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2012 Courses

Religious Studies

RELB 1559: Buddhism in Fiction and Film [3]

Kurtis R. Schaeffer, Associate Professor

This course is an introduction to Buddhism and an exploration of the place of Buddhism within contemporary Asian, European, and North American cultures through fiction and film. By focusing upon the presence of Buddhist themes within contemporary novels and films produced throughout the world, the course encourages us to consider Buddhism (and religion in general) not as an ancient, monolithic, and isolated tradition but as a vibrant, adaptable, and contested aspect of modern global culture. The interpretive goals in each case are to identify possible Buddhist sources for narrative themes and, more importantly, to consider how, why, and by whom Buddhism is employed in recent film and fiction to address contemporary issues. A more general goal of the course is to illustrate that Buddhism is a complex social and cultural phenomenon that cannot be reduced to any simple doctrine.

RELC 2057: Liberation Theologies [3]

Paul Jones, Assistant Professor

"Liberation theology" refers to recent Christian perspectives that connect theological and political inquiry. Specifically, authors attempt to link theological reflection on God, Jesus of Nazareth, human beings, creation, the Holy Spirit, and Christian ethics with normative analyses of race, sex and gender, economic in/justice, poverty, and human rights. In this class we'll read from some landmark texts by liberation theologians and will analyze and discuss the theological and political arguments advanced therein. While there is an emphasis on liberation theologies from the Americas (Black theology, feminist theology, and Latin American liberation theology are the three major sections of the course), we will also consider works from other parts of the world. Among the authors we will read are James Cone, Delores Williams, Gustavo Gutierrez, Serene Jones, Leonardo Boff, Marcella-Althaus Reid, and Mercy Amba Oduyoye. Students will be evaluated in light of in-class discussion and by way of a take-home final exam.

RELG 3559: Religion in the 60's and 70's.

Heather Warren, Associate Professor

This course explores the interplay of religion, politics, and American popular culture in the 1960s and 70s. Students will examine a variety of media-print, broadcast, film, music-to trace and analyze widespread religious change in America and the ways it informed and helped Americans understand lives in light of contemporary events. Subjects covered include religion and Communism, civil rights, the effects of Vatican II, Vietnam and the peace movement, the popularization of Asian religions, Christian rock opera, hippie religious communes, women in religion, the neo-evangelica1 revival, and the emergence of Christian pop music. Students will prepare to discuss assigned primary sources, present popular media depictions of religion and events in the period, draw up select bibliographies, and write three essays analyzing key aspects of religion and American culture. Class time will feature lectures and discussion along with the viewing and analysis of television clips, movies, recorded music, and live music.