What is Religion? Kool-Aid, Sacred Space, and the "God-Emperor"
RELI 151
Spring 2027
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01
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This course will introduce students to the academic study of religion. It will not offer a survey of "world religions"; rather, it will call upon a set of case studies to help us explore various theoretical issues in the study of religion. These include theories of religious experience, the interpretation of religious texts, the relationship between thought and practice, and the intersections of religion with law, culture, race, gender, and national identity. Perhaps most importantly, we will examine some of the historical, social, and political processes that have produced "religion" as a category in the first place. Together, these discussions will offer us a set of descriptive and analytical tools for understanding the role of religion in social, economic, and political life in both premodern and contemporary settings. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS RELI |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (Caribbean Studies Minor)(Muslim Studies Minor)(Religion Minor)(Religion)(Science and Technology Studies) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 75% - 89% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
David Chidester, SALVATION AND SUICIDE (selections)
Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah (Supreme Court case)
Lofton, Katherine, OPRAH: GOSPEL OF AN ICON (selections)
Corrina Laughlin, REDEEM ALL: HOW DIGITAL LIFE IS CHANGING EVANGELICAL CULTURE. U CA Press, 2021
Maya Deren, DIVINE HORSEMEN: THE LIVING GODS OF HAITI (selections)
Ronald Hendel, ¿The Exodus in Biblical Memory¿ in Journal of Biblical Literature
Mary-Jane Rubenstein, ASTROTOPIA: THE DANGEROUS RELIGION OF THE CORPORATE SPACE RACE, (selections)
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly short response papers;
Two 7 page projects discussing scholarly evidence and argumentation. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Attendance and participation are required. |
| Instructor(s): McAlister,Elizabeth A. Times: ..T.R.. 10:20AM-11:40AM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 38 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 4 | | |
| Seats Available: 38 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 4 | JR non-major: 4 | SO: 13 | FR: 13 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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