12 (9L) Religion and Society in America (Instructor: Hardy)
A study of religious groups and movements in this country, ranging from the major institutional faiths to religious protest groups, cults, and the religions of the 'counter-culture.' Special attention is given to the social forces which shape religious expression in America. Open to all classes. Dist: TMV; WCult: W.
20.3. (12) Reason and Religious Belief (Instructor: Frankenberry)
A study of the principal religious and philosophical arguments for and against religious belief. The first part of the course will consider the question of the justifiability of religious belief through an appeal to religious experience and mysticism, to rational theistic arguments, and to faith, showing the difficulties in each case. The second part of the course will cover alternatives to classical theism and the contemporary challenge of conceptual relativism and religious pluralism.
Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Dist: TMV.
40 (11) Topics in the Religions of India (Instructor: Ohnuma)
In 11S, Gods, Demons, and Monkeys: The Ramayana Epic in India. The ancient Indian epic known as the Ramayana is a stirring, martial tale of gods, demons, and monkeys, family loyalty and betrayal, romance, religion, and politics. This story has served for thousands of years to create, preserve, and transmit cultural and religious values for millions of people throughout the Indian subcontinent. Far from being monolithic, however, the Ramayana epic tradition is characterized by enormous multiplicity and diversity-diversity in terms of religion, culture, language, class, gender, region, caste, and performative media. Beginning with the classical Sanskrit version of Valmiki composed perhaps as early as 200 B.C.E., India has produced hundreds of different versions of the Ramayana, in different languages and different media, with different agendas and for different audiences-including, for example, the devotional Hindu version of Tulsidas, the dramatic festival version known as Ram-lila, and a 78-episode TV miniseries that brought the entire country to a standstill every Sunday morning in 1988. We will examine this epic tradition in all of its complexity through an interdisciplinary approach and by making ample use of different forms of media, such as slides, videos, comic books, and music. Open to all classes. Dist: TMV, WCult: NW.
41 (2) Readings in Buddhist Literature (Instructor: Ohnuma)
In 11s, Indian Buddhist Narratives. This course will focus on the Indian Buddhist tradition, as seen through the prism of its narrative literature--stories, folktales, legends, and myths. Although Indian Buddhist history, doctrine, and philosophy will be covered to the extent necessary to contextualize the material, our main focus will be on the persistent religious themes and concerns embodied throughout Indian Buddhism's rich tradition of stories. Examples of such themes include: the life-story of the Buddha as a paradigmatic model; the doctrines of karma and rebirth; Buddhist moral virtues such as generosity, compassion, and wisdom; the religious paths of lay-followers, monks, and nuns; Buddhist manifestations of ritual, faith, and devotion; Buddhist conceptions of the cosmos and of the "good" society; and views concerning caste, class, and gender. The readings will include some secondary sources on Buddhist history and doctrine, but will focus mainly on primary sources translated from Pali and Sanskrit.
46 (10) Daoism: Transformations of Tradition (Instructor: Raz)
In this course we will explore the historical developments and transformations of Daoism from its ancient roots to present-day practices. We will begin by looking at early traditions of immortality seekers and self-cultivation and at the religious and philosophical ideas in the ancient Chinese texts of the Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Guanzi. We will also examine recent archaeological findings, imperial religious practices, and the complex interaction of Daoism with Buddhism. We will also look at contemporary Daoist practices in China and Taiwan. Along the way we will devote special attention to meditation and divination techniques; alchemy and sexual techniques for transcendence; the place of women and the feminine in Daoism.
Open to all classes. Dist: TMV; WCult: NW.
49 (10A) Topics in East Asian Religions (Instructor: Raz)
In this course students will read and discuss the latest research on one of the religions of East Asia, or a particular sect, movement, or time period in the history of East Asian religions. The topic will change with each offering. Thus, students may take this course more than once. Sample topics include: "Literature and Religion in China," "Politics and Religion in China," and "The Body in Japanese Religion."
Dist: TMV; WCult: NW.
80 (11) Darwin, Dawkins, & Rel Belief (Instructor: Frankenberry)
