The historical origins, central teachings, and devotional practices of the major religious traditions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—are considered in relation to common themes of human experience: the holy or sacred, evil and suffering, love and compassion, wisdom and justice, death and deliverance. The roles and meanings of religious symbols are explored through lectures, discussion, film, and the writing of short critical essays. (4 credits)
RELI E-1016 Angels: Messengers of God
Fall term (13738)
Kimberley Christine Patton, PhD, Professor of the Comparative and Historical Study of Religion, Harvard Divinity School.
The concept of divine intermediaries is widespread. The "messenger" offers a spectacular focus for the religious imagination. This course explores the history, symbolism, and theological importance of angels and the development of angelology in three related monotheistic religious traditions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. (4 credits)
RELI E-1047/W Religion, the Arts, and Social Change
Spring term (23531)
Diane L. Moore, PhD, Senior Lecturer on Religious Studies and Education, Harvard Divinity School.
Through historical and contemporary case studies, this course examines the intersection of religion and politics through the lens of the arts. What do particular artistic expressions reveal about religious influences and worldviews within specific social and historical contexts? How do political assumptions about religion and culture influence artistic expression? Literature, poetry, visual art, music, theater, and dance from around the world are explored. Case studies may include the Christian Passion, the veil, Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Nazi Germany, the cold war, apartheid in South Africa, and the Afro-Brazilian experience. Cross-global cases may also be explored through the lenses of immigration, gay and lesbian rights, global warming, and gender equality. (4 credits)
RELI E-1050 Apocalypse Now: How the World Ends (or Doesn't) in World Religions
Spring term (23642)
Davíd Carrasco, PhD, Neil L. Rudenstine Professor for the Study of Latin America, Harvard University.
This course speaks to the rumors, fears, and rituals of preparation for the end of the world in 2012 through a comparative study of millennial dreams and prophecies found in various religious and cultural movements including Maya, Christian, Buddhist, revolutionary, and cargo cult traditions. (4 credits)
RELI E-1070 Children's Literature and Religion
Spring term (23641)
Stephanie A. Paulsell, PhD, Amory Houghton Professor of the Practice of Ministry Studies, Harvard Divinity School.
This course explores the religious dimension of children's literature through close reading of critical literature on children's literature, religious accounts of childhood, and a range of texts written for children and young adults. (4 credits)
RELI E-1420 History of Ancient Christianity
Fall term (13730)
Helmut Koester, DrTheol, John H. Morison Research Professor of Divinity and Winn Research Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Harvard Divinity School.
This course examines Christian history from the beginnings to the end of the fourth century in its political and cultural context. We discuss Jesus, the diversity of developments, the process of institutionalization, Montanism and Gnosticism, the development of doctrine, persecutions, and the controversies and councils of the fourth century. (4 credits)
RELI E-1500 Growing Up In America: Religion, Identity, and Race in the Lives of Teens
Fall term (13762)
Cheryl A. Giles, PsyD, Francis Greenwood Peabody Professor of the Practice of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Harvard Divinity School.
This course examines the necessary developmental tasks of adolescents and the obstacles to healthy emotional, psychological, and spiritual growth. The role of religion, family support, and school as protective factors in fostering healthy adolescence is explored. (4 credits)
RELI E-1505/W Religion, Education, and Democracy
Fall term (13667)
Diane L. Moore, PhD, Senior Lecturer on Religious Studies and Education, Harvard Divinity School.
The focus of this course is to develop an understanding of the complex intersection between religion, secularism, democracy, and public education in multicultural America. Our exploration includes a historical review of the relationship between religion and public education in the US with special attention to pivotal Supreme Court decisions that have shaped public policy discourses in these areas over the past half century; a consideration of the social and moral consequences that stem from privileging secularism as the normative ideology of the public sphere; and a historical and contemporary analysis of differing views regarding the nature and purpose of public education and the role of religion in those debates. Final projects focus on the legal, political, or curricular dimensions of the course. (4 credits)
RELI E-1550 Understanding Islam and Contemporary Muslim Societies
Fall term (13807)
Ali S. Asani, PhD, Professor of Indo-Muslim and Islamic Religion and Cultures, Harvard University.
Diane L. Moore, PhD, Senior Lecturer on Religious Studies and Education, Harvard Divinity School.
Tuesdays beginning Aug. 30, 7:35-9:35 pm. Required sections to be arranged.
This course is an introductory survey of the fundamental concepts of Islam and the devotional practices of Muslims around the world, focusing on the diversity of Muslim religious worldviews and the manner in which they have been shaped by the political, social, and cultural contexts in which Muslims live, particularly in the modern period. (4 credits)
RELI E-1555 Introduction to Islamic Mysticism: The Sufi Tradition
Spring term (23666)
Ali S. Asani, PhD, Professor of Indo-Muslim and Islamic Religion and Cultures, Harvard University.
This course is an introductory survey of the Sufi tradition within Islam, focusing on its fundamental concepts, ritual practices, institutions, and its impact on literary and sociopolitical life in different Muslim societies. Prerequisite: an introductory course in Islam is helpful. (4 credits)
What do meditation, human rights, peace and environmental activism, chanting, prison ministries, gender politics, and the Four Noble Truths have in common? Why does the Dalai Lama work with brain researchers? Why are Thich Nhat Hanh and Aung San Suu Kyi such powerful voices in the twenty-first century? This course explores the evolution of Buddhist social teachings and the rise of engaged Buddhism in contemporary Zen, Tibetan, Pure Land, Nichiren, and Vipassana movements. No previous study of Buddhism is necessary. (4 credits)
RELI E-2000 Methods in Religious Studies and Education: Integrating the Study of Religion into Curricula
Spring term (23534)
*** RELI E-2000 Spring term (23534) has been CANCELED. ***
Students learn how to integrate the study of religion from a nonsectarian perspective throughout the curriculum by applying a cultural studies methodology that is interdisciplinary and appropriate for all ages. Participants learn the foundations of a cultural studies approach and have the opportunity to construct lesson plans and unit plans suitable for their educational settings. Prerequisite: RELI E-1505/W, or the equivalent. (4 credits)