Religion in Dungeons and Dragons
RELI 295
Spring 2027
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
CJST 295 |
As a fantasy roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons has been prevalent for over 40 years. In this game, players partake in fantastical journeys, slaying beasts, completing quests, and interacting with divine beings. Though not often discussed, religion has played an important role in Dungeons & Dragons since its creation: clerics pray to their gods and invoke physical changes in the world, strange cults organize and perform perverse rites, summoning ancient beings for evil. There have been many different editions of Dungeons & Dragons, and each treats these religious elements in a different way. This course answers the questions, "What role does religion play within Dungeons & Dragons and how does the presentation of religion within Dungeons & Dragons map onto scholarly trends within Religious Studies?" |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS RELI |
| Course Format: Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (Religion Minor)(Religion) |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
All readings will be available via Moodle
Curated texts from Dungeons & Dragons (Original to 5th Edition)
Iamblichus "Regarding the Egyptian Mysteries"
Selections from Hegel
Selections from Tomoko Masuzawa
Selections from Freud
Selections from Durkheim
Selections from Geertz
Selections from Levi-Strauss
Selections from Campbell
Selections from Nietzsche
Selections from Derrida
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Examinations and Assignments:
An In-Class Presentation of 8-10 minutes
An In-Class Midterm Exam
A Final Paper (12-15 pages) or Project |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course counts toward the Method & Theory requirement for the Religion major. |
| Instructor(s): Walker,Tanner Ethan Times: ..T.R.. 10:20AM-11:40AM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: 5 | JR major: 9 | | |
| | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 5 | SO: 0 | FR: 0 |
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