RELI101 - Introduction to the Study of Religion

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Academic Year 2002/2003

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
Chidester, David. SALVATION AND SUICIDE: AN INTERPRETATION OF JIM JONES, THE PEOPLES TEMPLE, AND JONESTOWN
James, William. THE VARIETIES OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE
Smith, Jonathan Z. IMAGINING RELIGION: FROM BABYLON TO JONESTOWN
and reading packet

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Assignments include a midterm, brief e-mail assignments, and a final exam.

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): Zwelling,Jeremy

Times: .M.W... 11:00AM-12:20PM; Location: PAC001

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 80)

SR. major: 5 Jr. major: 10

SR. non-major: 5 Jr. non-major: 10 SO: 20 FR: 30

Special Attributes:

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-18-2003