Religion, Science, and Empire: Crucible of a Globalized World (FYS)
RELI 209F
Fall 2025
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
EDST 209F, GSAS 209F, STS 209F, HIST 112F |
The development of modern science--and of modernity itself--not only coincided with the rise of European imperialism: it was abetted by it. Meanwhile, religion was integral to both the roots of European science and Western encounters with others. This class will explore how the intersections of religion, science, and empire have formed a globalized world with examples of European engagement with the Americas, Middle East, and, particularly, India from the age of Columbus through to the space race. We will examine how the disciplines we know today as biology, anthropology, archaeology, folklore, and the history of religions all crystallized in the crucible of imperial encounter and how non-Westerners have embraced, engaged, and resisted these epistemes. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS RELI |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (Education Studies Minor)(Education Studies)(Global South Asian Studies Minor)(Global South Asian Studies)(Religion Minor)(Religion) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 | | Special Attributes: FYS |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Thomas Kuhn, THE STRUCTURE OF SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTIONS (0226458121)
Pandita Ramabai, (Meera Kosambi, trans.) PANDITA RAMABAI'S AMERICAN ENCOUNTER: THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED STATES (0253215714)
Renny Thomas, SCIENCE, RATIONALITY, AND SCIENTIFIC TEMPER IN POSTCOLONIAL INDIA (9781003213475)
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Examinations and Assignments:
Two small papers (5 pages) and one research paper on a topic of the students' choice (10-12 pages).
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Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Attendance and participation is mandatory. This course fulfills a "Historical Traditions" and a "Method and Theory" requirement for the Religion major.
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| Instructor(s): Gottschalk,Peter Times: .M.W... 02:50PM-04:10PM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: X | JR major: X | | |
| Seats Available: 0 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: X | JR non-major: X | SO: X | FR: 15 |
| 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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