Introduction to Religious Studies
Religious Studies | REL 101
[PDF Syllabus]

COURSE PURPOSE & OBJECTIVES:
Religious beliefs and practices form a core part of the identity and culture of many of the world's people. In order to understand how and why people behave in the ways that they do, it is often beneficial to take a look at how their religious beliefs impact their identity, their ethical practice, and their decision-making. What you will be learning in this class is a set of skills that will help you engage and interact in the world as an informed global citizen. Students will be challenged to take a critical look at the world in which we live with an eye toward examining how different belief systems impact the way that people understand, live in, and respond to the world around them.

The purpose of this course is to teach students a deeper appreciation of the role that religion plays in human behavior, social conflict, and community interaction. We will focus on developing a vocabulary for understanding religious ideas and belief systems and we will examine case studies with an eye toward analyzing how different religious communities understand, assess, and respond to social conflict. Throughout the semester we will focus on two tasks - examining how different religious traditions and communities help individuals in their decision-making process and evaluating how different religious communities respond to society's problems. Student engagement in service learning situations that deal with the social problems of poverty, homelessness, race, immigration, and violence will provide an opportunity for engaged learning in a practical setting.