is an introduction to the beliefs and practices of the world's religions.

examines the relationship between religion(s) and violence from Religious Studies perspectives. Students learn the principles of scholarly analysis appropriate to the study of religious phenomena, the elements of academic assessment, and the mechanics of academic writing. Emphasis is placed on critical reading and writing, analyzing texts, evaluating sources, framing questions, organizing paragraphs, developing effective arguments, and refining presentation of written work. All sections of this course follow Critical Reading and Writing Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/crw.

will introduce students to the basics of Chinese vocabulary, characters, and grammar. Mandarin Chinese, the official dialect of China, Taiwan, and Singapore, will be taught. This course is not intended for native speakers. All sections of this course follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

is a continuation of RELS 1040. At the end of this course students should know over a hundred Chinese characters, which should enable them to read basic texts and carry on a simple conversation. This course is not intended for native speakers. All sections of this course follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

is designed to introduce students to the elements of Biblical Hebrew in order to prepare them for reading the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in the original. The emphasis will be upon learning the basic grammar and syntax of Biblical Hebrew. All sections of this course follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

is a continuation of RELS 1050. The emphasis will be upon the reading of selected Hebrew texts. All sections of this course follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

is an introduction to the Sanskrit language, to the (Devanagari) alphabet, basic grammar and foundational vocabulary with a focus on developing skills needed to read and translate Sanskrit texts. All sections of this course follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

is a study of the Christian tradition, its development and variety. The course will include an examination of the beliefs and practices of both Eastern and Western Christianity and a study of the main differences among the major Western denominations.

examines how Jesus has been dramatized in film, investigating the reception of select Jesus films and cinematic Christ figures in academic, religious, and popular cultures, and reflecting on the sources and intentions informing the filmmaker's work.

is an introduction to the historical background, literary structure, and content of the Old Testament. Emphasis will be placed on the authorship and dating of the various texts that comprise the Old Testament, as well as on major themes, figures, and events.

is an introduction to the history and literary structure of the documents comprising the New Testament. Emphasis will be placed on the major themes found in these documents and on the distinctiveness of approach of the individual writers.

explores the philosophical aspects of religious belief, religious language, and theology.

takes a social-constructivist approach in examining how narrative, ritual, and architecture are deployed in making a place sacred. The focus is on the city of Jerusalem, its place in the history and symbolism of three religious traditions (Judaism. Christianity and Islam), and the potential tensions and conflicts involved in processes of creating sacred geographies.

examines and traces the historical developments of a number of philosophical themes, questions, and ideas throughout medieval philosophy by reading, analyzing, and discussing selected primary texts from philosophers and theologians from the 4th to 14th centuries. Authors may include Augustine, Proclus, Boethius, Al-Farabi Ibn Sina, Anselm, Ibn Rushd, Maimonides, Aquinas, Bonaventure, Scotus, and Ockham, among others.

is an introduction to central beliefs and practices of the Jewish faith, from its beginnings to the modern era.

examines the tradition in its historical and contemporary manifestations; Muhammad, the Qur'an, Islamic sects, relations with Judaism and Christianity; trends and developments in contemporary Islamic thought and practice.

is a contextual study of religious institutions and beliefs, calendrical feasts and solemnities, religious roles and hierarchies, ritual innovation and revitalization.

examines the history of Buddhist traditions in Asia, with consideration of the major developments in Buddhist philosophy, institutions, and practices. These developments may include historical and modern forms of mindfulness, the rise of Buddhist nationalist movements, and the history of Engaged Buddhism.

examines the history of Hindu religious traditions, their major religious texts, institutions, and practices, and their role in social, political, and cultural movements in India and in Hindu diaspora communities.

examines philosophical and religious responses to social and political crises in ancient China. Finding ways to answer the crises of prolonged warfare, high unemployment, and a vast divide between rich and poor gave rise to the schools of Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism, and others. This introductory course examines the various schools' answers to these crises and how they connect to today.

is an examination of religion in modern China and the Chinese diaspora in Taiwan, Singapore, and North America. Special attention will be paid to religious beliefs, practices, and institutions and the way in which modern attitudes have been framed by the past.

- inactive course.

is a continuation of Sanskrit Language Study I, while progressing to advanced grammatical forms and to reading passages from classical Sanskrit texts. On successful completion of this course, students will have the ability to consult Sanskrit texts for research purposes as well as to translate with support. All sections of this course follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

is an introduction to religious ethics through the study of issues in biomedicine, human sexuality, and social justice. Possible topics for discussion include euthanasia, abortion, poverty, and human rights.

examines attitudes toward, and treatment and construction of gender and sexualities in Western religions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and New Religious Movements. Contemporary evaluations of these traditions from gender studies perspectives will be considered.

- inactive course.

is an historical examination of the dynamic interaction of religion and science in modern Western culture. In addition to classic case studies such as the Galileo affair, Darwin’s evolutionary theory, and the 1925 Scopes ‘Monkey Trial’, the course asks whether science and religion are inherently at ‘war’ with each other or whether they have points of contact and perhaps even integration.

explores the development, beliefs, and practices of a variety of contemporary religious movements, including Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry, the Afro-Caribbean religion of Vodou, New Age, and UFO spiritual traditions.

analyzes the portrayal and treatment of religion in popular culture and the ways in which religious and mythic themes are communicated through a variety of media forms including television shows, films, music, mass-market fiction, and material culture.

- inactive course.

provide students with intermediate training in languages necessary for studying ancient religious texts. The languages presently offered through the Department are Mandarin Chinese, Biblical Hebrew, and Sanskrit. All sections of these courses follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

is an examination of the development and role of the manuscript book during the Middle Ages. Topics covered will include book production and dissemination; authors, scribes and audiences; and various kinds of books (e.g. glossed Bibles, anthologies, books of hours, etc.) and their uses.

is a study of the role of religion in the private and public life of the Greek world. Topics include the Greek gods, religious rituals, sacred sites and temples, regional and temporal variations in religious practices, and the role of religion in society. The course may also compare ancient Greek religious practices and modern conceptions of religion.

is a study of the role of religion in the private and public life of the Roman world. Topics include the Roman divinities, sacred sites and temples, the role of religion in politics and society, the interaction with and assimilation of foreign religious practices, and the rise of Christianity. Students may also compare Roman religious practices with modern conceptions of religion.

introduces students to one of the founding texts of Western culture, the book of Genesis. Special attention will be paid to the role of myth, human origins, values, and political institutions.

is a critical evaluation of anthropological research on religion, centering on seminal thinkers and major theoretical traditions. Special attention is given to the study of belief systems, and to relationships between belief and ritual.

is a seminar-based course which offers socio-political and philosophical analyses of the impacts of religion in specific political contexts taking a variety of theoretical approaches. The geographical and historical foci of the course will vary by instructor.

is a study of the prophets through the relevant books of the Old Testament. Problems of text and interpretation will be discussed in relation to selected passages, but the general approach will be to bring out the creative genius and radical implications of the prophetic movement as a whole.

is a study of the historical Jesus. Beginning with an assessment of the relevant source material, this course explores what can be known about the life of Jesus of Nazareth in its historical and cultural contexts.

is a study of the writings of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, and his contribution to Christianity in the cultural and historical milieu in which he lived and was active.

is a study of the relationship between Christianity and the Roman Empire from the first to the fourth century.

is an exploration of the religious thought and practices of Israel and Judah in their cultural and historical contexts in the Old Testament period, from their beginnings to the Babylonian Exile of the sixth century B.C.E.

will explore the developments in Jewish thought, institutions, beliefs, and practices from the Babylonian Exile of the sixth century B.C.E. to the time of Jesus, King Herod and the Roman Empire of the first century C.E.

examines contemporary legal debates on the place and contours of ‘religion’ in Canada. Through consideration of a number of post-Charter Supreme Court of Canada decisions, as well as sociological research on different religious communities, we delve into the changing meanings of religious diversity in Canada.

examines Buddhist psychology in Tibetan and Zen Buddhism and compares that to modern Western understandings.

is a study of one of the most influential Epics of Hinduism, the story of Rama, the perfect king of a golden age. The course examines various versions of the narrative, the social and religious values expressed through the story, and the Epic’s place in Indian politics, in dramatic performances, and in visual arts.

examines myth, iconography and ritual of Hindu gods and goddesses from the ancient to the contemporary period. The course explores fundamental assumptions of Hindu theistic traditions in popular practice and in the religious institutions of bhakti and tantra.

is a course in the critical reading of the two most important texts in Daoism, the Laozi and the Zhuangzi.

- inactive course.

examines modern, left-leaning (Marxist, anarchist, socialist) understandings, adaptations, and critiques of Jewish and Christian thought. The course considers religion not simply as an object of political analysis and critique, but as a contributing factor to the emergence in Europe of an influential body of post-Enlightenment emancipatory thought and political theology, as found in currents of Western Marxism.

introduces students to the thought of René Girard. Girard engages with anthropology, literature, the biblical tradition, and Christian thought in developing a conflict theory of social origins in sacrificial rites, examining the close relationship between violence and the sacred. The course considers applications of Girard’s work to contemporary cultural dynamics, war, international affairs, and democratic processes.

is a study of the development of Christianity in the West from the eleventh century to the eve of the Reformation, through an examination of its principal thinkers and the most significant societal forces and events: the crusades, the universities, monasticism, religious dissent, and mysticism.

develops the students’ knowledge of myth and material culture by examining specific religious sites in the Greek and Roman world as foci of ritual practice. Students learn to integrate knowledge of physical remains with literary and ritual evidence in order to obtain a more integrated understanding of religious life in ancient Greece and Rome.

moves beyond learning the fundamentals of Sanskrit grammar and into reading and translating prose and metric texts, with supports from print and online resources.

is an examination of the religious ethics of health care in the light of foundational concepts of bioethics. Topics to be discussed will include the relation of religion and medicine, as well as specific issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and genetic engineering.

examines religious perspectives on social justice issues, which may include environmental ethics, ecofeminism, gender and racial equity, pacifism, civil disobedience, economic justice, and post-colonial reconciliation.

is a study of religious approaches to the problem of evil. Attention will be paid to both traditional and contemporary efforts among the world's religions to address the problem.

is presented in three parts. Firstly, there will be a grounding theoretically in Islam, Orientalism, feminism and contemporary political implications related to the study of Muslim women. Secondly, there will be a consideration of topics which have served as explanations for the "difference" of Muslim women in various contexts, both in contemporary Muslim majority and minority political situations. Lastly, the course concludes by considering a variety of contemporary ethnographic representations of Muslim women in Egypt, Palestine, France, Turkey, Cyprus and Malaysia.

explores the historical roots and contemporary manifestations of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim discrimination globally. Broadly, we ask: what accounts for the “irrational” fear of Islam and the ascendance of “the Muslim” as the defining racial and religious “other” of our time?

is a study of modern attempts to analyze, interpret, and reassess the place and significance of religion in human life. Attention will be given to thinkers such as Nietzsche, Marx, Freud, and Durkheim.

is an in-depth examination of the religion of Spiritualism in historic and contemporary contexts. Students will study the origins, beliefs, practices, and reformist tendencies of Spiritualism from the 19^th century to the present day. In particular, the suffragist and abolitionist emphasis of 19^th-century Spiritualism and the influential role of Black Spiritualists in the development of the modern-day movement will be explored.

provides an in-depth examination of religious themes and issues arising from and within the philosophies of Walt Disney, Disney animated films, and other Disney entertainment products. Theoretical models drawn from the field of Religion and Popular Culture will provide the lens through which the religious dimensions of Disney films will be explored.

is an examination of the role of art in the expression of religious ideas, together with a study of specific religious themes and concerns in one or more of the following: literature, film, music, painting, sculpture, and dance.

is an introduction to the scholarly study of ritual, focusing on lifecycle transitions: birth and initiation rites, weddings, and funerals. In addition to studying practices from a range of religious traditions, consideration is given to contemporary images, perceptions, and stories of passage, as well as to classical rites of passage theory.

explores the idea that religion, the sacred, and/or spirituality can manifest outside the confines of conventionally defined religious spaces. In particular, this course draws upon a variety of theoretical models to examine the idea that religion is found within popular culture, and within popular culture fan communities.

examines the human connection to the natural world as expressed in traditional religions, indigenous worldviews and contemporary approaches to environmental crises.

is an advanced seminar course that examines religious texts from a variety of religious traditions. Study may involve an exploration of sacred texts, traditions, and their interpreters. Content will vary with instructor.

is an advanced seminar course that examines religious themes and issues as they affect culture. Study may involve the exploration of institutions, rituals, built environments, and spaces. Content will vary with instructor.

are courses which will be offered at the discretion of the Department on specialized topics in religious traditions, texts, and histories.

examines the relationships between religion and politics in modernity. Topics may include: secularism and secularization theory; civil religion; religion as a variable in politics, party formation and voting patterns; the role of religion in colonization/decolonization and reconciliation; religion in public spheres; political theologies; religious factors informing extremism, social polarization, and authoritarianism; religious freedoms, tolerance, accommodation, and the law; war and terrorism; religion in foreign policy and international relations theory.

examines how established global religions and new forms of spirituality manifest themselves and are religion as it is "lived" on a daily basis in a variety of local contexts worldwide. It focuses primarily on forms of belief and spirituality that are informally expressed. Drawing upon various cultural contexts, the course addresses such notions as space and time; metaphysical powers; religious material culture, music, and verbal art; and the role and power of the holy person. All sections of this course follow International Studies guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/IS.

develops reading and translation abilities in Sanskrit Epics, Puranas, Shastras, Tantras, and/or literary genres with supports from print and online resources.

are courses which will be offered at the discretion of the Department on specialized topics in religions and modern cultures.

will introduce students to a variety of theoretical concepts, and provide students with the opportunity to apply these concepts in the field at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida or other Disney theme park. Concepts to be explored include civil religion, hyper-real religion, and religious consumerism; Disney's constructed pasts, futures and the global village will also be explored.

prepares students to write a comprehensive examination at the end of the term, on a chosen area of specialization in Religious Studies. To complete the Honours Program in Religious Studies, students must successfully complete either the Honours Essay (RELS 4999) or the Comprehensive Examination.

develops independent research and writing skills through regular meetings with a supervisor, the preparation of an approved research proposal, and the completion of the final Honours essay by the end of the semester. Prior to enrolling, ideally a semester in advance, students must contact the Head of the Department to identify a potential supervisor. To complete the Honours Program in Religious Studies, students must successfully complete either the Honours Essay or the Comprehensive Examination (RELS 4998).