16:840:501 Theory and Method in the Study of Religion (3) Theories since the Enlightenment that have attempted to explain religious phenomena. Models rooted in social, psychological, economic, political, orientalist, structuralist, and postmodern paradigms. Methodological issues.

16:840:505 Apocalypticism: Religious Movements and the End of Time (3) Ancient, medieval, and contemporary apocalyptic literature and movements with particular attention to theories of apocalypticism and millenarian movements. Areas: Judaic and Christian studies; religion and conflict.

16:840:506 Western Encounter with Hinduism (3) The encounter with and reaction to various forms of Hinduism that have filtered to the West, from the earliest references in Greek sources to the late colonial period. Areas: Hinduism; contemplative studies.

16:840:515 Christians, "the Other," and Violence in Historical Context (3) The ways that Christians have described and rejected the "other" (Jews, heretics, Muslims, secular humanists), emphasizing historical continuities and differences from the earliest Christian texts through the Protestant Reformation. Areas: Judaic and Christian studies; religion and conflict.

16:840:516 U.S. Evangelicalism in a Global Age (3) Examines history of U.S. evangelicalism in the 20th and 21st centuries, focusing on the impact of transnationalism and other globalizing trends, and on adherents' influence around the world.

16:840:521 Yoga: From Vedic Origins to Western Transplantation (3) A close reading of Yoga as presented in the traditional Hindu sourcebook on the subject, the third-century Yoga Sutras, where it is defined as the stilling of all states of mind (meditative practices), along with the primary commentaries that have elaborated on the source text over the centuries prior to the colonial period. The development of representations of Yoga from these premodern expressions, through its appropriation and reconfiguring by Hindu nationalists, and into its modern Western transplanted form as primarily postural exercise. Areas: Hinduism; contemplative studies.

16:840:522 Origins of Morality in Early Chinese Religion (3) Closely examines major religious texts in early China, traditionally categorized as Confucian, Mohist, and Daoist (Taoist). Focuses on the following topics: ritual and its centrality in early China, human nature, Mandate of Heaven, spiritual freedom, filial piety, differentiated caring, universal care.

16:840:527 Religious Pluralism in America (3) Religious pluralism in North America and especially the United States, focusing on interpretive paradigms and methodologies employed by scholars assessing the role of pluralism throughout American religious history. Area: Religions in America.

16:840:547 Just War and Jihad: Traditions and Their Current Use (3) Major sources in the religious traditions of just war and jihad of the sword and of prominent contemporary examples of the use of these traditions in religious thought on war. Area: Religion and conflict.

16:840:549 Sanctifying Violence and Biblical Tradition (3) The relationship between biblical traditions and sanctifying violence, through critical analysis of how violent acts may be justified by appeal to notions of the divine. Instances of ritual violence and sanctified combat from ancient Mesopotamian literature, iconography, and the Bible, as well as the use of biblical scripture to frame violence within early Jewish and Christian traditions. Current comparative and theoretical discussions of religious violence. Areas: Judaic and Christian studies; religion and conflict.

16:840:552 Contemplation and Meditation in Buddhism and Christianity (3) Major meditational and contemplative practices in Christianity and Buddhism, their historical contexts, the philosophical/theological discussions surrounding them, and a critical perspective on their use in the West. Areas: Contemplative studies; Buddhism; Christianity.

16:840:556 Islamic Spirituality (3) The historical development of the mystical traditions, with a particular interest in their relationship to the dominant forms of scholastic Islam over the centuries. The most influential theories of mysticism in relation to Islamic theological dogmas, on the basis of English translations of Arabic and Persian primary sources. The diversity of Sufisms as well as the spiritual traditions outside of Sufism among Shi'i Muslims. Areas: Islam; contemplative studies.

16:840:557 Krishna (3) How the figure of Krishna is embedded in the Hindu tradition through a wide range of sources spanning varied regional and cultural contexts over two millennia. Areas: Hinduism; contemplative studies.

16:840:558 Bhagavad Gita (3) Studies the Bhagavad Gita in its entirety, along with its primary traditional interpreters. Readings will discuss the Gita's reception in the Western world, and its adoption by prominent modern Hindu spokespersons. Areas: Hinduism; contemplative studies.

16:840:569 Buddhist Philosophy (3) Major philosophical schools of Buddhism, especially Mahayana Buddhism, including Madhyamaka, Yogacara, and Chan/Zen. Focus on core concepts and their developments: Dependent Origination, Impermanence, Emptiness, No-Self, Karma, and Buddha Nature. Areas: Buddhism; contemplative studies.

16:840:570 Buddhism, Society, and Politics in Southeast Asia (3) The rich histories of Buddhist social and political culture in Southeast Asia. Premodern Buddhist social and political theory, literature, and practice, and their transformations and implications in colonial and postcolonial contexts. Law, gender, class, the state, the family, monastic institutions, colonialism, and economic life. The degree to which Buddhism played, and continues to play, a central role in the construction of norms and habits of the sociopolitical domain. Primary sources are drawn from Buddhist literary, historical, and legal texts; inscriptions and archaeology; ethnography; and art history. Area: Buddhist studies.

16:840:574 Islamic Thought (3) Examines critically the development of Islamic intellectual traditions, from the first writings of the scholastic theological disciplines of theology and jurisprudence to contemporary reformist discourses.

16:840:580 Religious Healing in the United States (3) The history of religious healing in the United States, including the evolving relationship between religious healing and biomedicine. Theoretical approaches to the study of religious healing. Area: Christianity.

16:840:593 Topics in the Study of Religion (3) For distribution of specific Topics courses, consult the director of the graduate program.

16:840:594 Topics in the Study of Religion (3) For distribution of specific Topics courses, consult the director of the graduate program.

16:840:595 Independent Study (3) For distribution of specific Independent Studies courses, consult the director of the graduate program.

16:840:596 Independent Study (3) For distribution of specific Independent Studies courses, consult the director of the graduate program.

16:840:701 Research in Religion (3) Must be taken in combination with 16:840:702 Thesis in Religion (3) or the 6-credit M.A. thesis option. The thesis does not qualify for any distributions, which must be fulfilled by taught courses (other than the mandatory 16:40:501 Theory and Method in the Study of Religion).

16:840:702 Thesis in Religion (3) Must be taken in combination with 16:840:701 Research in Religion (3) for the 6-credit M.A. thesis option. The thesis does not qualify for any distributions, which must be fulfilled by taught courses (other than the mandatory 16:40:501 Theory and Method in the Study of Religion).

16:840:703 Capstone Project in Religion (3) The Capstone Project, which should not be shorter than 30 pages, must engage some aspect of the material from the 16:840:501 Theory and Method in the Study of Religion course and apply it to the area or field that interests the student the most, such as a given religious tradition or phenomenon. For distribution of specific Capstone Project, consult the director of the graduate program.