The course provides graduate training in the theories and methods of religious studies and guides students in contextualizing their own work within this discourse. It is an opportunity to learn how religion became an object of study, to explore the approaches of key theorists, and to assess the efficacy of these approaches. Controversies surrounding ritual, canon, culture, power, translation, and "experience" will inform our conversations. Students will develop a more nuanced understanding of the relationship of religious studies and area studies, in terms of historical and continuously-evolving dynamics. Finally, this course challenges students to evaluate the broader role of religious studies in the humanities and to set goals for their professional contributions to this discourse.

This course is an intensive investigation of the life of the ancient Israelite woman. It presents a multidisciplinary approach toward reconstructing the social, economic, religious and political life of women in Iron Age Israel. Through readings and class discussion, students will explore the ways in which women contributed to their society throughout the eras of the Judges and of the United and Divided Monarchies (1200-587 BCE). Because women traditionally have been undervalued and marginalized, until recently little attention was devoted to this vitally important and stimulating topic. In consequence, students will be challenged to utilize multiple sources in their reconstruction of the lives of Israelite women. The sources used in this class will include (but not be limited to) archaeological, historical and art historical data, the witness of the Hebrew Bible and other pertinent texts, and anthropological and ethnographic studies of the roles of women in pre-industrial and Middle eastern societies. Graduate-level requirements include meeting as a group, in advance (date to be determined) to organize the presentation of their papers. Each student will be assigned a "reviewer".

Origin and development of Sufism and its impact on Muslim and non-Muslim worlds.

The characteristic features of Hebrew poetry. The literary development of these writings and their function in the Israelite cult. Examples of biblical poetry outside the book of Psalms also considered. Graduate-level requirements include additional readings and a substantial research paper.

Modern chemistry, biology and medicine in conjunction with the neuroscience revolution are providing tools which can modify basic human behaviors (learning, addictive, aggressive, feeding, etc.). An examination of the scientific, cultural, religious and ethical issues related to this emerging science will be examined. Basic knowledge of chemistry and biology (two years of each) and of social sciences (psychology, philosophy, religious studies, etc.) are useful prerequisites or consent of instructor. Graduate-level requirements include a more extensive term paper.

In this course about Jewish mystical tradition or Kabbalah (and What Celebrities Don't Know About It) students will be introduced to the ideology, symbolism, and major themes of Jewish mysticism in the context of Jewish history. Students will survey that tradition using major texts and concepts in chronological order and interpret them in reference to the historical conditions in which the texts were produced, the internal dynamics of Jewish mysticism itself, and the social and psychological functions that mysticism fulfilled and fulfills for its practitioners.

This course will be an in-depth exploration of the history of the religious traditions of India. We will frame the course through the earliest extant religious materials from the Harappan Civilization and the Vedic literary corpus and the philosophical ferment of the Upanisads and the Sramanas (Jainism and Buddhism). From there we will look at the emergence of Puranic Hinduism in the medieval period as it vied with Buddhism and Jainism for imperial and popular patronage. Finally, we will investigate the dialogue and evolution of Indian religions during the period of Muslim kingdoms and European colonialism. Graduate level requirements include: Research paper should be 25-30 pages and include primary research. 2,000 word critical book review due by the end of week 4 (replaces participation grade).

This course discusses the impact of globalization on the environment and ecology, with a particular focus on indigenous cultures and religions in the context of environmental instability. Graduate-level requirements include a 25-30 page double-spaced research synthesis and reflective paper that reflects your understanding of Globalization and the Environment and 4 book reviews from books used in class.

This course presents an examination of the origins and early evolution of images of the afterlife among the ancient peoples of the Mediterranean basin and Near East. The course will focus on ancient Israelite, biblical, and early Jewish and Christian images. Later developments of these images within Western religions will also be discussed. Graduate-level requirements include more depth methodological issues related to the study of heaven and afterlife motifs as they appear in the cultures of the Mediterranean Basin in antiquity. Graduate students will meet as a group with the professor six times during the course of the semester. Moreover, each graduate student will meet individually with the professor four times during the semester to develop and write a 20-page term paper on a topic proposed by the student.

The scientific theory of evolution by natural selection has had a profound philosophical influence on ideas of chance, purpose and progress, sometimes running into conflict with religion in the process. This course will provide a forum for rigorous, authentic, respectful but not circumscribed discussion of these core philosophical issues, including both scientific and theological perspectives.