Catalog

Religious Studies

RLST 1620-3. Religious Dimension in Human Experience. Studies religion as individual experience and social phenomenon. Examines varieties of religious language (symbol, myth, ritual, scripture) and of religious experience (Asian, Western, archaic). Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values.

RLST 2220-3. Religion and Dance: Africa to America to Africa. Religions in cultures around the world frequently engage in dance. By focusing on dances and forms of movement, religious beliefs and meanings can be seen and appreciated. Studies select religious cultures from around the world. Theory is developed to interrelate religion and dance. Similar to RLST 2200. Complements RLST 2230.

RLST 2230-3. Religion and Dance: India to Ballet. Religions in cultures around the world frequently engage in dance. The study of dancing in cultures from India to Europe and America deepens understanding and appreciation of these peoples in their diversities and similarities. Similar to RLST 2200. Complements RLST 2220.

RLST 2400-3. Religion and Contemporary Society. Studies the nature of contemporary American society from various theoretical perspectives in religious studies. Gives attention to the impact of secularization and to the religious elements found in aspects of secular life (e.g., politics, literature, education, and recreation). Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: contemporary societies.

RLST 2500-3. Religions in the United States. Explores the development of various religions within the shaping influences of American culture, including separation of church and state, the frontier experience, civil religion, and the interaction of religions of indigenous peoples, immigrants, and African Americans. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: United States context or ideals and values.

RLST 2600-3. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Introduces literature, beliefs, practices, and institutions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, in historical perspective. Same as JWST 2600. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values.

RLST 2610-3. Religions of South Asia. Introduces the literature, beliefs, practices, and institutions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, in historical perspective. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values.

RLST 2620-3. Religions of East Asia. Introduces literature, beliefs, practices, and institutions of Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Shintoism in historical perspective. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values.

RLST 2700-3. American Indian Religious Traditions. Introduces religions of the peoples indigenous to the Americas. Concerns include ritual, mythology, and symbolism occurring throughout these cultures in such areas as art, architecture, cosmology, shamanism, sustenance modes, trade, and history. Same as ETHN 2703. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: human diversity or ideals and values.

RLST 2800-3. Women and Religion. Examines roles of women in a variety of religious traditions including Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and goddess traditions. Same as WMST 2800. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: human diversity.

RLST 2840 (1-3). Independent Study. May be repeated up to 8 total credit hours.

RLST 3000-3. Christian Traditions. Studies origins and development of various aspects of Christian tradition as expressed through scripture, theology, ritual, church order, ethics, and the arts. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: historical context.

RLST 3020-3. Advanced Writing in Religious Studies. Seminar for religious studies majors that emphasizes the development of writing skills for use inside as well as outside the academy. Writing assignments are focused on one or more core topics in religious studies. Restricted to RLST majors. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: written communication.

RLST 3050-3. Religion and Literature in America. Studies religious dimensions of American culture through representative literature, beginning with the Puritans and focusing on diversity in the 19th and 20th centuries. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: United States context.

RLST 3100-3. Judaism. Explores Jewish religious experience and its expression in thought, ritual, ethics, and social institutions. Same as JWST 3100. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: historical context.

RLST 3200-3. Hinduism. Studies literature, beliefs, practices, and institutions of Hinduism, in historical perspective.

RLST 3300-3. Foundations of Buddhism. Introduction to Buddhist thought and practice in the variety of its historical and cultural contexts. The course begins with an exploration of narrative, cosmology, doctrine and ritual in early Buddhism and the Theravada of South and Southeast Asia. Through case studies, we then trace diverse conceptions of the Buddhist path in Tibet and East Asia where the Mahayana spread. Restricted to sophomores, juniors and seniors.

RLST 3400-3. Japanese Religions. Studies the literature, beliefs, practices, and institutions of Shinto, Buddhism, and Confucianism within the development of Japanese culture.

RLST 3600-3. Islam. Introduces Islamic beliefs and practices through an examination of the Qur’an, Muhammad’s life, ritual duties, law and theology, mysticism, and social institutions.

RLST 3800-3. Chinese Religions. Studies classical Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Neo-Confucianism within the historical context of Chinese culture.

RLST 3820-3. Topics in Religious Studies. Intensive study of a selected area or problem in religious studies. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change.

RLST 3830-3. Perspectives on the Study of Religion. Offered each fall semester. Surveys basic approaches to the study of religion. Students read and respond to seminal works in religious studies selected by faculty members, who visit class for discussions. Students also visit several religious communities in the Boulder/Denver region. Restricted to and required for junior and senior RLST majors.

RLST 3838-3. Dancing, Religion, and Culture. A critical examination of the received cultural, religious, and academic understandings of dancing and the body; the construction of a richer theory of dancing that will more adequately support comparative studies; the study of dancing in cultures and religions in a diverse representation of cultures; and a more in depth social study of Latin American dancing including actual dancing experience.

RLST 4020-3. Topics in Biblical Christianity. Studies Christian origins, treatment of the historical person of Jesus, and theological perspectives of the New Testament. Emphasizes methodology, e.g., textual criticism, literary criticism, and form criticism. Variable topics include synoptic gospels, John, and Pauline writing. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change. Prereq., 6 credit hours of RLST courses at any level or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5020.

RLST 4030-3. Religions in America. Studies various religious movements in the U.S. and other parts of the Americas. Includes American religion and religions, religion and nationalism, revitalization and religion, and Asian religions in America. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours within a term as topics change. Prereq., 6 hours RLST or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5030.

RLST 4050-3. Topics in Christian Studies. Studies a particular topic in Christian theology and culture such as early Christianity, medieval Christianity, Christianity in the United States, women and Christianity, liberation theologies, Christianity and literature, and modern Christian thought. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change. Prereqs., 6 hours of RLST courses at any level or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5050.

RLST 4200-3. Topics in Hinduism. Examines in depth central themes, schools of thought, and movements in Hinduism, such as myth and ritual, renunciation, Vedanta, and 19th century Renaissance. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change. Prereqs., 6 hours of RLST courses at any level or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5200.

RLST 4250-3. Topics in Buddhism. Examines in depth central themes, schools of thought, and movements in Buddhism, such as Theravada in Southeast Asia, Mahayana and Tantrayana thought, Zen, and Buddhism in America. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change. Prereqs., 6 hours of RLST courses at any level including RLST 3300 or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5250.

RLST 4300-3. Topics in Native American Religions. Examines a topic (varies at different offerings) focusing on religions of peoples indigenous to the Americas. May consider mythology; shamanism and medicine; trickster, clown, and fool; and crisis cult movements. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change. Prereqs., RLST 2700 and 3 additional credit hours of RLST course work or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5300.

RLST 4650-3. Islam in the Modern World. Globally surveys Islam, covering religion and politics; Islam and the West; the Islamic revival and its varied forms in Iran, Indonesia, Libya, and Pakistan; development and change; the status of women; and media and academic stereotyping. Prereq., 6 credit hours of religious studies at any level or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5650.

RLST 4750-3. Daoism. A detailed examination of the history and current state of Daoism, China’s indigenous organized religion. Focusing on its origins and development, ethnical teachings, ritual activities, and world view. Topics created include the relationship of Daoism to popular religion, the practice of alchemy and self cultivation, beliefs concerning death and the afterlife, and the structure of the Daoist pantheon. Prereq., RLST 3800 or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5750 and CHIN 4750.

RLST 4800-3. Critical Studies in Religion. Focuses on a current issue or area of research in the study of religion. Students analyze the way theories develop and learn to develop their own critical analysis. Topics vary, e.g., comparative kingship, colonialism, ritual theories, feminist analysis. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Restricted to RLST majors.

RLST 4810-3. Honors Thesis. Students write an honors thesis based on independent research under the direction of a faculty member. Required for students who elect departmental honors.

RLST 4820-3. Interdisciplinary Seminar on Religion: Topics. Variable topics in religion, drawing from a variety of disciplines and methodologies as they shed light on specific traditions and issues. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours as topics change. Prereq., 6 credit hours of religious studies at any level or instructor consent. Same as RLST 5820.

RLST 4830-3. Senior Majors Seminar. Topics and instructors vary. Brings advanced majors together in order to focus their major experience on significant topics and issues of common interest. Restricted to majors.

RLST 4840 (1-6). Senior Independent Study. May be repeated up to 8 total credit hours.

RLST 5020-3. Topics in Biblical Christianity. Same as RLST 4020.

RLST 5030-3. Religions in America. Same as RLST 4030.

RLST 5050-3. Topics in Christian Studies. Same as RLST 4050.

RLST 5200-3. Topics in Hinduism. Same as RLST 4200.

RLST 5250-3. Topics in Buddhism. Same as RLST 4250.

RLST 5300-3. Topics in Native American Religions. Same as RLST 4300.

RLST 5650-3. Islam in the Modern World. Same as RLST 4650.

RLST 5750-3. Daoism. Restricted to graduate students. Same as RLST 4750 and CHIN 5750.

RLST 5820-3. Interdisciplinary Seminar on Religion. Same as RLST 4820.

RLST 5840 (1-6). Independent Study. May be repeated up to 8 total credit hours.

RLST 6830-3. Introduction to the Academic Study of Religion. Introduction to the graduate academic study of religion through the exploration of contemporary models and issues that demonstrate the nature and future of the field. Each student will prepare a profile of his/her intended area of research. Restricted to Religious Studies graduate students.

RLST 6840 (1-6). Independent Study. May be repeated up to 8 total credit hours.

RLST 6850-3. Comparative Studies in Religion. Focuses on theories and methods of comparative study in religion through an examination of at least two distinct traditions (e.g., public worship in Judaism and Islam; pilgrimage in Hinduism and Christianity). May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours as topics change. Restricted to RLST graduate students.

RLST 6940 (1-3). Master’s Degree Candidate.

RLST 6945 (1-4). Directed Readings: Non-Thesis Option. Course work finished or in the last semester. May be repeated up to 4 total credit hours.

RLST 6950 (1-4). Master’s Thesis.

Sanskrit +

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