RLST 151 Poverty, Religion, and Social Change
This course examines the social welfare reforms that emerged in the early modern period (circa. 1450-1650) that addressed the increasing problem of poverty, including education, health care, refugee relief, and community development. This course is an upper-level seminar focusing on the role of religion in the history of poor relief by examining the impact of religion on social welfare policies and practices since the early modern era. In addition, this course includes a community service component as part of the course in order to consider the current relevance of studying poor relief reform in Europe and in its contemporary application later in the United States.
RLST 169 - Christianity and Politics in East Asia
This course on Christianity and Politics in East Asia analyzes the political, cultural, and economic impact of, and resistance to, Western Christian missions, colonialism, and imperialism in China, Japan and Korea from the early modern period to the present vis-a-vis nationalist movements for and against Christianity in Japan (Shimabara, Nonchurch Movement), China (Taiping Rebellion, Boxer Rebellion, Kuomintang-KMT, Maoism), and Korea (Confucianism, Buddhism, and Japanese Imperialism, Minjung Thought). This course will also discuss contemporary news and issues, such as the shift in the Vatican-Chinese Catholic Church relationship and a potential Vatican visit to North Korea.
Asian-American History
Currently, Asian-American History is the final section of RLST 169 Christianity and Politics in East Asia course as it relates to transnational connections and Asians and religious affiliations in the American context. This section of the course gives students the opportunity to explore the religious and cultural issues in a mini-ethnography project.
RLST 156 European Reformations
This course examines the origin and development of various reform movements in early modern Europe, including Renaissance (Italian and northern European versions), Protestant (Lutheran, Calvinist, Swiss Reformed, Anglican), Radical (Swiss Anabaptist, Spiritualist, Mennonite), as well as Catholic Reform movements (Spanish vs. Italian movements). It will analyze key religious figures, their new interpretations of the Bible, and resulting controversies in order to understand multiple forms of religious reform in early modern Europe. The purpose of this course is to learn about the diversification of the religious and the impact of religious differences as a result of the reform movements in early modern Europe.