Professor Kiener, Chair; Professors Desmangles∙, Findly, Kirkpatrick, and Professor of Religion in Public Life and Director, Leonard Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life Silk; Assistant Professors Sanders and Ziad; Raether Distinguished Scholar in Residence Dorrien
The major in religion—Religion is the central expression of human meaning in every culture and in every historical period. It manifests itself in a variety of forms including oral traditions, scriptures, art, material culture, beliefs, rituals, and institutions. The academic study of religion encompasses many disciplines—e.g., textual study, history, philosophy, and social sciences—and it applies these to the broad range of phenomena found in the world’s most well-known religious traditions. In addition, it fosters a critical appreciation of the ethical and cultural values of these traditions and, thereby in time, of one’s own values.
The major is designed to help the student develop a sophisticated and nuanced appreciation of religion in the human experience. It does this by (a) providing a sound acquaintance with at least two significant religious traditions, (b) investigating one or more topics in depth through at least one departmental seminar, and (c) bringing to fruition in a senior thesis the skills and knowledge acquired in the major.
Students interested in majoring are asked to consult with the department chair as early as possible in their academic careers, in order to clarify the major requirements and to plan carefully for their course of study.
For more details on the department’s faculty, requirements and sources, visit our Web site at www.trincoll.edu/Academics/MajorsAndMinors/Religion/.
The student major is required to complete 10 courses with a grade of C- or better. Among these 10 courses, the student must include:
The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by the senior thesis.
The traditions available for study on a regular basis are: Buddhism, Christianity, indigenous religions, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. Students interested in other specific religious traditions should see the department chair. The tradition requirement can be met with the following courses:
*/** To concentrate in a tradition, students must take at least one of the single starred courses, and at least one of the double-starred courses, in the appropriate category.
No course may count for more than one tradition. Students may request tutorials or independent studies to fulfill the tradition requirement. Normally the department accepts up to two courses from outside the department as counting toward the religion major. However, the department will consider petitions asking for credit for additional courses taken outside the department.
Honors are awarded to those who attain a minimum grade average of A- in 10 courses fulfilling the major requirements and distinction on the senior thesis and oral examination.
Thanks to the generosity of Trinity alumnus Tom Chappell, the Theodor Mauch Fund has been established to provide a $1,000 award for the best senior religion thesis as determined by the faculty of the Religion Department. The fund also provides approximately $1,000 for assisting one or more persons in doing research on their senior theses. The recipient of this research grant will be determined by the faculty in the department upon receipt of a grant proposal on the last day prior to the Spring Break in the student’s junior year.
There are many foreign study opportunities available for the religion major. In addition to the Trinity Rome Program, and Trinity Global Sites in Barcelona and Trinidad, students may opt to go on Trinity-approved programs, such as to Egypt, India, Israel, Thailand, Tibet, and the United Kingdom. Religion majors may also petition the International Programs Office to go on other programs, so long as they consult their religion advisers about their options.
In addition, students are encouraged to study foreign languages, especially those that would enable them to read primary religious texts, for example, Arabic, Aramaic, Chinese, Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, Pali, and Sanskrit. Language courses may be counted for the religion major only if the course covers significant textual exegesis of religious literature.
The religion minor—Students interested in minoring in religion should consult the department chair. Ordinarily a minor in religion consists of six courses, with two courses in a primary religious tradition, one course in a secondary religious tradition, and three electives. All students completing a minor in religion will write an eight to twelve page integrating paper either after they have completed their fifth or sixth course in the minor or no later than the tenth week of the last semester of their senior year. Or, as an alternative, they may, with the approval of the instructor and the minor adviser, write the integrating paper as part of the requirements for the fifth or sixth course.
To begin the process of minoring in religion, each minor will inform the chair of the department that he or she is declaring a minor in religion and will then be assigned an appropriate department adviser who will determine how the student will meet the integrating paper requirement. The adviser or the instructor of the course in which the integrating paper is written will report to the chair of the department when that paper has been completed and deemed acceptable. Completing an acceptable integrating paper is a precondition for receiving a designation on one’s transcript that one has successfully fulfilled all the requirements for a minor in the study of religion. All courses counted toward the minor must be taken for a letter grade. Students should declare their minor by the beginning of their senior year. Minor declaration forms can be obtained at the Registrar’s Office.
Fall Term
[103. Biblical Hebrew Language and Culture I]— This course will introduce students to elements of the religion and culture of ancient Israel through study of its language. How did Israelites name God? Was Biblical language sexist? Would we be able to understand King David if we met him today? Since the script originally just showed consonants, and not vowels, how do we even know how to pronounce the words? Through intensive study of the writing system, vocabulary and grammar of the Hebrew Bible students will, by the end of the sequence, be able to read basic prose texts like Genesis and understand how the language and culture of Israel interrelate. (Enrollment limited)
109. Jewish Tradition— A thematic introduction to the major concepts, ritual cycles, holidays, and beliefs of Judaism. Readings and course material will be taken from classic Jewish texts as well as modern secondary sources. (May be counted toward International Studies and Middle Eastern Studies.) (Enrollment limited)-Kiener
151. Religions of Asia— An introduction to the major religions of Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism, with special emphasis on how each of these modes of thought gives rise to a special vision of man in the universe, a complex of myth and practice, and a pattern of ethical behavior. (May be counted toward international studies/Asian studies.) (Enrollment limited)-Findly
181. The Religion of Islam— This survey course explores the diversity of Muslim experiential and intellectual approaches to the key sacred sources of the religion, the Qur’an, and the figure of the Prophet. The course addresses pre-Islamic Arabia and the rise of Islam; Muhammad and the Qur’an; prophetic traditions and jurisprudence; theology and mysticism; art and poetry; basic beliefs and practices of the Muslim community; responses to colonialism and modernity; and Islam in the United States. (Enrollment limited)-Ziad
[184. Myth, Rite, and Sacrament]— A phenomenological approach to the study of religion through an examination of the nature of religious consciousness and its outward modes of expression. Special emphasis is placed on the varieties of religious experience and their relations to myths, rites, and sacraments. Enrollment limited. (May be counted toward international studies/African studies and international studies/comparative development studies.) (Enrollment limited)
[209. Religions in the Contemporary Middle East]— The impact of religion in contemporary Middle Eastern culture will be examined through the study of Middle Eastern monotheisms: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. The course will focus on specific national settings where religion has played a decisive role: Lebanon, Iran, Egypt, and Israel. Internal divisions and tensions will be explored, as well as interreligious conflicts. (May be counted toward and International Studies and Middle Eastern Studies.) (Enrollment limited)
211. Introduction to the Hebrew Bible— A literary and historical examination of the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) to demonstrate its evolution and complexity as religious scripture. Emphasis will be given to developing skills in textual analysis and to discerning possibilities for interpretation. Attention will be given to those personalities such as Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets and to major events such as the Exodus and the Exile, which shaped a tradition. (May be counted toward Jewish Studies and International Studies/Middle Eastern Studies.) (Enrollment limited)-Sanders
214. Jews in America— A social and religious history of American Judaism from pre-revolutionary to contemporary times. After examining the era of immigration and “Americanization,” the course will focus on the ethic, religious, and social structures of American Judaism: the community center, the synagogue, and the federation. (May be counted toward American studies and Jewish studies.) (Enrollment limited)-Kiener
252. The Asian Mystic— An examination of the mystic in Asian religious traditions. Special attention will be given to mysticism and heresy, the psychological and theological sources of mystical experience, and the distinctive characteristics of mystical language. Readings from Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese sources. Enrollment limited. (May be counted toward International Studies/Asian Studies.) (Enrollment limited)-Findly
[253. Indian and Islamic Painting]— A survey of the history of miniature painting from the Persian, Mughal, and Rajput schools, with emphasis on their religious and cultural backgrounds. (May be counted toward art history, international studies/Asian studies, international studies/comparative development studies, and international studies/Middle Eastern studies.) (Enrollment limited)
267. Religion and the Media— Western religion, and Christianity in particular, has always put a premium on employing the available techniques of mass communication to get its message out. But today, many religious people see the omnipresent “secular” media as hostile to their faith. This course will look at the relationship between religion and the communications media, focusing primarily on how the American news media have dealt with religion since the creation of the penny press in the 1830s. Attention will also be given to the ways that American religious institutions have used mass media to present themselves, from the circulation of Bibles and tracts in the 19th century through religious broadcasting beginning in the 20th century to the use of the Internet today. (May be counted toward American studies and public policy studies.) (Enrollment limited)-Silk
[278. Atheism and the Eclipse of Religion]— An examination of objections to religious belief and practice, especially those associated with atheism. Our primary concern will be to define those arguments which lead to a denial of God’s existence or which reduce religious belief and practice to the irrational, primitive, or cowardly. The counter-arguments for religious belief will also be considered. Readings from Nietzsche, Freud, Sartre, Marx, Feuerbach, “death of God” theologians, deconstructionists, and others. (Enrollment limited)
280. Approaching the Qur’an— The Qur’an, believed by Muslims to be the perfect Word of God, has played a central role in the life of the Muslim community since its appearance in the seventh century. This course will explore the sacred text of Islam through its foundational concepts and terminologies, history of the text and thematic development, literary style, connection to Jewish and Christian sacred texts, history and methods of interpretation, and role in Muslim ritual life. We will also explore manifestations of the Qur’an in the literature, visual arts, and music of the Muslim world. (Enrollment limited)-Ziad
281. Anthropology of Religion— Introduction to the foundations of religion through an examination of religious phenomena prevalent in traditional cultures. Some of the topics covered in this course include a critical examination of the idea of primitivity, the concepts of space and time, myths, symbols, ideas related to God, man, death, and rituals such as rites of passage, magic, sorcery, witchcraft, and divination. (May be counted toward anthropology and international studies/comparative development.) (Enrollment limited)-Beebe
284. Sufism: The Mystical Tradition of Islam— For over a thousand years, Sufism has been a dynamic expression of the inner quest for God-consciousness in Islam. Sufis have often expressed their devotion in literary form: from poetry and ecstatic utterances to metaphysical theoretical prose works. This class explores the emergence of Sufism from the Qur’an and the life and words or the Prophet Muhammad, and traces its historical development from the formative period to the age of trans-national Sufi orders. The course will study key constructs of this tradition: the relationship between God and humankind, the stages of the spiritual path, contemplative disciplines, the idea of sainthood, ethical perfection, the psychology of love, the idea of the feminine, and Sufi aesthetics. It also considers the modern expression (and transformation) of Sufism in the United States. (Enrollment limited)-Ziad
[285. Religions of Africa]— A study of the indigenous African religious traditions with consideration of their contemporary interaction with Western religious traditions. Topics include the African concepts of God, man, ancestor reverence, sacrifice, witchcraft, and magic. (Enrollment limited.) (May be counted toward international studies/African studies.) (Enrollment limited)
[290. Spiritual Movements in Contemporary America]— An anthropological approach to culture change including the rise, development, and future prospects of spiritual movements in contemporary American culture. Emphasis is given to the teachings of these movements and their contributions to American religious thought. Topics include Garveyism, the Nation of Islam in the West, the Peace Mission Movement, Hare Krishna, and Pentecostalism among others. (May be counted toward American Studies and International Studies/Comparative Development Studies.)
[307. Jewish Philosophy]— This course provides an introduction to the major themes and thinkers of medieval and modern Jewish philosophy. We will study how Plato, Aristotle, and other non-Jewish philosophers found their Jewish voice in the likes of Philo, Saadia Gaon, Judah Halevi, Maimonides, and Mendelssohn. Issues to be considered are the relationship between reason and revelation, the concept of monotheism, the nature of prophecy and the Jewish tradition, and the problem of evil. Extensive use of original sources in translation will be complemented by interpretive studies. (May be counted toward Philosophy.) Prerequisite: C- or better in Religion 109. (Enrollment limited)
[333. Hindu Views War and Peace]— An examination of the competing ethics of war and non-violence as reflected in traditional understandings of duty, truth, rebirth, and the spiritual quest. Using readings from the Vedas, Buddhist and Jain sutras, and the Upanisads, this course will give special focus to the Bhagavad Gita, and to Gandhi’s understanding of this particular aspect of his Hindu heritage. Enrollment limited. (May be counted toward international studies/Asian studies.) (Enrollment limited)
[338. Christian Social Ethics]— An in-depth exploration of the historical teachings of, and contemporary controversies within, Christianity on selected moral issues in sexuality, economics, business, medicine, ecology, race, war and pacifism, and foreign policy. Special attention will be given to problems in contemporary American society. (Enrollment limited)
399. Independent Study— Advanced work on an approved project under the guidance of a faculty member. Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment. (0.5-2 course credit) -Staff
466. Teaching Assistantship— A teaching assistant works with a faculty member in the preparation and teaching of a course and receives academic credit for his or her work. See the Student Handbook for the specific guidelines. Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment. (0.5-1 course credit) -Staff
497. Senior Thesis— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment in this single-semester thesis. (1-2 course credits) -Staff
498. Senior Thesis Part 1— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for each semester of this yearlong thesis. (two course credits are considered pending in the first semester; two course credits will be awarded for completion in the second semester.) (2 course credits) -Staff
499. Senior Thesis Part 2— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for each semester of this yearlong thesis. (two course credits are considered pending in the first semester;two course credits will be awarded for completion in the second semester.) (2 course credits) -Staff
Spring Term
[104. Biblical Hebrew Language and Culture II]— This course is a continuation of RELG 103. This course will introduce students to elements of the religion and culture of ancient Israel through study of its language. How did Israelites name God? Was Biblical language sexist? Would we be able to understand King David if we met him today? Since the script originally just showed consonants, and not vowels, how do we even know how to pronounce the words? Through intensive study of the writing system, vocabulary and grammar of the Hebrew Bible students will, by the end of the sequence, be able to read basic prose texts like Genesis and understand how the language and culture of Israel interrelate. Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in Religion 103. (Enrollment limited)
184. Myth, Rite, and Sacrament— A phenomenological approach to the study of religion through an examination of the nature of religious consciousness and its outward modes of expression. Special emphasis is placed on the varieties of religious experience and their relations to myths, rites, and sacraments. Enrollment limited. (May be counted toward international studies/African studies and international studies/comparative development studies.) (Enrollment limited)-Desmangles
186. Islam in America— An introduction to the history of Muslims in America, focusing on the themes of politics, race, class, gender, and cultural expressions. We will emphasize primary sources, such as music, films, poetry and novels, with special attention to the emergence of cyber-Islam. (Enrollment limited)-Ziad
212. New Testament— A literary and historical examination of the New Testament in the context of the first century C.E. to appreciate the formation and themes of this principal document of Christianity. By focusing primarily upon the Gospels and Paul’s letters, the course will stress the analysis of texts and the discussion of their possible interpretations. Consideration will be given to the Jewish and Greek backgrounds, to the political, social, and religious pressures of the period, and to the development of an independent Christian community and a fixed scripture. (Enrollment limited)-Sanders
[214. Jews in America]— A social and religious history of American Judaism from pre-revolutionary to contemporary times. After examining the era of immigration and “Americanization,” the course will focus on the ethic, religious, and social structures of American Judaism: the community center, the synagogue, and the federation. (May be counted toward American studies and Jewish studies.) (Enrollment limited)
223. Major Religious Thinkers of the West I: Heresy and Orthodoxy in Conflict— An historical and theological study of the development of Western religious thought from the point of view of both heretics and orthodoxy within Christianity and Judaism. Among the topics to be covered: Gnosticism, Augustine, Aquinas, Eckhart, millenarianism, the Free Spirit, Luther, Calvin, and the Anabaptists. Religion majors and students in the Guided Studies Program may enroll without permission of the instructor. Other students may enroll with permission of the instructor. Guided Studies students take this course in the second semester of their first year. Prerequisite: Course is only open to Religion majors or Guided Studies students. (Enrollment limited)-Kirkpatrick
254. Buddhist Art— A survey of the art of Buddhism in Asia with special attention given to the development of the Buddha image, the stupa, and a wide array of deities and saints. Using painting, sculpture, architecture, and contemporary expressions of ritual, dance, and theater, the course will cover many of the traditions in South, East, and Central Asia. (May be counted toward international studies/Asian studies, art history, and international studies/comparative development studies.) (Enrollment limited)-Findly
256. Buddhist Thought— An examination of fundamental concepts in Buddhist philosophy as they reflect an ongoing conflict between faith and reason: the non-self, dependent origination, karma, and nirvana. Special emphasis will be placed on the meaning of these concepts for the Buddhist way of life. Readings from classical Theravada and Mahayana texts. (May be counted toward international studies/Asian studies.) (Enrollment limited)-Findly
261. American Catholics— This historically oriented course will explore the struggle of Catholics in the United States to integrate being “Roman” with being “American.” It will survey the experience of an immigrant, authoritarian church in a country founded on belief in the excellence of Protestantism and dedicated to liberal and democratic ideals. Having arrived in the mainstream with the election of John F. Kennedy, that church now faces a new set of challenges, which will be the final consideration of the course. (May be counted toward American Studies.)-Walsh
262. Religion in America— The historical role of religion in shaping American life and thought, with special attention to the influence of religious ideologies on social values and social reform. (May be counted toward American Studies.) (Enrollment limited)-Kirkpatrick
[279. Shia Islam]— This course will introduce Shi’‘ism as an historical phenomenon. The course will concentrate on Twelver Imami Shi’ism (most prevalent in Iran); we will also look at other Shi’a communities such as the Ismailis and Zaydis. The class will cover the succession of Muhammad, the first Shi’a Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, Shi’a theology, philosophy and devotional practices, pre and post-Iranian revolution Shi’ism and the influence of Ayatollah Khomeini, and conclude with contemporary issues in Shi’ism found in Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Iran. We will examine both primary texts in translation, and secondary literature. This course does not require any prerequisites; however, basic knowledge in Islam will be beneficial. (Enrollment limited)
[280. Approaching the Qur’an]— The Qur’an, believed by Muslims to be the perfect Word of God, has played a central role in the life of the Muslim community since its appearance in the seventh century. This course will explore the sacred text of Islam through its foundational concepts and terminologies, history of the text and thematic development, literary style, connection to Jewish and Christian sacred texts, history and methods of interpretation, and role in Muslim ritual life. We will also explore manifestations of the Qur’an in the literature, visual arts, and music of the Muslim world. (Enrollment limited)
[281. Anthropology of Religion]— Introduction to the foundations of religion through an examination of religious phenomena prevalent in traditional cultures. Some of the topics covered in this course include a critical examination of the idea of primitivity, the concepts of space and time, myths, symbols, ideas related to God, man, death, and rituals such as rites of passage, magic, sorcery, witchcraft, and divination. (May be counted toward anthropology and international studies/comparative development.) (Enrollment limited)
283. Readings in Islamic Ethics— This course will explore individual and communal ethics and moral choice in Muslim traditions. We will look at a diversity of perspectives on moral theory (in theology and philosophy) and lived ethics (in law, literature, and art). The course will also consider Islamic responses to contemporary ethical concerns, which could include the environment, gender, pluralism and medical ethics. (Enrollment limited)-Ziad
[288. Magic, Possession, and Spiritual Healing]— An anthropological approach to religion and magic. A cross-cultural analysis of the forms of spiritual healing in traditional cultures. Emphasis is given to the manifestations of spiritual power, the role of possession, magic, shamanistic utterances, and hallucinogens in the process of spiritual healing. (May be counted toward international studies/comparative development studies.) (Enrollment limited)
290. Spiritual Movements in Contemporary America— An anthropological approach to culture change including the rise, development, and future prospects of spiritual movements in contemporary American culture. Emphasis is given to the teachings of these movements and their contributions to American religious thought. Topics include Garveyism, the Nation of Islam in the West, the Peace Mission Movement, Hare Krishna, and Pentecostalism among others. (May be counted toward American Studies and International Studies/Comparative Development Studies.) (Enrollment limited)-Desmangles
314. Ancient Ritual and Prayer— How did ancient people worship their gods? Did they believe in an afterlife? The Bible does not tell the whole story. This course will explore the realities of ancient Israelite and Near Eastern religion “on the ground,” where people worshiped at both temples and graves, with incense, crackling fire and sacrifice. We will integrate ritual texts from the book of Leviticus, Babylonian, and Canaanite; recent archaeological discoveries; and comparative studies of ritual to develop a three-dimensional picture of ancient religion beyond the limits of the biblical text. Prerequisite: C- or better in Guided Studies 121, Religion 184, Religion 212, or permission of instructor. (Enrollment limited)-Sanders
339. Modern American Theology— This course will study the major theological movements, topics, and thinkers of American mainline Protestantism from the early 20th century to the present day, and American Catholicism from the 1950s to the present day. Major theological movements and topics will include evangelical liberalism, the Social Gospel movement, the modernist-fundamentalist controversy, Boston School personalism, Chicago School naturalistic empiricism, neo-orthodoxy and Christian realism, the ecumenical movement, the Civil Rights movement, secularism, process metaphysics, Vatican II, the death-of-God controversy, liberation theology, feminist theology, environmentalism, and postmodernism. Major theologians and philosophers will include Walter Rauschenbusch, Shailer Mathews, Edgar S. Brightman, Reinhold Niebuhr, Paul Tillich, Martin Luther King Jr., Gregory Baum, Rosemary Radford Ruether, John B. Cobb Jr., J. Deotis Roberts, and Elizabeth Johnson. (Enrollment limited)-Dorrien
399. Independent Study— Advanced work on an approved project under the guidance of a faculty member. Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment. (0.5-2 course credit) -Staff
466. Teaching Assistantship— A teaching assistant works with a faculty member in the preparation and teaching of a course and receives academic credit for his or her work. See the Student Handbook for the specific guidelines. Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment. (0.5-1 course credit) -Staff
497. Senior Thesis— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment in this single-semester thesis. (1-2 course credits) -Staff
499. Senior Thesis Part 2— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for each semester of this yearlong thesis. (two course credits are considered pending in the first semester;two course credits will be awarded for completion in the second semester.) (2 course credits) -Staff