Colorado College Religion Department

Home | Schedule 2005-06 | Topics Courses | Curriculum | Senior Seminar 2002 | Senior Seminar 2003 |
Senior Seminar 2004 | People | Related Sites

Course Descriptions 2007-2008

111 Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. A study of the beliefs and traditions of the ancient Israelites as reflected in selected parts of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). The course will emphasize the interplay between political/social situation and theological response. 1 unit — Schwarz.

112 New Testament. A study of the origin and earliest development of Christianity as reflected in selected writings of the New Testament, and with special emphasis on the thought of the apostle Paul and the different “portraits” of Jesus in the Gospels. 1 unit — Schwarz.

120 Judaism. Leading ideas, documents, movements and historical figures in biblical and post-biblical Judaism. 1 unit — Schwarz.

121/122 Hebrew. An introduction to the Hebrew language, including vocabulary, grammar and syntax, with emphases on reading passages from the Hebrew Bible and developing conversational skills in modern Hebrew. .5 unit — Chumash.

130 Christianity. An introduction to the Christian tradition as it has developed in various historical and cultural contexts. Attention to the generative narratives; rituals; moral commitments and ethical theories; spiritual, artistic and emotional expressions; social and institutional forms; and theological articulations characteristic of Christianity. 1 unit — Weddle.

140 Islam. A historical and thematic introduction to Islamic traditions from the seventh century C.E. to the present day, focusing on fundamental texts and practices. Topics include the Abrahamic context of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad, the Qur'an, the rise of sectarian movements (Shi'a and Sunni), ritual and pilgrimage, Islamic law, Sufism, women in Islam, the challenges of modernity, and Islam in America. (Also listed as Asian Studies 199.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) 1 unit — Lele.

141/142 Arabic. An introduction to the Arabic language, including vocabulary, grammar and syntax, with emphases on reading passages from classical sources and developing conversational skills in modern Arabic. .5 unit — Foster.

160 Hinduism. An historical and thematic introduction to Hindu traditions from prehistoric India to the present day, focusing on classic texts and popular rituals. Topics include the Rig Veda, the Upanisads and the rise of Buddhism, the great epics (Mahabharata and Ramayana), Yoga, the Bhagavadgita, Indian art and music, devotional movements and poetry, Goddess worship, dharma, the caste system, Hindu nationalism, Gandhi and Indian independence. (Also listed as Asian Studies 160.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) 1 unit – Lele.

170 Buddhism. An introduction to the life and times of the Buddha, his basic teachings and central monastic and lay practices. Emphases include key elements in the development of Buddhist philosophy, the purposes and styles of meditation, and theory and practice in Zen and Tibetan Buddhism.(Also listed as Asian Studies 170.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) 1 unit — Gardiner.

180 East Asian Religions. A survey of the three major religions that originated and continue to thrive in China and Japan: Confucianism, Taoism and Shinto. Will treat classical texts and practices as well as modern manifestations. Reference will be made to connections with the related traditions of Popular Religion and Buddhism. (Also listed as Asian Studies 180.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) l unit – Gardiner.

190 Native American Religious Traditions.  A study of religious beliefs and practices of religious communities indigenous to North America. (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) (Not offered 2007-08) 1 unit.

191 Religions in America. A study of the religious movements and traditions that have shaped American culture and politics, including Puritanism, Catholicism, Judaism, revivalism, new religions originating in America, African-American religions, Islam, and Asian religions—with emphasis on the contemporary challenge of religious pluralism in American society. 1 unit – Weddle.

200 Topics in Religion. Study of a topic in religious studies, drawing material from two or more religious traditions, examining different interpretive approaches within a tradition, or comparing patterns of the formation of religious identity or institutions in various traditions.

Block 3: The Good Life.
How should we live? What is good and what is bad? What should I aim for in life, and how should I act in order to get it? This course will examine reflection on these questions, as it occurs in classic texts from a variety of traditions including Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. 1 unit – Lele.

Block 4: Sainthood in the Roman Catholic Tradition.
This course will explore the vital role played by persons of special sanctity, "the Saints," in the development of the piety of the Roman Catholic Church. The first part of the course will focus on the concept of sanctity in general, sacred persons as extensions of the incarnation of Christ, the canonization and "calendar-ization" of the Saints, and the veneration of relics. Special attention will be given to how the Saints have provided a locus for Catholic worship both spatially (shrines, relics, churches) and temporally (feast days, liturgical development). The second part of the course will explore how the lives of several extraordinary Saints like Paul, Anthony, Francis, Ignatius and (the Beatified) Dorothy Day might be viewed as mirroring major transitions in the ways in which the Church came to understand its mission in the world. 1 unit – Shaw.

Block 8: Hindu-Muslim Relations in South Asia.
This course will study the interaction between Muslim and "Hindu" populations in the Indian subcontinent, with a special focus on India itself. The course will cover a period from the first arrival of Muslim Turks in the subcontinent up to contemporary politics, with primary readings selected to examine how traditions imagined and interacted with each other. 1 unit – Lele.

202 Religious Ethics. Study of the resources different religious traditions employ in ethical reflection and how those resources contribute to resolving debates about the morality of specific actions. Class discussion will focus on cross-cultural case studies in the areas of sexuality, politics, economy, ecology, and medical ethics. (Meets the Alternative Perspectives: B requirement.) 1 unit – Weddle. 

203 Religious Experiencee. The out-of-body journey of the shaman, a quiet act of prayer, the ecstasy of the Christian mystic, the enlightenment of the Buddhist monk, the reverie of the nature lover, “speaking in tongues” among Christian charismatics—these are examples of what many call “religious experience” and regard as the very essence of religion. This course will examine primary texts that testify to the reality and power of religious experience in various traditions and will acquaint students with scholarly analyses of the claims of devotees and adepts. At least one previous course in Religion strongly recommended. (Not offered in 2007-08.) 1 unit.

204 Readings in Religion. Directed readings and research in comparative study of religious traditions or in different interpretive approaches within a tradition. Courses under this rubric will not be counted toward fulfillment of distribution requirements of the major or minor in Religion. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. 1 unit.

211 The Message and Ministry of Jesus. This course will introduce students to contemporary efforts to recover the “historical Jesus” from the confessional literature of early Christianity (primarily the New Testament Gospels) and, using several recent scholarly reconstructions of Jesus, will attempt to delineate the principal emphases of the Nazarene’s ministry and message in the context of first-century Palestinian Judaism. (Not offered in 2007-08.) 1 unit.

212 The Parables of Jesus. A study of selected narrative parables of Jesus that will focus on these issues: Why did Jesus tell parables? What kind of discourse are they and how did they "work" in the context of Jesus’ ministry? What do they reveal about Jesus’ understanding of God and human life? How were they interpreted (and modified) in the early Jesus movement? (Not offered in 2007-08.) 1 unit.

213 Apocalypse. A study of the apocalyptic imagination and its visions of a dramatically new order of existence in Jewish and early Christian writings (particularly Daniel, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Revelation) and in contemporary American life. 1 unit — Schwarz.

215 Morality and Ethics In the Bible. An examination of the moral visions of the Bible as they find expression in the stories of Genesis, the laws of the Torah, the sermons of the prophets, the complaints of Job, the accounts of Jesus’ message and ministry in the Gospels, the letters of the apostle Paul, and the visions of Revelation. Intruding from time to time will be the question, “In the Bible does God always act morally?” (Not offered in 2007-08.) 1 unit.

221/222 Hebrew. A brief survey of Semitic languages, focusing on the reading and writing of Hebrew phonology, grammar and syntax. Simple biblical and modern prose will be studied. Adjunct credit will be available to those students who pass an entrance examination indicating sufficient previous study for skill maintenance. .5 unit - Chumash.

224 Jewish Music. This interdisciplinary course traces the many musical traditions of the Jewish world communities in a journey from the ancient Temple singing in bliblical times to the music of individuals such as George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein. Included will be a comparative study of the three major religions of the Western world exploring their respective voices and musical interaction. Sociology, literature, religion, and history, as well as issues of ethnicity, cultural unity and self-expression will be engaged in this multicultural search for musical identity. (Also listed as Music 224). (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) (Not offered in 2007-08.) 1 unit – Ben-Amots.

225 The Dalai Lama of Tibet: Philosopher, Statesman, Monk. Examination of the Dalai Lama’s achievements in statesmanship, Buddhist philosophy, inter-religious dialogue, and conversation with Western scientists and intellectuals. Attention to why this man was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, his religious status among faithful Tibetan Buddhists, political issues involved in the international movement for Tibetan autonomy, and what the American fascination with this “simple Buddhist monk” tells us about ourselves. (January half-block.) (Also listed as Asian Studies 225.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) .5 unit —Gardiner.

231 Philosophy of Religion. An examination of critical questions philosophers raise about religious claims and a consideration of how religious thinkers respond to those criticisms. Topics of discussion include religious experience, arguments for God, problem of evil, immortality, religious pluralism.   1 unit – Weddle.

235 Fire and Light: A Christian Spiritual Tradition. A study of the contemplative life, its theology and practice and its place in Christianity and society. Emphasis on the Carmelite tradition, as exemplified by Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. Class will spend one week at the Baca campus near Crestone, CO. (Not offered in 2007-08.) 1 unit — Bielecki, Denny.

241/242 Arabic. Introduction to and progression in the Arabic language; attention to vocabulary, grammar and syntax, with emphasis on reading passages from classical sources and developing conversational skills in modern Arabic. .5 unit - Foster.

251 Feminist Religious Thought.  An introduction to feminist theology and ethics in the Christian and Judaic traditions, with attention to feminist thought in Asian religions as well. Topics include God, love, justice, community, liberation, sexuality, reproduction, and social transformation. (Also listed as Feminist and Gender Studies 249.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) (Not offered in 2007-08.) 1 unit.

281 Religious Poetry in Asia. Poetic traditions in China and Japan and in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism. Topics will include poetry as an expression of the heights and depths of religious experience, as a vehicle for spiritual growth, and as a literary form of prestige and power. We will look at poetry of liberation by early Buddhist nuns, praises of transcendent wisdom by Tibetan spiritual virtuosos, links between verse and painting in China, and the relationship between Japanese haiku and Zen aesthetics. (Also listed as Asian Studies 160.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) (Not offered in 2007-08.) 1 unit.

291 Black Religion in America. Studies in the religious life of African-Americans from the 17th century to the present. Particular attention to religious organizations, theological formulations and experiential patterns of Black Americans and the relationship of those phenomena to American religious life in general. (Also listed as American Cultural Studies 227.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) (Not offered in 2007-08.) 1 unit.

292 Wilderness and Spirit. An examination of the notion of wilderness in religious traditions as a location for encountering and fostering spirit. The course includes off-campus experiential learning opportunities. (Offered summer 2007.) 1 unit – Coriell.

300 Topics in Religion. Advanced study of a topic in religious studies.
1 unit.

Block 2: Seminar on Evil
An examination of philosophical and theological questions raised by the reality of evil in human experience, such as whether evil is beyond comprehension, whether faith in God is compatible with recognition of genuine evil, and whether the power of evil makes suffering meaningless. Readings in classic and contemporary sources.(Also listed as Philosophy 303.) Prerequisite: One course in Philosophy or Religion. 1 unit –- Riley, Weddle.

Block 4: Theologies of Emergence
Examination of a recent trend in Christian theology which attempts to reformulate traditional doctrines in light of new findings in the sciences and cosmology. Emergence is a view of nature as a series of complex and causally irreducible "orders" which cannot be explained by reference to something else. Emergence sees autonomous agents (such as cells), system level effects (like wildfire or weather), and consciousness as causally effective and inexplicable by reference to their constituent micro-processes. Prerequisite: Religion 130, 231 or consent of department.
1 unit – Simpson.

Block 6: Sexuality in South Asian Traditions
This course will examine the role played by sexuality in various South Asian traditions, from erotic celebration to ascetic self-denial, and often combinations of the two. Texts and traditions studied will range from the classical period to the 20th century. Prerequisite: Religion 160 or consent of department. 1 unit –- Lele.

302 Seminar in Theory and Method. Investigation of theories of the origin and function of religion and of academic methods of religious studies through close reading of classic and contemporary texts. Prerequisite: Declared religion majors or consent of instructor. 1 unit –- Weddle.

303 Field Study in Religious Community. Year-long extended format course that engages students as participant-observers in local religious communities. Periodic meetings to discuss readings on the protocols and techniques of fieldwork and to work on skills of observation, interviewing, and interpretive analysis. Culminates in public presentations by students of field study results. Prerequisite: Declared junior and senior religion majors. 1 unit – Coriell.

321/322 Hebrew. Advanced work in Semitic languages, focusing on the reading and writing of Hebrew phonology, grammar and syntax. Adjunct credit will be available to those students who pass an entrance examination indicating sufficient previous study for skill maintenance.
.5 unit – Chumash.

331 The Idea of God (With Emphasis on Writing). Ways of thinking about, and imagining, the reality of God. Critique of traditional symbols of God and comparative analysis of alternatives proposed by religious writers in the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions and represented in selected films. Prerequisite: Religion 130 or Religion 231 or consent of instructor. (Not offered in 2007-08.) 1 unit – Weddle.

332 The Question of Faith. An examination of faith as a general human disposition exercised in belief, loyalty, and confidence. Religious faith in the monotheistic traditions is the specific disposition to believe in the reality of God and to be assured and directed in a life of fidelity to God and to other creatures. The question of faith is how belief is related to reason, whether loyalty to God is constrained by moral obligation, and how the passion of faith can be restored when confidence in God has been broken or betrayed, as in the Holocaust. Readings with be drawn primarily from Christian and Jewish sources. Prerequisite: Religion 103 or consent of instructor. (Not offered in 2007-08.) 1 unit — Weddle.

341/342 Arabic. Progression in the Arabic language; attention to vocabulary, grammar and syntax, with emphasis on reading passages from classical sources and developing conversational skills in modern Arabic. Use of computer-assisted instruction. .5 unit - Foster.

345 Sufism. A study of Sufi traditions in Islam, with a focus on historiography, poetry, dance, and music, as well as Sufi orders in various regions, with attention to South Asia and contemporary expressions of devotion in the West. (Also listed as Asian Studies 341.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) (Offered in alternate years.) Prerequisite: RE 140 or consent of instructor. (Not offered 2007-08.) 1 unit.

357 Women in Hinduism and Buddhism. An exploration of constructions of gender and the status of women in Hinduism and Buddhism, with primary focus on normative developments in ancient and medieval India and the impact of this formative history on the lives of contemporary women. Readings from primary and secondary materials, with attention to both ideology and practice. (Also listed as Asian Studies 357 and Feminist and Gender Studies 357.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) (Not offered in 2007-08.) Prerequisite: Religion 160 or 170 or consent of instructor. 1 unit.

362 Bhakti: Devotion In South Asia. A study of diverse Hindu devotional movements from classical and medieval periods. Primary readings include poetry by both men and women, devotees of Vishnu, Krishna, Shiva, Rama, and the Great Goddess. Critical articles help situate the devotees and their songs in cultural context. (Also listed as Asian Studies 362.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) (Not offered in 2007-08.) Prerequisite: RE 160 or consent of instructor. 1 unit.

363 Devi: Goddesses of India. A study of various Hindu goddesses, including their iconography and particular powers, as well as the ritualistic ways in which they are worshipped in diverse regions of India, with a glimpse of feminist appropriations of Kali in the West as well. Primary and secondary readings include poetry, theology, and historical-critical studies. Films depict a variety of rituals. (Also listed as Asian Studies 363 and Feminist and Gender Studies 363.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) (Not offered in 2007-08.) Prerequisite: Religion 160 or consent of instructor. 1 unit — Coleman.

371 Seminar in Buddhist Practice. An in-depth look at either a particular practice tradition within Buddhism, such as Zen or Tantric meditation, or on a theme central to various traditions, such as devotional elements, artistic representations, ritual, visualization, and so on. (Also listed as Asian Studies 371.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) (Not offered in 2007-08.) Prerequisite: Religion 170 or consent of instructor. 1 unit — Gardiner.

372 Seminar in Buddhist Philosophy. An in-depth treatment of important themes, or textual traditions, in the history of Buddhist thought. Examples might include topics such as karma, death and rebirth, compassion, or possibly a body of writings from a particular author or Buddhist school. (Also listed as Asian Studies 372.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) (Not offered 2007-08.) Prerequisite: Religion 170 or consent of instructor.1 unit.

391 Shamanism(s). Critical examination of shamanic experience in the North American plains, Australian bush, Artic expanse, and Amazonian jungles; includes off-campus experiential learning opportunities. Investigates shamanic practices and their relation to the nature of religious experience/experiences through current interpretations of historical traditions and recent neo-shamanic movements. (Also listed as Southwest Studies 200.) (Not offered 2007-08.) Prerequisite: Two Religion courses.
1 unit.

404 Readings in Religion. Directed readings and research for advanced students. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. 1 unit — Schwarz.

405 Senior Thesis. Preparation of a thesis on a topic chosen by the student and approved by the department. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. 1 unit.