Religion and Culture
Winter 2019
APS 1704 - Intro to Appalachian Studies
Introduces students to the history of the Appalachian region from European contact to the present. Traces the idea of Appalachia by tracing ways in which Americans have imagined the region over time. Explores humanistic problems of cultural identity, race and ethnicity, place and globalization, and impacts of natural resource extraction.
Online Course CRN
Laney, Jordan L. 40256
HUM 1604 - Intro Hum and Arts
Explores the written, visual, and performing arts of selected periods and cultures, setting them in the context of their times. Study of these periods linked with overarching questions of cultural encounters, interactions, and negotiations. Introduces principles of each art form as well as the means of appreciation. Students taught methods in researching, writing, and presenting on these art forms.
Edmondson, Taulby H. 40331
HUM 1704 - Intro to Appalachian Studies
Introduces students to the history of the Appalachian region from European contact to the present. Traces the idea of Appalachia by tracing ways in which Americans have imagined the region over time. Explores humanistic problems of cultural identity, race and ethnicity, place and globalization, and impacts of natural resource extraction.
Online Course CRN
Laney, Jordan L. 40257
RLCL 1134 - Ancient Mediterranean World
Ancient cultures of the Mediterranean world with a focus on their embodiments in the arts, literature, history, philosophy, and religion. Emphasis on Greek, Hellenistic and Roman cultures, their interrelationships with each other and their historical, cultural, material and intellectual encounters with contemporary Mediterranean cultures as well as their influence on later and modern cultures.
Steer, Christine E. 40350
RLCL 2464 - Religion and Science
Exploration of the relationships between religion and science in the western tradition. Basic frameworks for relationships between religion and science in historical and cultural context, types of human knowledge and truth, similarities and differences between science and religion, evolution, the origins of the creationist movement, and contemporary moral and ethical issues.
Ellerbrock, Michael J. 40351
Spring 2019
APS / HUM 1704 - Intro to Appalachian Studies
Introduces students to the history of the Appalachian region from European contact to the present. Traces the idea of Appalachia by tracing ways in which Americans have imagined the region over time. Explores humanistic problems of cultural identity, race and ethnicity, place and globalization, and impacts of natural resource extraction.
Satterwhite, Emily M. 10529
Hennen, John C. 10530
Laney, Jordan L. 10531
Edmondson, Taulby H. 10534
Puckett, Anita M. 19926
APS 4034 - Appalachian Lang & Cultures
An empirical examination of how Appalachian speech both reflects and constitutes regional cultures. Emphasis is on applying sociological and anthropological methods and theories to the study of language in use.
Puckett, Anita M. 18968
JUD 3404 - Torah and Tradition
Detailed study of the first five books of the Bible, known as the Torah or Pentateuch. Scholarly approaches will include historical-critical research; comparative mythology; form and canon criticism; gender and literary studies; and the reception of these books in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and beyond.
Case, Megan L. 19834
HUM 1324 HUM - Modern World
The shifts in thought and values during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the global imagination, including issues of commerce, scientific inquiry, industrialization, nationalism, war, labor, gender, class differences, race, and the beginnings of postmodernity. Emphasis on interpretive and analytic skills in terms of reading, discussing, and writing about the interrelationships among the arts, literature, philosophy, history, religion, and science, and their contributions toward shaping the values and aspirations of the age, including global contexts and Asian cultures.
Briggs, Alexandra L. 15394
Plummer, Sarah E. 15395
Staff 18971
HUM 1604 - Intro Hum and Arts
Explores the written, visual, and performing arts of selected periods and cultures, setting them in the context of their times. Study of these periods linked with overarching questions of cultural encounters, interactions, and negotiations. Introduces principles of each art form as well as the means of appreciation. Students taught methods in researching, writing, and presenting on these art forms.
Edmondson, Taulby H. 15396
HUM 2504 - Intro Amer Studies
Methodology and tools of American studies, with a focus on developing analytic skills to assess discourse across varied media. Interdisciplinary investigation of histories, politics, cultures, and beliefs in the Americas, including the impacts of encounter and exchange. Intensive study of a specific topic or period.
Saffle, Michael B. 18972
HUM 3034 - Theories of Popular Culture
Examination of theories for understanding the ways in which popular objects and practices (such as television programs, films, or attending sporting events) represent, maintain, and contest societal norms, including norms regarding gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, and class and place, with an emphasis on the United States.
Laney, Jordan L. 15407
HUM 3204 - Multicultural Communication
Exploration of communication in and among various cultural groups through an examination of communicative practices, registers, discourse, and performance. Emphasis on understanding cultural differences and similarities in the different styles and stances in communication and their meanings to participants.
HUM 5204 - Mat Cult & Pub Hum Methods
Introduction to skills and methods used in the research, writing and publication on material culture and public humanities. Pre: Graduate Standing.
Christensen, Danille 15419
RLCL 1024 - Judaism, Christianity, Islam
Nature of religion and the analysis of it from an academic perspective. Basic tenets of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, including their manifestations in the United States and their involvement in critical issues in a global context Interpretation of key texts from various historical and cultural contexts.
Sorber, Andrew H. 18007
RLCL 1034H - Religion and the Modern World
Modern challenges to traditional religion and responses to these challenges, including: religion as an object of critique; law, sovereignty, and religion; religion, gender, and race; religion, science, and technology; religion and media presentations.
Abeysekara, Ananda 18010
RLCL 1134 - Ancient Mediterranean World
Ancient cultures of the Mediterranean world with a focus on their embodiments in the arts, literature, history, philosophy, and religion. Emphasis on Greek, Hellenistic and Roman cultures, their interrelationships with each other and their historical, cultural, material and intellectual encounters with contemporary Mediterranean cultures as well as their influence on later and modern cultures.
Steer, Christine E. 18011
RLCL 1214 - The Medieval World
Introduction to Europe and the Mediterranean world in the period between antiquity and the European encounter with the Americas. Investigation of the arts, literature, philosophy, and history of the period in the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic traditions and the multiple types of encounters that those communities experienced. Analysis of the impact the medieval world continues to have on the modern West.
RLCL 1904 - Religion and Culture In Asia
Historical and geographical overview of diverse religious/cultural traditions in Asia, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto. Investigation of the categories "religion" and "culture" and their interactions in Asia. Examination of different methodological and interdisciplinary approaches and their integration, with emphasis on critical thinking about the complexities of studying religion and culture in Asia. Asia on a global stage, including Western views of Asia and Asian views of the West.
Abeysekara, Ananda 18014
Schmitthenner, Peter L. 18015
RLCL 2004 - Case Studies in Rel & Culture
Significant case studies in the study of religion and culture with an emphasis on influential and emerging research. Focused engagement with humanities and social sciences research grounded in analysis, comparison, and evaluation of relevant case studies.
Scott, Rachel M. 18016
RLCL 2324 - Islam
The rise of Islam under the Prophet Muhammad in Arabia and its spread across Asia and Africa. The development of Islam in the middle Ages and its resurgence in the 20th century.
Pervaiz, Mohammed N. 18019
RLCL 2424 - New Testament
Introduction to the academic study of the New Testament, including gospels, Pauline materials, theological themes, and sources on the emerging church. A variety of scholarly approaches to the New Testament texts and contexts, including historical-critical, redaction critical, and literary methods. Emphasis on developing skills in critical thinking, reading, and writing about the New Testament and the ancient Mediterranean world as a way of understanding the religion and history of early Christianity.
Patel, Shaily 18020
RLCL 2444 - Greek and Roman Mythology
Surveys ancient Greek and Roman mythology. Provides students with an introduction to selected myths from ancient Greek and Roman literature, including appropriate historical background information. Familiarizes students with how theories of myth have been applied to individual stories and how such mythological tales have been received by authors and artists in subsequent cultures. Explores the interaction and interdependence of mythological tales from different cultures and perspectives. In English.
Steer, Christine E. 18021
RLCL 2464 - Religion and Science
Exploration of the relationships between religion and science in the western tradition. Basic frameworks for relationships between religion and science in historical and cultural context, types of human knowledge and truth, similarities and differences between science and religion, evolution, the origins of the creationist movement, and contemporary moral and ethical issues.
Goodrum, Matthew R. 18023
RLCL 2504 - Intro Amer Studies
Methodology and tools of American Studies, with a focus on developing analytic skills to assess discourse across varied media. Interdisciplinary investigation of histories, politics, cultures, and beliefs in the Americas, including the impacts of encounter and exchange. Intensive study of a specific topic or period.
Saffle, Michael B. 18973
RLCL 2514 - Asian American Experience
Interdisciplinary overview of the diverse Asian American experience, incorporating non-Eurocentric perspectives on the Asian immigrant experience and dialogue between Asian American and non-Asian American students. Examination of different historical tracks of various Asian ethnicities, experience of racism, discrimination, cultural adaptation and conflict, and economic survival and success. Gender, age, religious affiliation, family values and inter- generational differences among Asian Americans. The complexity of minority status and the stereotype of "model minority." Activism, political participation, leadership and the meaning of citizenship among Asian Americans. Representations of Asian Americans in the arts and media.
Samanta, Suchitra 20266
RLCL 3024 - Religion and Literature
Read works from world literature, guided by selected critical readings. Compare/contrast diverse models of "religion" and "literature." Study how modernity has impacted traditions of religion and culture. Interpret literary texts that draw from multiple religions. Analyze religion-literature controversies in a range of social, cultural, political contexts. Synthesize sources of multiple media, formats, and contexts.
Ni, Zhange 18026
RLCL 3034 - Theories of Popular Culture
Examination of theories for understanding the ways in which popular objects and practices (such as television programs, films, or attending sporting events) represent, maintain, and contest societal norms, including norms regarding gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, and class and place, with an emphasis on the United States.
Laney, Jordan L. 18027
RLCL 3204 - Multicultural Communication
Exploration of communication in and among various cultural groups through an examination of communicative practices, registers, discourse, and performance. Emphasis on understanding cultural differences and similarities in the different styles and stances in communication and their meanings to participants.
RLCL 3214 - Religion and Culture in India
Interdisciplinary examination of the genealogy of Indian religions (including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism) through anthropological, literary, historical, and textual source materials. Colonial construction and reform of these religions according to modern, "universal" European ideas of religion; how European notions of the modern nation-state, law, and religious tolerance, and European concepts of self, autonomy, community, (univocal) language, and multiculturalism impacted Indian religions. Pre-modern versus modern notions of tradition and power in Indian religions. Concepts of secularism, gender, race, conversion, caste, and religious-political identity.
Schmitthenner, Peter L. 18031
RLCL 3404 - Torah and Tradition
Detailed study of the first five books of the Bible, known as the Torah or Pentateuch. Scholarly approaches will include historical-critical research; comparative mythology; form and canon criticism; gender and literary studies; and the reception of these books in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and beyond.
Case, Megan L. 19835
RLCL 3424 - Christian Orthodoxy and Heresy
Literary survey focusing on the diversity of Christian beliefs in the first four centuries. Highlights a variety of theological debates and the historical and cultural contexts involved in the eventual production of a Christian orthodoxy, over and against so-called heresy. The history and content of early Christian texts, both canonical and apocryphal. Ancient and modern interpretive frameworks for understanding the variety and diversity of earliest Christian beliefs, including historical-critical frameworks, comparative reading, source criticism, and other literary methods. Emphasis on developing skills in critical thinking and close reading of early Christian texts as a means of understanding the religion(s) and histories of the earliest Christians.
Patel, Shaily 18981
RLCL 3454 - Philosophy of Religion
A consideration of religious belief and its justification with attention to such philosophical issues as the nature and existence of the Judeo-Christian-Muslim God, proofs for the existence of God, the problem of evil, a religious basis for ethics, the nature of faith, and the variety of religious beliefs.
Staff 19913
RLCL 3504 - The Age of The Crusades
The origins and development of religious violence examined from an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspective; the place of that phenomenon in medieval society. Christianity, Islam, Judaism and their interactions in the medieval world.
Gabriele, Matthew R. 18982
RLCL 4984 SS - Theories Religion & Culture
Requires permission of instructor
Senior standing required
Gabriele, Matthew R. 19844
RLCL 5134 - Islamic Political Thought
The course will review the most significant elements on Islamic political thought throughout Islamic history; the teaching of the Qur'an, the formation of political thought in the medieval period, and the main trends of political thought in the modern world, including in the West. It will examine the connections between Islamic political thought in the medieval and modern periods. Pre: Graduate standing.
RLCL 5204 - Mat Cult & Pub Hum Methods
Introduction to skills and methods used in the research, writing and publication on material culture and public humanities. Pre: Graduate standing.
Christensen, Danille 18040
