Quad Cities Campus

Minor in Religious Studies (Bachelor of Arts): 18 s.h.

  1. REL 110, 111: 6 s.h.
  2. Complete any four Religious Studies courses (3 of which must be at the 300 or 400 level): 12 s.h.

Course Descriptions

RELIGIOUS STUDIES (REL)
(Introductory Courses—Any introductory course may be taken as a first course in Religious Studies.)

101 Exploring Religion. (3) (General Education/ Humanities) An introduction to the diversity of religious and cultural expressions through the study of religious experience, symbol, ritual, myth, belief, ethics, and community. IAI: H5 900.

110 Introduction to Eastern Religions. (3) (General Education/Humanities or Multicultural Studies) (Global Issues) A comparative introduction to the religions of Asia—Hinduism and Buddhism—with attention to historical development, scriptures, beliefs, practices, and diverse cultural expressions.

111 Introduction to Western Religions. (3) (General Education/Humanities or Multicultural Studies) (Global Issues) A comparative introduction to the “religions of Abraham”—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—with attention to historical development, scriptures, beliefs, practices, and diverse cultural expressions.

207 The Bible. (3) (General Education/Humanities) An examination of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and New Testament scriptures which shaped the intellectual and cultural history of Western civilization with emphasis on cultural, social, and historical factors leading to the birth of Judaism and Christianity. IAI: H5 901.

(World Religions)

203 The Christians. (3) (General Education/ Humanities) An examination of scriptures, worship, symbols, and histories of the Christians with attention to major Christian traditions as well as the traditions of African Americans, women, and non-Western peoples.

350 Hinduism. (3) (Global Issues) A study of the Hindu religious tradition covering its historical development, basic beliefs, practices, social structure, and philosophical world view, emphasizing the relation between this religion and society in both India and America. Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course or consent of instructor.

355 Buddhism. (3) (Global Issues) A study of the Buddhist religious tradition covering its historical development, basic beliefs, and practices, emphasizing the relation between this religion and society in the East and in America. Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course or consent of instructor.

365 Islam. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) (Global Issues) A study of the Islamic religious tradition covering its historical development, basic beliefs, and practices, emphasizing the relation between this religion and society in the Near East and in America. Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course or consent of instructor.

370 Judaism. (3) An examination of the religion and history of the Jewish people including the relations of Judaism to Christianity and Islam and the causes of anti-Semitism. Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course or consent of instructor.

(Religion and Culture)

301 Religion in America. (3) An examination of the diversity of religion and religions in the United States with attention to the variety of religious traditions and expressions and to the histories and themes that have shaped the distinctive tapestry of American religious life. Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course or consent of instructor.

303 (Cross-listed with WS 303) Women in Religion. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) A cross-cultural, comparative, interdisciplinary investigation of the presence of women in shaping the religious cultures of the world. Not open to students with credit in WS 303. Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course or consent of instructor.

454 Contemporary Spiritual Movements. (3) An exploration of contemporary spiritual movements with special emphasis on the relationship between cultural change and the emergence of new religious movements. Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course or consent of instructor.

456 Religion and War. (3) (Global Issues) An examination of religious perspectives on the legitimacy of war, the conduct of war, and participation in or support for the military. Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course or consent of instructor.

457 Ritual and Performance in Religion. (3) An examination of ritual and performance in world religions including theoretical approaches to the study of ritual and performance and an investigation into the function of religious rituals and performances in the lives of practitioners. Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course or consent of instructor.

464 (Cross-listed with SOC 464) Sociology of Religion. (3) (Global Issues) An analysis of religious groups and institutions, a comparison of religion in sacred and secular societies, and the effect of religion on behavior and social institutions. Not open to students with credit in SOC 464. Prerequisites: SOC 100 and one additional Sociology course, or consent of instructor.

492 (Cross-listed with ENG 492) Religion, Literature, and Film. (3) (Global Issues) Study of multicultural literary and cinematic texts engaging a wide range of religious traditions. Not open to students with credit for ENG 492. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies or Philosophy course, or consent of instructor.

494 (Cross-listed with AAS 494) Religion in African American Culture. (3) This course acquaints students with religiosity and spirituality among African Americans and provides understanding of a world view, via concepts of nature, God, and human interaction, that reflects African cultural retentions in the U.S. Not open to students with credit for AAS 494. Prerequisites: AAS 100 and junior standing, or one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course, or permission of instructor.

(Religious Thought)

300 Religious Ethics. (3) This course will discuss the ways in which religions develop and sustain ethical traditions, addressing both theoretical and practical issues—for example, marriage, sexuality, war, political life, and economics—in one or more religions. Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course or consent of instructor.

380 Jesus. (3) A study of Jesus as pictured in the Gospels, history, and culture. Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course or consent of instructor.

405 Philosophy of Religion. (3) A critical examination of the philosophical issues arising from religious beliefs, utilizing historical and contemporary writings. Topics may include the existence of God, evil, faith, religious pluralism, and the relation between religious beliefs and ethics. Not open to students with credit in PHIL 405. Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Philosophy course or consent of instructor.

451 Contemporary Theology. (3) An examination of selected contemporary Christian theological themes and thinkers, as well as some recent Jewish and/or Muslim perspectives. Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course or consent of instructor.

452 Great Jewish and Christian Thinkers. (3) An introduction to several Jewish or Christian thinkers, including theologians or mystics who have shaped western religious imagination and culture. Such figures might include Paul, Augustine, Aquinas, Maimonides, Luther, Theresa of Avila, Martin Buber, or Simone Weil (among others). Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course or consent of instructor.

455 Personal Transformation. (3) A comparative study of secular and religious systems which aim at overcoming the obstacles to human fulfillment. Attention will be given to methods of therapy, the role of the spiritual master, and the vision of the ideal personality. Prerequisite: one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies course or consent of instructor.

458 Comparative Asian Religious Thought. (3) An examination of key issues related to the philosophy of Asian religions and their conceptual thinkers. Prerequisite: REL 110 or consent of instructor.