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Academic Year 2001/2002


Introduction to the Study of Religion
RELI 101 FA

This course will examine the many ways in which religion is understood and practiced by a variety of communities as well as the ways it is understood by scholars in the field of religious studies. The three divisions of the curriculum of the Department of Religion (religious traditions, religion in society, and critical theory) will be represented in the course's examples and approaches. Topics covered in this course include the roles of ritual, the significance of myth and narrative in providing schemes of meaning, the transmission of traditions through texts and objects, and religious conflict.

MAJOR READINGS

Ammerman, Nancy Tatom. BIBLE BELIEVERS: FUNDAMENTALISTS IN THE MODERN WORLD.
Berger, Peter L. THE SACRED CANOPY: ELEMENTS OF A SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY IN RELIGION.
Brown, Karen McCarthy. MAMA LOLA: A VOUDOU PRIESTESS IN BROOKLYN.
Chidester, David. SALVATION AND SUICIDE: AN INTERPRETATION OF JIM JONES, THE PEOPLES TEMPLE, AND JONESTOWN.
Haley, Alex. THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X.
James, William. THE VARIETIES OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.
Smith, Jonathan Z. IMAGINING RELIGION: FROM BABYLON TO JONESTOWN.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Assignments include 3 papers.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Students must attend lectures and are responsible for the material covered in lectures and films.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS RELI    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): McAlister,Elizabeth   
Times: ..T.R.. 01:10PM-02:30PM;     Location: PAC001
Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: 50)
SR. major: 5   Jr. major: 5
SR. non-major: 5   Jr. non-major: 10   SO: 10   FR: 15

Special Attributes:
Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2002


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