RELG 201 - Introduction to Religion

Credits: (3)
College Curriculum: COLL 200
Domain (Anchored): ALV
Domain (Reaching Out): CSI

A cross-cultural and comparative study of religion meant to inspire and guide students to think seriously and self-reflexively about religious pluralism in the modern world. The course’s aim is to use comparison across cultures, traditions, and methodologies to arrive at a deepened understanding of religion that challenges both rationalist reductionism and dogmatic fundamentalism. We will explore key themes across world religious traditions (e.g., myth, ritual, belief, religious experience, gender and sexuality, ethics, and understandings of salvation, scripture, and the natural world) while also learning about the distinctly Western and colonial origins of modern understandings of religion(s). The specific religious traditions and themes explored may vary from semester to semester. No prerequisites.