01:840:101
Introduction to Religion: Social Patterns (3)
Varied origins of religion and motifs in its development in different cultures.
Only open to first-year students and sophomores.
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01:840:102
Introduction to Religion: Patterns of Thought (3)
Lifestyles and systems of thought represented by major religions.
Only open to first-year students and sophomores.
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01:840:112
Death and Afterlife (3)
Various religious concepts of death, resurrection, reincarnation, and other forms of afterlife; their relevance to this worldly life.
Open only to first-year students and sophomores.
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01:840:201
Old Testament (3)
Interpretation of basic Hebrew scriptures in translation; history of religious themes such as sin, covenant, and prophecy in ancient Israel.
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01:840:202
New Testament (3)
Interpretation of basic Christian scriptures in translation; influence of Jesus and Paul on the early Christian community.
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01:840:203
Islamic Scriptures: Quran and Hadith (3)
Introduction to sacred texts of Islam; emphasis on words and deeds of the prophet Muhammad, collectively known as the Hadith or Sunnah. Explores how revelation bridges the gap between the divine and human by examining Islamic scriptures in historical, theological, legal, and mystical contexts.
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01:840:204
Hindu Scriptures (3)
Interpretation of basic Hindu scriptures in their historical, literary, and theological contexts to see how they contributed to the development of various traditions and spiritual paths in Hinduism.
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01:840:205
Buddhist Scriptures (3)
Interpretation of foundational Buddhist scriptures in their historical, literary, and philosophical contexts to trace the development of Indian Buddhism as well as its process of cultural accommodation in east Asia.
Credit not given for both this course and 01:685:233.
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01:840:211
Religions of the Eastern World (3)
Religious beliefs, practices, and sacred writings of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto.
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01:840:212
Religions of the Western World (3)
Religious beliefs, practices, and sacred writings of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
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01:840:221
Ethical Issues, Religious Responses (3)
Jewish and Christian ethical traditions related to contemporary issues in personal and social ethics, such as sexuality, racism, medical ethics.
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01:840:222
Issues in Religious Thought (3)
Questions faced by religion in the contemporary era: faith and reason, religious experience, role of religion in a scientific society, nature of God.
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01:840:240
Love as Ethic and Idea (3)
Judeo-Christian religious tradition, viewed through the concept of love as moral and theological ideal, from the biblical period to the present.
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01:840:250
Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah (3)
Survey of Jewish mystical traditions from the early rabbinic traditions
to the central text of kabbalistic literature, the Zohar, in
13th-century Spain.
Credit not given for both this course and 01:563:250.
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01:840:293,294
Topics in the Study of Religion (3,3)
Selected themes in the study of religion. Topics announced when courses offered.
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01:840:301
Ancient Near Eastern Religions (3)
Religious patterns in Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Canaan, Israel, and Egypt from texts in translation; their impact on cultural development of the Near East.
Not open to first-year students.
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01:840:302
Cultural Context of the Old Testament (3)
Emergence of the Hebrew scriptures from the religious, social, political, and economic milieu of ancient Israel and influence of contiguous cultures on their development.
Prerequisite: 01:840:201 or permission of instructor.
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01:840:303
Hebrew Prophets: Social and Religious Thoughts (3)
Development and diffusion of Israelite prophetic thought from early associations with divination in Near Eastern culture through the Exile and later decline.
Prerequisite: 01:840:201 or permission of instructor. Not open to first-year students.
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01:840:304
Post-Exilic Literature of Israel (3)
Influence of the Babylonian Exile on the religion and writings of late-biblical Israel; development of Jewish life and thought in the Persian and Hellenistic periods.
Prerequisite: 01:840:201 or permission of instructor.
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01:840:306
Greek and Roman Religions (3)
Study of pagan gods and goddesses, cults, and practices of the classical Greek world, Roman Republic, and Roman Empire.
Credit not given for both this course and 01:190:326.
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01:840:307
Jesus (3)
Career and teaching of Jesus viewed in historical context; development of the Gospel tradition and its effect on later concepts of Christ.
Prerequisite: 01:840:202 or permission of instructor.
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01:840:308
Paul (3)
Letters of Paul in historical context: his background, conversion, and apostolic mission; the development and influence of his thought on later Christianity.
Prerequisite: 01:840:202 or permission of instructor.
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01:840:309
John (3)
Historical and theological backgrounds of the Fourth Gospel and its influence on the thought of early Christianity.
Prerequisite: 01:840:202 or permission of instructor.
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01:840:312
Greek Christianity (3)
Eastern church tradition from the second through the eighth centuries; theological controversies and the development of liturgy, monasticism, and mysticism.
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01:840:313
Latin Christianity (3)
Western church tradition from the third through the 13th centuries; theological controversies and the development of sacraments, papacy, and religious orders.
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01:840:315
Protestant Reformation (3)
Reform movements in the Western Christian world from the 14th through 18th centuries; focus on figures who formed Protestant thought, such as Luther, Calvin, Cranmer, Fox, Wesley.
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01:840:317
Catholicism and the Modern World (3)
Roman Catholicism from the French Revolution to the present; thinkers such as Lammenais, Newman, and Gilson; topics such as liturgy, political rights, theological pluralism.
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01:840:318
Contemporary Catholic Theology (3)
Selected themes in the thought of 20th-century Roman Catholic figures, such as Rahner, Schillebeeckx, Küng.
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01:840:319
Religion in American History (3)
Colonial patterns of established churches, revivalism, deism, and separation of church and state; denominational growth and immigration; effects of urban development, evolutionary thought, and social reform.
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01:840:320
Religion and Native Americans (3)
Beliefs and practices in aboriginal North American cultures before European exploration; subsequent patterns of conflict, acculturation, and survival.
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01:840:321
Yoga: History and Philosophy (3)
Close reading of the Yoga Sutrasof Patanjali, with particular attention to premodern commentaries on the text and the traditional understanding of the practice of classical yoga and its goals. History of yoga in India, its expressions in classical traditions of the subcontinent, and its transplantation to the West.
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01:840:322
Hinduism (3)
Historical development of religious beliefs and practices in the culture of India; syncretism, mysticism, devotion, and personal disciplines.
Credit not given for both this course and 01:925:322.
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01:840:323
Buddhism (3)
Rise of Buddhist theory and practice in the context of Indian culture; encounters with indigenous religions of East and Southeast Asia; development of Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.
Credit not given for both this course and 01:925:323.
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01:840:324
Chinese Religions (3)
Religious concepts and classic texts of Confucianism and Taoism; relation of religion to society and self in China, including role models and paradigms for self-transformation; alchemy and meditation.
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01:840:325
Prophet Muhammad (3)
Muhammad's prophetic career in historical context; mystical and
devotional tradition centering on him in Sunni and Shi'i Islam;
sociopolitical reform movements based on prophetic model.
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01:840:326
Islam (3)
Muhammad and the development of Muslim beliefs and practices; major movements and their effects on historical and current events.
Credit not given for both this course and 01:685:326 or 01:925:326.
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01:840:327
Encounter of Religions (3)
Religions in a pluralistic world; concepts of God, man, spirit, freedom as understood in East and West. Interreligious dialogue, religious synthesis, and universalism.
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01:840:328
Shi'i Islam (3)
History, doctrines, rituals, theosophy, and structure of authority of the major schools of Shi'i Islam, with a focus on the Twelver Imami tradition from its beginnings until the present day.
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01:840:329
Medieval Arabic Religious Texts (3)
Reading and close analysis of selected medieval religious texts,
including Qur'an, Quar'anic exegesis, hadith, fiqh, and
philosophical treatises exploring relationships between reason and
revelation.
Credit not given for both this course and 01:685:329.
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01:840:330
Religion in Latin America (3)
Exploration of the religious complexity of Latin America, including Christianity, indigenous and syncretic practices, and traditions.
Credit not given for both this course and 01:590:330.
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01:840:331
Myth and Ritual (3)
Role of myth and patterns of ritual in primitive and ancient religious societies and their survival in contemporary cultures.
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01:840:332
African Religions (3)
Historical examination of the multifaceted worlds of African religions in their beliefs and practices, contributions to contemporary African popular culture, and the role religion played in political life.
Credit not given for both this course and 01:014:332.
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01:840:333
Caribbean Religion (3)
Examines the history and role of the diverse religious components of the Caribbean Basin from indigenous practices to Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, and the emergence of African belief systems such as Vodou, Santeria, and Rastafarianism from the 18th century to the present.
Credit not given for both this course and 01:595:333.
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01:840:334
Healing: Sacred and Secular (3)
Examination of healing as a religious process in various cultures; discussion of transition from sacred healing to secular medicine and psychotherapy in the West.
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01:840:335
Buddhist Meditation Traditions (3)
Introduction to Buddhism. Explores meditative techniques/practices for
attaining enlightenment, with emphasis on Zen (Ch'an) meditation and
roles played by Koan and Zazen in this process of transformation.
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01:840:336
Christian Mysticism (3)
Phenomenological analysis of classic descriptions of mystical experience; evolution of relevant motifs through Christian traditions.
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01:840:337
Tibetan Religions (3)
Historical development of Tibetan religious beliefs and practices, with a focus on the four main Buddhist schools, the Bön tradition, and Muslim populations. Other topics include religion and politics, literature, pilgrimage and ritual, monasticism, gender, art and iconography, and global context.
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01:840:338
Religious Themes in East Asian Literature (3)
Religious ideas and attitudes as expressed in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese literature.
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01:840:341
Religion and Psychology (3)
Psychological inquiry into the role of religion in the life history of the individual and his or her relation to the transcendent.
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01:840:342
Religious Experience and Contemporary Culture (3)
Religion and modern consciousness as investigated by the social sciences; topics such as the function of religion, secularism, and modernity.
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01:840:343
Religion and Politics (3)
Function of religion in initiating social and political changes by envisioning the future, formulating utopian blueprints, and providing transcendent norms for social criticism.
Not open to first-year students.
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01:840:345
Hindu Gurus in the West (3)
Lives and teachings of Vivekananda, Aurobindo, Sivananda, Yogananda, Rajneesh, and others. Classical texts and problems of innovations and preservation. Sociological and psychological issues of transplanting the guru-disciple relationship to Western soil.
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01:840:346
Sexuality in the Western Religious Traditions (3)
Ideas and problems in Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish normative traditions on sexuality. Topics include sexuality and human nature, sexual identity/roles, marriage and family.
Prerequisite: One course in Western religious traditions.
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01:840:347
War, Peace, and Violence in Western Religious Thought (3)
Ideas of just war, holy war, and pacifism in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; their relation to contemporary issues of war and peace.
Prerequisite: One course in Western religious traditions.
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01:840:350
Women in Eastern Religions (3)
Images and roles of women in major Asian religions: Hinduism, Buddhism,
Confucianism, and Taoism. Women's autobiographical accounts of
religious experiences, attitudes toward women expressed in these
religious institutions, the feminine as a symbol of the divine;
representative great goddesses such as Kuan-yin.
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01:840:351
Women in Western Religions (3)
Images and roles of women in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; attitudes toward women expressed in these religious institutions; religious experiences of women mystics and religious practices favored by women.
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01:840:352
Religion and Science (3)
Theories of religious and scientific knowledge, cosmology and astronomy, life and creation.
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01:840:356
Sufism: Mystical Islam (3)
Based essentially on primary sources. Examines both Islamic mystical theory and practice, paying particular attention to a range of core Sufi doctrines.
Credit not given for both this course and 01:685:356.
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01:840:357
Krishna (3)
Examination of the various faces and theologies of Krishna, one of the most important Hindu deities. Depiction in the Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, and Bhagavata Purana with reference to rasa theory, a medieval taxonomy of various moods in which the devotee approaches God as a lover, child, friend, or master.
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01:840:358
Bhagavad Gita (3)
Analysis of this important Hindu scripture. Study of influential commentaries. Attention to Indian and Western appropriations of the text.
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01:840:367
Taoist Philosophy (3)
Focuses on two foundational texts of classical Taoism, the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching) and the Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu). Close examination of texts and study of various interpretations, both traditional and contemporary. Brief examination of Taoist influence on the West as well as Western transformation of Taoism.
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01:840:368
Hindu Philosophy (3)
Upanishads, Patanjali, Bhagavad Gita; theories of matter, energy; states of consciousness; meditation. Yogas of knowledge, action, devotion. Karma. Ethics. Comparison of Hindu and Western cosmology.
Credit not given for both this course and 01:730:368.
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01:840:369
Buddhist Philosophy (3)
Interdependence, impermanence, relativity; suffering; path to liberation; meditation; karma as cosmic justice; death and rebirth. Compassion as a central ethical value. Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan Buddhism.
Credit not given for both this course and 01:730:369.
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01:840:374
Islamic Philosophy (3)
Basic characteristics and tenets of Islam as a religion; early theological controversies; the major thinkers and mystics; their interaction with the other aspects of Islamic civilization.
Credit not given for both this course and 01:685:374 and 01:730:374.
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01:840:393,394
Topics in the Study of Religion (3,3)
Selected themes in the study of religion. Topics announced when course offered.
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01:840:395,396
Research in Religion (3,3)
Directed study resulting in a major paper.
Prerequisites: Previous coursework in field and permission of department.
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01:840:401
Seminar in Old Testament Literature (3)
Role of redactional criticism in determining literary structure, interdependence of primary divisions, and development of basic themes in Hebrew scriptures.
Prerequisites: 01:840:302, 303, 304, or permission of instructor.
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01:840:402
Seminar in New Testament Literature (3)
Select problems in development of New Testament text, including oral tradition, literary sources, Greek language, and translation.
Prerequisite: 01:840:202 or permission of instructor.
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01:840:403
Seminar on the Vedanta Sutras (3)
Overview of the main schools of Vedantic thought up to the medieval period--Sankara, Ramanuja, Madhva, Nimbarka, Vallabha and Baladeva. Attention to some prominent points of agreement as well as contestation among some of these schools. Focus on primary texts.
Only open to majors in their junior or senior year. Some prior knowledge of Hindu philosophy recommended.
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01:840:404
Seminar in Christian Monasticism (3)
Evolution and ideals of Christian Monasticism from early Christianity to the 17th century; interaction between monks and nuns and the rest of society.
Only open to majors in their junior or senior year.
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01:840:411
Seminar in the History of Eastern Religions (3)
Central issues in the theory and practice of Eastern religious tradition presented in select sources from various periods; questions of method and interpretation.
Prerequisite: 01:840:211 or permission of instructor.
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01:840:412
Seminar in the History of Western Religions (3)
Central issues in the theory and practice of Western religious tradition presented in select sources from various periods; questions of method and interpretation.
Prerequisite: 01:840:212 or permission of instructor.
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01:840:420
Seminar in Religion and Psychology (3)
Advanced topics in religion and psychology.
Prerequisites: At least one course in religion and one course in psychology or by permission of instructor. Open only to juniors and seniors.
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01:840:421
Seminar in Religion and Society (3)
Interaction of religion and society in the thought of selected theologians, ethicists, and sociologists of religion.
Prerequisite: One course in western religious traditions or permission of instructor.
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01:840:422
Seminar in Theology (3)
Contributions of selected European and American theologians, past or present; attention to theological method.
Prerequisite: One of the following: 01:840:101,102, 212, 222, or permission of instructor. Open only to juniors and seniors.
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01:840:423
Seminar in Buddhism (3)
Builds on a basic knowledge of Buddhism. Psychological implications of central Buddhist teachings--dependent origination, not-self/no-self, and emptiness--as discussed within key Indian Buddhist texts. Critical examination of modern scholars' attempts to interpret and/or appropriate them via modern psychology, especially psychoanalysis.
Prerequisite: 01:840:211 or 01:840:323 or permission of instructor. Only open to majors in their junior or senior year.
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01:840:424
Seminar in Religion and Science (3)
Contemporary topics in the relationship between science and religion. Potential topics include evolution; cosmology and creation; mind, brain, and consciousness; religious and scientific methods. Topics change from year to year.
Prerequisite: One course in religion or permission of instructor. Open only to juniors and seniors.
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01:840:426
Seminar in the Study of Religion (3)
Selected topics in the study of religion which vary from term to term. Topics include religion and violence, fundamentalism, the self in world religions, uses of scriptures, and religious experiences.
Open only to majors in their junior or senior year.
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01:840:427
Seminar in the Study of Religion (3)
Selected topics in the study of religion. Topics may include religion and violence, fundamentalism, the self in world religions, uses of scriptures, and religious experiences.
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01:840:456
Seminar on Rumi (3)
On the basis of primary sources in English translation, focus on Rumi's didactic writings (poetry and prose), in order to identify his distinctive teachings and their place in the context of the Sufi tradition and Persian mystical literature.
Prerequisite: 01:840:326 or 01:840:356. Special Notation: Only open to majors in their junior or senior year.
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01:840:481
Seminar on Buddhist Religion and Art of China (3)
Focus on evolution of the Buddha image in the scriptures and art of China.
Prerequisites: 01:082:323, 01:840:211 or 323, or permission of instructor. Credit not given for both this course and 01:082:481.
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01:840:482
Seminar in Islamic Ethics (3)
Describing and evaluating reasons Muslims give for judgments they make about right and wrong or good or evil, as they relate to human acts, attitudes, and beliefs. Attention to modern Islamic ethical writings and contemporary issues, such as Islam and human rights, relativism, universalism, and interfaith dialogue.
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01:840:495,496
Research in Religion (3,3)
Directed study resulting in a major paper.
Prerequisites: Previous coursework in field and permission of department.
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01:840:497-498
Honors in Religion (3,3 or 6,6)
Both semesters must be completed to receive credit.
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