RELIGIOUS STUDIES

103. Catholicism: An Historical Introduction. Burns (11:10- 12:00 MWF) The development of Catholic piety, prayer and asceticism, of consecrated life, of ritual and liturgical practice in community. Institutions peculiar to Catholic Christianity, such as the papacy, the episcopate, territorial parishes, monasticism, and religious orders will be considered. Examines central doctrines, such as the Triune God, Christ as Savior, the interpretation of the Bible, and the sacraments.

109. Themes in New Testament . Patte (1:10-2:00 MW; F Sections) This introductory course is a study of New Testament texts--with special attention to the Gospel of John, the Sermon on the Mount, the Cross and Resurrection according to Mark, Matthew, and Luke, and Romans–focused on important themes including "discipleship," "significance of Jesus' death and resurrection," "evil, sin, and salvation." In the process students will learn a) to understand how believers interpret New Testament texts as Scripture in their faith- interpretation (with sample interpretations from contemporary main line Protestant and Catholic, African- American, and "third-world" churches and from feminist circles); b) to appreciate the role of religious, cultural, and social contexts in interpretation; c) to appreciate the contributions of scholarly studies of these texts, as they are set in their historical context by scholars.

"Reading the Bible Is Not a Spectator Sport!" Thus, the class will proceed in three steps which require the students' direct involvement. 1) Students will be asked to formulate in brief reports what is in their view "the Teaching for Believers Today" of each text; 2) then, we will proceed to a comparison of the Themes and Textual Evidence emphasized in the students' interpretation with those emphasized by other interpretations of each text; 3) and to a discussion of the relative value of each interpretation, seeking to spell out as clearly as possible the reasons for choosing an interpretation rather than an other. The requirements for the course include active participation in class discussions, a series of short reports/papers and frequent quizzes (but no comprehensive exams and no long term paper).

110W. Introduction to Southern Religion and Culture. Baldwin (9:35-10:50 TR) Introduction to Southern Religion and Culture. An exploration of the histories of evangelical and non- evangelical expressions in southern religious culture from the colonial period to the present. The primary focus will be on the central evangelical thrust of southern culture, with some attention to Catholicism, Judaism, and other religious modes which have been considered outside the mainstream of that culture.

114. Introduction to African-American Religious Thought. Anderson (11:10-12:15 TR) The focus of this course is on how African American religious thinkers critically understand religion. Themes to be studied from a variety of perspectives by studying works by major contemporary African American scholars: the idea of God, the problem of evil an suffering, the problem of divine revelation and religious knowledge, and the contributions of religion to problems of human identity and difference.

120. Religion, Sexuality, and Power. Gay (2:10-3:00 MWF) An examination of psychological, social scientific, and literary theories of how religious institutions control and channel human sexuality. Works by contemporary psychologists, like E. H. Erikson, L. Kohlberg, and others are used to examine how and why sexuality occupies a central role in religious training and religious institutions. Extensive use of films to illustrate developmental stages. No prerequisites.

133. Asia on Film. Arai (11:00-12:15 TR) Cinematic perspectives of Asian religion and culture. Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Shinto, and Confucian traditions in India, Tibet, Vietnam, China, Japan, and U.S. Politics and significance of representation and interpretation.

150. Medicine, Healing and Spirituality. Arai (1:10-2:00 TR) Cross-cultural inquiry into the perspectives of modern western scientific medicine and Asian healing and spiritual practices. Analysis of cultural and religious influences on the concepts of illness and health and the relationship of body and mind. Develop knowledge and skills through directed field research project.

205. Black Church in America. Baldwin (2:35-3:50 TR) An intermediate level course which explores the historical development of the black church in America, taking into account its African antecedents, institutional expressions, leadership, theology, and cultural milieu. Special attention will be devoted to the origins of separate and independent black churches in thee late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, to their spiritual and artistic significance, to their prophetic challenge to American Christianity, and to their range of contributions to the struggle for liberation and survival. Although some consideration will be given to theoretical concerns within certain church traditions, the focus will not be on a chronology of black denominationalism (although each student should learn the basic history of his or her own church). The course will conclude with careful attention to the black churches' practical engagement with contemporary concerns such as civil rights, economic empowerment, the family, womanism, sexuality issues, health care and the relationship of African Americans to other oppressed peoples worldwide.

Each student will complete four take-home examinations. Each exam will consist of four essay questions, two of which must be answered. An 8-10 page paper will also be required.

The teaching methodology will be based on a lecture-seminar format. Lectures will be given on Tuesdays and group discussions will take place on Thursdays. (Recommend some background in African American History.)

208. The Hebrew Bible. Weems (1:10-2:00 MWF + sections) A basic study of the life and thought of ancient Israel. Our primary concern will be to understand the Hebrew Bible as a product of its times and as a document of lasting significance. We will be examining its rootage in the life of the people, its relation to the ancient Near Eastern world, and the growth and formation of the Hebrew Bible literature in its parts and as a whole. There will also be discussion of ancient Israel's social and political life, religion, and ethics, especially in light of recent investigations and archaeological finds. Two exams; one 10-page paper.

210. Interpreting the Gospels. Patte (11:10-12:00 MWF) Focusing on the Gospel of Mark, this class will examine how, through the centuries and today, Christian believers have interpreted and interpret this Gospel as Scripture–that is, as a text with a teaching for or about their lives in a specific religious, socio- economic, and cultural contexts. As we successively read different 210 continued... parts of the Gospel, we will first consider the teachings of this text for believers today as members of the class can formulate it, and in a sample of present day sermons from main-line Protestant and Catholic North American churches, African- American churches, feminist circles, and "Third-World" churches. Then, we will consider how these teachings compare with other interpretations of Mark: in Matthew and in Luke (the earliest recorded interpretation of Mark!); in the history of the church (using Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, Vol. II, Mark); and in recent scholarly interpretations.

The first and essential requirement for this class is an active participation in seminar-like discussions, including several short oral presentations (of your interpretations of this text for believers today; of your analyses of one or another interpretation). Three short papers. And a concluding term paper (written in several stages during the last month of the semester).

215. Formation of Catholic Tradition. Burns (9:10-10:00 MWF) It was in the early and medieval periods that the "classical" tradition of Christian doctrine, shared by Catholics and Protestants, took form and many of our contempoarary assumptions are shaped by the developments of those earlier centuries. We shall look at the growth of the doctrines of the Trinity, Christ, and salvation in relation to the general history of the church and the wider political, social, and cultural setting. Readings are designed to acquaint the student with original source material. Previous acquaintance with classical history, Western civilization, or History of the Christian Thought (RLST 107) is desirable.

217. History of Religion in America. Staff (11:10-12:00 MWF) This course is an introductory examination of the history of religion in America. The chronological scope of the course is broad: It begins with an examination of colonial religions in the New World and ends with considerations of contemporary religious alternatives. This survey of American Church History also examines the influence of non-Christian religions in American culture. Themes and movements include Catholic, New World, Missions, Puritanism, the Awakenings, Religion and the Revolution, Revivalism, Social Reform, Denominationalism, the Social Gospel, Fundamentalism, Ecumenism as well as American Judaism, American Catholicism, African American religion, etc.

229. The Holocaust: Its Meanings and Implications. Geller (1:10-2:25 TR) This course examines the systematic destruction of European Jewry and other groups during World War II. Attention is directed at the social, economic, and cultural factors that contributed to its occurrence as well as at the aftermath of response, recollection, and revision. We will address attempts to create meaningful narratives about events which appear to lack discernable meaning. To that end we will analyze historical accounts, theology, memoirs, memorials, fiction, film, etc., and the issues of history, memory, witness, language and otherness that they raise. Special emphasis will be placed on the theme of this year's Vanderbilt Holocaust Lecture Series: on art and memory. There will be brief (1-2 page) thought/response papers each week, a mid-term, and a final. At least weekly film screenings on Thursdays (6:00 PM).

230. Women and Religion. Welch (11:00-12:15 TR) An introduction to the themes and issues that arise when the traditions and texts of selected Western religions are viewed from the perspective of women's studies (or gender-equity or feminism), among which: scripture and other sources of religious authority; psychological and ethical implications of feminist approaches to religion, God and gender, and women's proper roles.

232. Feminist Interpretations of Scripture. Levine (9:00-10:50 R) An introduction to the methods and issues involved in understanding the social roles and narrative representations of women and "others" in Jewish and Christian sacred texts and early history.

236. Religious Self According to Jung. Gay (12:10-1:00 MWF) The religious core of human existence related to the concepts of the archaic unconscious and the birth of the self in C. G. Jung's analytical psychology. Study of the life and thought of Jung as illustrated by his autobiography, Memories, Dreams, Reflections. Critical assessment of his theory as a means for understanding religious phenomena.

Some course goals: to comprehend the scope of Jung's psychology, with special focus on his evaluation of religion. To assess Jung's major theories and major claims. To gauge the utility of those theories for general psychological understanding of cultural forms and psychopathology.

299A. Honors Thesis-Research. (TBA) Reading of primary research sources in preparation of writing honors thesis under supervision of the thesis advisor. Open only to senior honors students.

299B. Honors Thesis-Writing. (TBA) Writing honors thesis under the supervision of the thesis advisor. Open only to senior honors students.

280. Senior Seminar. Geller (11:00-12:15 TR) Discussions of myth and ritual have long held a prominent place in the study of religions, especially of the religions of non-Western cultures. But these studies may reveal less about such 'religious' phenomena than about the structures and strictures of Western thought. To explore the explications and implications of classic and contemporary treatment of myth and ritual, this course focusses upon one, albeit multivarious, myth-ritual complex: sacrifice. Readings will include, among others, Bourdieu, Eliade, Freud, Girard, Lévi-Strauss, Smith, and Spivak, as well as myths and rituals upon which these individuals generated their theories. Requirements include active participation, a brief statement of entering assumptions about key concepts in the study of religions, two short papers in which theories are applied to specific sacrificial narratives, a midterm, and take-home final.

HEBR 111A. Elementary Hebrew. Halachmi (3:10-4:00 MWF) Elementary conversational Hebrew emphasizing the spoken colloquial usage of Israel today. Course prepares students for further study in modern Hebrew, while also providing a foundation for understanding Biblical Hebrew. No prior knowledge of Hebrew pre supposed. Fulfills language requirement.

HEBR 113A. Intermediate Modern Hebrew. Halachmi (2:10- 3:00 MWF) Reinforcement of advanced grammar, reading, and conversation in modern Hebrew. Some knowledge of elementary Hebrew is required. Fulfills language requirement.