Topics in Comparative Religion

Topics in Comparative Religion is a Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies course taught by Ryan Joo and Bob Meagher.

This course satisfies Division I requirements.

Course Description
This course is designed as an introduction to the comparative study of multiple Eastern and Western religious traditions. As no previous study of religion is assumed here, our first task will be to explore certain seminal theories of religion, after which we will turn to a series of focused topics. We will examine each of these from a range of religious traditions. These topics will include: sacred space, pilgrimage, monasticism, the cult of saints or intercessors and the veneration of their relics and icons, and lastly the role of the body and the practice of sacrifice. Our discussions of these topics will draw from the traditions of Buddhism, Daoism, Shintoism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and the pre-Christian religions of the Eastern Mediterranean. As a complement to the course readings and discussions, students will be expected to attend the screenings of related films on occasional Tuesdays or Thursdays immediately following the class period.

Learning Goals

 * Multi-Cultural
 * Project-based
 * Reading
 * Writing