Religious Studies

This course applies cultural anthropology to everyday life and vocational living, with special attention to the application of an anthropological perspective. Students learn to examine various frameworks that make up “culture,” including social status, language, power, economics, gender, and religion.

This is a survey of the history of Christianity from its Jewish and Greco- Roman contexts in the first century to its global present, examining the development of the church’s theology, organization, spirituality, and social impact. The modern era emphasizes Stone-Campbell Movement origins and identity.

This course provides an introduction to the world’s major living religions through the study of primary and secondary sources. Students learn about the history and practices of these religious traditions through a variety of media. Each religion is allowed to speak for itself, but the course employs a comparative approach. Key aspects of Christian faith and practice are examined during the entire process.

Students consider a variety of moral dilemmas that prevail in societies and organizations. They gain a deep understanding of the complexity of such moral dilemmas by establishing and applying ethical principles derived from philosophical and theological perspectives on how humans can and should interact ethically and morally.

This course critically examines and reflects on beliefs, assumptions, and arguments central to the human religious experience. Topics include the relation between theology and philosophy, the nature of religion, the existence of God, the relation between God and the world, the problem of evil, and the nature of religious language and experience. Students engage in critical dialogue about religion in order to develop personal commitment and intellectual honesty in a religiously pluralistic world.

Christian apologetics is the study of how believers present a rational defense for the Christian faith. As such, the course considers various objections to belief and examines the historic responses to such doubt. The course considers the long-term and lively interaction between theology and philosophy, logic, history, religious pluralism, and science.

Different cultures read the biblical text with different eyes. They notice what other cultures do not. They apply the text differently based on their own cultural location. This course enables students to recognize their own cultural lenses and learn to read through the lenses of others in order to come closer to an intercultural “crowdsourced” reading.

Choose five of the following courses:

People & Cultures of Modern Middle East
This course examines the ethnic groups and cultures of the modern Middle East and North Africa (MENA). While it focuses on the map as it appears today, the course also surveys essential historical background. By necessity, the study considers the relationship between this region’s modern boundaries and its traditional ethnic identities. In this process, the course highlights the MENA’s rich cultures and diverse people groups.

19th Century Russian Writers
This course examines four nineteenth century Russian novelists: Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov. Instruction covers novel and short story genres within the Realism tradition. The course gives special emphasis to the spiritual experiences and psychological observations as presented by these authors.

20th Century British Writers: The Inklings
This course examines the lives and creative writing careers of three 20th century British novelists: J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. Instruction covers the Inklings’ use of the fantasy genre and emphasizes the Christian themes developed in these writers’ works. Texts include selections for young adults and adolescents.

Islam: History, Beliefs, and Practices
This course provides a survey of Islam’s history and the beliefs and practices of Muslims. We will consider the development of Islam’s doctrines and focus on the modern period. Class participants will use a variety of resources to acquire historical perspective and theological understanding – including readings, films, websites, and lectures. Students should learn how to analyze and discuss the topics we consider in a critical, honest, and fair manner.

Animism
This course enables students to develop a deeper understanding of folk religions and animism. Special attention is given to folk religions and animistic beliefs found in the world today, cultural differences, significant barriers to the gospel, and channels for better understanding.

Cults, Sects, and New Religions
This course provides a survey of a variety of relatively new religions that developed in the United States. Many of these religious systems, both large and small, derive from Christianity, while some find their origins in other world religions or combine elements of two or more religions. Many of these groups fall into the broad category described as quasi-religious and offer a worldview with a philosophical and ethical foundation.

History & Theology of Judaism
In this course, students consider the historical and theological
development of one of the world’s great living religions, which is also important for the background of Christianity and Islam. Through readings, films, and lectures, the course examines major events and persons of Judaism from ancient, medieval, and modern history. This study focuses on the sacred literature that provides the foundation for Jewish faith and practice.

History of the Bible: Text, Canon, & Versions
This course provides a survey of the Bible’s history – i.e., the composition and transmission of the text, formation of the canon, and production of the versions. We will identify the significant people and events in this story, along with their historical contexts. Course activities including readings, films, lectures, projects, and a final essay.

C.S. Lewis: Life and Nonfiction Apologetics
A critical study of the life and work of Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis (1898–1963), a major figure in the history of Christian apologetics. In this course, we will
examine Lewis’ biography – including his spiritual pilgrimage – and his understanding of the Christian faith. We will investigate these topics through assigned readings, films, and discussion sessions.

Religious Studies Internship
An internship for the Religious Studies Major requires students to experience long-term contact with a different religion or worldview from the Western or non-Western world. This can take place in the United States or in an international setting (e.g., campus ministry, foreign mission). Students initiate an internship through the School of Arts & Humanities and other key contacts. Each internship includes a field experience, along with preparatory reading and a follow-up writing assignment.

Topics in Theology
This course covers individual topics, movements, and figures in the history of Christian theological reflection: among them, the study of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, Salvation, and the nature of Scripture.

Christian Thought and Film
This course offers instruction in discerning theological elements inherent in modern film. Films selected for study feature examples of either Christian theology or theologies in competition with Christianity. Students receive tools for making moral decisions about movie-going and for evaluating a film’s content.

History of Christian Worship
This course surveys the development of Christian worship from the close of the New Testament era to the present day. Attention is given to the worship practices of the Stone-
Campbell Movement. The course aids the student to develop his or her own practical approach to worship. This course is taught by and for the Worship Ministry Program of the School of Communication and Creative Arts.