Muslim community in Hartford. (Enrollment limited)-Ziad. 1.00 units, Lecture
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1.00 Credits
A study of modern trends in the Muslim world beginning with the 19th century. This course will discuss such questions as Islam and the West, religious fundamentalism, Islam and the question of women, Islam and the nation-state, Islam and mass media, and Islam and nationalism. Special attention will also be given to the major historical events of the modern Muslim world, the nature of indigenous movements and trends, and the impact of the West on Islamic society. (May be counted toward Middle Eastern Studies.) 1.00 units, Lecture
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1.00 Credits
An anthropological approach to religion and magic. A cross-cultural analysis of the forms of spiritual healing in traditional cultures. Emphasis is given to the manifestations of spiritual power, the role of possession, magic, shamanistic utterances, and hallucinogens in the process of spiritual healing. (May be counted toward international studies/comparative development studies.) 1.00 units, Lecture
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1.00 Credits
An anthropological study of the rise and development of cults in traditional cultures engendered by the impact of colonization, the spread of Christianity and Western technology in so-called Third World cultures. Among others, the course emphasizes the revival, the millenarian, the Cargo, and messianic cults. Special attention is given to the origin, the nature, the social functions and dysfunctions of these cults, as well as the methodology used to study them. (May be counted toward international studies/African studies, anthropology and international studies/comparative development studies.) 1.00 units, Lecture
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1.00 Credits
An anthropological approach to culture change including the rise, development, and future prospects of spiritual movements in contemporary American culture. Emphasis is given to the teachings of these movements and their contributions to American religious thought. Topics include Garveyism, the Nation of Islam in the West, the Peace Mission Movement, Hare Krishna, and Pentecostalism among others. (May be counted toward American Studies and International Studies/Comparative Development Studies.) 1.00 units, Lecture
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