Survey of Jewish and Christian apocalyptic literature which explores the literary features and sociological significance of apocalyptic thought in Western culture from antiquity to the present.

Examination of the Epistles in the New Testament in light of the religious and cultural contexts of the Greco-Roman world.

This course provides an overview of the history of Buddhism in Japan. Major themes covered in the course include an integration of indigenous "kami veneration" (Shinto) into a Buddhist theological framework; a doctrinal emphasis placed on the notion of Buddha nature or "original enlightenment" (hongaku); the rise of the so-called Kamakura schools of Buddhism; bureaucratic roles imparted to Buddhist temples during the Tokugawa period; and challenges Buddhism faces in contemporary Japanese society.

Traditional and non-traditional concepts of spirituality are examined in Hopi, African-American, European, and American literature, philosophy, visual art and film.

This course investigates the emergence of Christianity in the first four centuries of the Greco-Roman milieu. Topics may include: the interaction of early Christians with Jews, Romans, and Greeks; as well as differences and debates within the various forms of early Christianity itself.

Religious beliefs and cult practices in ancient Greece and Rome. All readings in English.

Study of the question of God from a theological, philosophical, and literary perspective.

This course explores diverse religious and spiritual conceptions of health in the United States and their relationships to experiences of sickness and healing. It will include a critical examination of historical and contemporary cases in which religious and spiritual views of health have interacted with healthcare systems, including cases of cooperation and conflict.

This course will explore the central role of religion in shaping constructions of race and ethnicity in U.S. history, especially in light of immigration debates. Since the country's founding, immigrants have expanded ethnic and religious diversity in the United States in the face of powerful anti-immigrant movements. Students will engage with in-depth studies of immigrant communities who shaped the American religious and ethnic landscape, including diverse American expressions of religions such as Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Evangelical Protestantism, and Vodou.

Development of Roman Catholic thought from the twentieth century to the present day, with an emphasis on the impact of the Second Vatican Council.