Summer
2006
REL
1300 - Introduction to World Religions (Biondo and Staff)
This
reading intensive course introduces students to the academic study
of religion as well as Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Latino Religions.
First we look at the history of beliefs and practices. How do
these communities address sacred-profane, male-female, mind-body,
and social-individual dichotomies? Insider accounts of physical
pilgrimages, spiritual prayer or meditation, biographical narratives,
and festival calendars complement the historical overview.
REL
2121 - Religion in the United States (Staff)
The
purpose of this course is to introduce you to the historical study
of religion in the United States, with an eye toward ways that
social and cultural contexts have shaped the religious experience
of Americans in different places and times. We will survey religious
developments, movements, groups, and individuals, stopping to
linger over representative “soundings” within each
historical period. The primary goal of the course is for you to
become familiar with the history of American religion both by
learning about central events, individuals, and trends, and by
learning how to think and write historically. Because this course
carries Gordon Rule credit, you will do a significant amount of
reading and writing in this course.
REL
2210 - Introduction to the Old Testament (Staff)
This
course will introduce the student to the contents of the Old Testament,
also known as the Hebrew Bible, and examine these individual writings
within their historical contexts. Throughout the semester, the
class will learn how to recognize and analyze the major themes
and characters of the Old Testament. The purpose of the course
is to understand the OT within the broader cultural background
of the ancient Near East, the history of the people who composed
the book, and how the literary contents of the Bible reflect,
reject, or otherwise interact with the cultural and historical
circumstances of the times.
REL
2240 - Introduction to the New Testament (Staff)
To
understand the writings of the New Testament in the context of
the historical development of the early Christian church. After
surveying Judaism and other religious options in the Roman world,
attention will be focused on the figure of Jesus of Nazareth and
the development of the traditions about Jesus. Next, an attempt
will be made to understand Paul and the development and spread
of the Christian movement. Emphasis throughout will fall on the
variety of interpretations of the Christian message as Christians
encountered new social circumstances and theological challenges.
This course meets the Liberal Studies literature requirement and
the "Gordon Rule" writing requirement.
REL
2315 Religions of South Asia (Erndl)
An
overview of the religions in the South Asian cultural region with
emphasis on Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Islam. The
history and cultural contexts of these traditions will be explored
with particular attention to sacred stories, holy people, religious
leadership, and gender issues. This course also serves as an introduction
to the academic study of religion. No previous background is required.
Meets Liberal Studies Humanities, Gordon Rule, and Multicultural
(x) requirements. Honors students will have the opportunity to
write e research paper on a topic of their choice.
REL
3340 - The Buddhist Tradition (Staff)
A historical and thematic survey of the Buddhist tradition
in Asia from its beginnings through the modern period. Topics
covered include origins and history, doctrine, ethical beliefs,
meditation, ritual, and monastic and popular traditions. Some
attention will also be given to contemporary forms of Buddhism
outside of Asia, in Europe and America.
REL
4190 - Religious Ethics and Medicine (Kalbian)
This seminar is about the relationship of religion and
bioethics. In the fist part of the course, we will explore the
issue of the physician-patient relationship in a cross-cultural
context. We will how Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism might
approach issues in bioethics. The seminar is an intensive reading
course and students will be required to do oral presentations
in class.
REL
6176 - History of Christian Political Thought (Kelsay)
A survey of selected texts, writers, and themes important
in the development of Christian political thought. Permission
of instructor required. Contact Professor Kelsay at jkelsay@garnet.acns.fsu.edu
for more information.
REL
6498 - Kant and Hegel (Kangas)
This
course is designed as an upper division and graduate level introduction
to the thought of Kant and Hegel. Major texts we will read (or
parts thereof) will be the following: for Kant, The Critique of
Pure Reason, Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, and Religion
within the Limits of Reason alone; for Hegel, the early “theological
writings,” Encyclopedia Logic, and sections from his Lectures
on the Philosophy of Religion. A guiding theme for the seminar
will be the way in which basic concepts in religion and ethics
are transformed by a philosophical thought which is self-consciously
modern.
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