An examination of religions historically and today as global phenomena: communities and traditions with changing and interacting boundaries. Focuses on religion in plural societies, diasporas, and transnational religions; on the Ancient Near East, Africa, China, Japan, and the Americas; and on worldwide Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Offered spring semester every even-numbered year.

Examines religion and globalization covering an introduction to the history of and the discourse on globalization and contemporary theorists and issues emerging in religion from globalization. Readings such as Giorgio Agamben, Oserhammel and Petersson, and Eboo Patel.

An examination of religion and culture in North, Central, Caribbean, and South America, focusing on the following six themes: religion and colonization; religion and cultural contact and interactions; religion and conflict; religion and popular culture; religion, science, and technology; and religion and ecology.

Examination of fundamental beliefs and practices of African traditional religion in traditional and contemporary settings depicting transitional dynamics, religious significance, and relevance in global religious traditions.

Not offered on a regular basis.

Diasporic movement, sustainability, modifications, syncretic tendencies of African Derived Religions in the Americas, especially Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, and North America.

Examination of African doctrines, death, muses of death, categories of death, rites, final judgment, reincarnation, and the ancestral cult.

Offered every year.

Anthropological approaches to the world's major religions as they relate to complex societies.

Not offered on a regular basis.

 

Individual reading and study in Native American Studies under the direction of a project director.

Directed study. Will support new certificate in Native American Studies.

Special topics in Native American Studies.

Topics and problems in religion with emphasis upon extensive reading in primary sources and individual and/or group research projects. Selection of topics will vary with instructor and interest of students.

9 hours lab per week. Directed study. Not offered on a regular basis.