Department of Philosophy and Religion

The Religion Curriculum

Here are all the courses that are currently listed under the religion curriculum.  Following each course title, in parenthesis, are included the last time the course was offered and the frequency with which the course is usually offered.

REL 001 - INTRO REL STDY (F08, every year)

  • Introduction to methods and topics in the study of religion, using materials from the Bible, classical literature and modern theology.

REL 005 - TOPICS REL STUDIES (S09, every semester)
  • This is a minicourse approach to topics of contemporary interest and relevance in the field of religious studies, as well as to topics related to religion in other disciplines. Each minicourse is a topic independent of the others.

REL 010 - THE BIBLE (S05, infrequent)
  • Study of the central portions of the Jewish Bible and the Christian Bible. Since the Jewish Bible is the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, students read it as having two alternative completions: the Jewish supplement known as the Talmud, and the Christian supplement known as the New Testament.

REL 021 - INTRO TO RELIGION (not in rotation)
  • The interaction of religion and culture, tracing the history of Judaism and Christianity from the Biblical period to the present.

REL 051 - OLD TESTAMENT (F08, every fall)
  • A study of the literature and theological message of the Old Testament within the context of the history of the Israelite people.

REL 052 - NEW TESTAMENT (S09, every spring)
  • A study of the literature and theological message of the New Testament within the context of early Christian history.

REL 053 - LIFE & TEACHINGS OF JESUS (S09, every spring)
  • A reconstruction of the life and message of Jesus of Nazareth from the Gospels of the New Testament against the background of his Palestinian cultural and religious environment.

REL 088 - TOPICS IN RELIGION (S07, infrequent)
  • Open for any 3 hour course in religion open to sophomore, junior, and seniors. Prerequisites as specified by the professor.

REL 091 - CONTEMPORARY ETHICAL PROBLEMS (S09, every year)
  • Study of contemporary ethical problems from the perspective of philosophical and religious principles. Various sections of the course may specialize in different types of ethical problems. Crosslisted with Phil 091. May be used as part of Women's Studies Concentration.

REL 104 - DEVEL OF WEST REL (not in rotation)
  • Study of major Western religious ideas and the historical contexts within which they have arisen. Prereq.: A religion course or PHIL 21.

REL 108 - 20TH C AMER RELIG (not in rotation)
  • Study of American religious and ethical movements that have been of paramount public interest in public news media. Particular emphasis on differences between authentic understanding and popular misconception. Prereq.: A religion course or PHIL 21.

REL 110 - INTRO JUDAISM (F07, every other year)
  • An introductory study of the Jewish tradition from antiquity to today. Jewish history, thought, culture, life cycle, and ceremonies are examined. Contemporary Judaism is particularly emphasized. Sponsored by the Jewish Chautaqua Society.

REL 111 - EAST ASIAN RELIGION (S09, every other year)
  • An examination of the philosophical ideas contained within the core texts of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism, with special emphasis on the way in which Southeast Asian and East Asian "philosophies" challenge the commonplace Western distinction between philosophy and religion.

REL 112 - W ASIAN RELIGIONS (not in rotation)
  • A multi-disciplined approach to the religions of Western Asia, with particular emphasis on primitive anthropology and subsequent history. Prereq: A religion course or Phil 21.

REL 113 - JUDAISM-JESUS TIME (every two years)
  • An in-depth study of first-century Judaism. The course examines Jewish belief, society and values during this critical time in history. The environment out of which early Christianity grew is explored, as well as commonalities and differences of the two faith traditions during this period. The historical Jesus is seen in his environment. The question of "How did Christianity arise from Judaism?" is answered. Sponsored by the Jewish Chautauqua Society.

REL 116 - HOLOCAUST (S07, infrequent)
  • An examination of secular and religious anti-Semitism: its effect on 20th-century Germany and consequences of such hatred for Jewish people. Sponsored by the Jewish Chautauqua Society.

REL 118 - RACE, RELIGION & CIVIC CULTURE (S09, every other year)
  • This course explores critical race theories that depict the ways is socially constructed and uses these to explore how religion has contributed to the construction of racial identities in select moments of U. S. History. We explore how religious activity and religious thought have created and maintained racial stratification, as well as how these have undermined stratification by fueling resistance movements for justice. The primary emphasis is on relations between white, African American and Native American communities.

REL 119 - DEATH & DYING (F06, infrequent)
  • This course is designed to explore death and human response to it, different circumstances and settings of dying, and issues of end-of-life choices, social justice, and bio- ethical dilemmas. We will consider the meanings of death from historical, societal, religious and personal perspectives, including how we adapt to loss through the grief process. A variety of resources will be used including guest speakers, a field trip, and videos.

REL 120 - BLACK CHRISTIANITY & PROPH POL (S08, every other year)
  • This course will explore various forms of Black Christianity in their historical and cultural contexts and will identify the unique ways in which Black Christianity has contributed to democracy. Attention will be given to both what Black Christianity has said to the civic body, as well as to debates within the Black community. Manifestations of prophetic politics in the present will also be a significant focus, with particular attention given to the roles of Black Christianity in presidential campaigns. Opportunities will be created to explore the role that Black churches have played and continue to play in the Iowa (and Des Moines in particular) context.

REL 125 - PHIL OF RELIGION (S08, every other year)
  • Examination of the purposes of religion; the perennial challenge to religious thought; the development of the idea of God; and assessment of the validity of this reflective thought. Prereq: Two philosophy courses. Crosslisted with Phil 125

REL 137 - APPREN IN MINIST (S06, as needed)
  • Observation of successful ministers in their professional tasks. May be repeated two additional semesters. Prereq: Junior standing and religion major.

REL 140 - ECOLOGICAL ETHICS (not in rotation)
  • This course introduces students to the emerging field of environmental and ecological ethics and the spectrum of responses to the questions, issues, and dilemmas posed by the contemporary global ecological crisis. We examine fundamental issues such as how human beings should relate to the rest of nature, the historical roots of the ecological crisis, and the intersection of ecological and social justice issues in various responses to the ecological crisis. Prereq: A religion course.

REL 146 - TEXTS OF CREATION (not in rotation)
  • A study of the creation texts of Hebrew Scripture against the background of Akkadian and Egyptian creation texts, plus Jewish and Christian teaching within the culture of late antiquity. This course is a background to the discussion of creation and modern science, the questions to which creation was an answer, and how the answers were shaped by the religious tradition, as a whole will guide it. Prereq: A religion course.

REL 147 - REL OF OLD TESTAMENT (not in rotation)
  • Study of the religious ideas of the Old Testament. Prereq: REL 51.

REL 148 - WISDOM LITERATURE (S09, infrequently offered)
  • Study of the wisdom literature of the Old Testament and the Middle East with special emphasis on the relevance of this literature for subsequent study of Western literature. Prereq: A religion course.

REL 149 - RELIGION-NEW TEST (not in rotation)
  • A historical presentation of the teaching of the New Testament. A critical introduction to New Testament literature is followed by a systematic analysis and discussion of the major religious concepts. Prereq: REL 10, 51, 52 or 53.

REL 150 - PROPHETIC LIT OF OLD TESTAMENT (S07, infrequent)
  • A critical and exegetical study of the so-called prophetic books of the Old Testament. Major emphasis is on the moral, ethical and social teachings of the 8th century B.C. writers. The various types of "prophetic writing" are studied. Prereq: REL 10, 51, 52 or 53.

REL 151 – SELECTED TOPICS (used for new courses)
  • In-depth study of a contemporary theologian or school of thought of major significance.

REL 153 - INTRO TO CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY (F07, every other year)
  • An historical approach to the major theological doctrines and issues emergent in the patristic, reformation and modern eras, with an emphasis on western theological traditions and --from the Reformation forward--a focus on significant Protestant thinkers. We will explore the major streams in theological thought, particularly, the implications of certain theological conflicts to Christian communities. We will also focus on the relations between historical and social contexts and the particular developments that have taken place in Christian Theology.

REL 155 - LIBERATION THEOLOGY (F08, every other year)
  • Study of the emerging field of liberation and feminist theologies as these disciplines are related to contemporary religious, social, and political issues in Latin America and North America. The course explores the relation between theological reflection, social context, and the social- political location of theologians. Prereq: A religion course. May be used as part of Women's Studies Concentration.

REL 170 - EARLY CHRISTIANITY (not in rotation)
  • Study of the development of Christianity from its inception as a movement within Judaism to its acceptance as the major religion of the West by Medieval times.

REL 185 - CONTMP RELG LIFE IN CENTR AMER (travel seminar)
  • In this course, we will explore the particular religious landscape of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, including the range of expressions of religiosity (Christianity will be a significant focus). We will explore first hand the ways in which particular forms of religious understanding have informed particular kinds of political and social activity in both of these countries. We will pay particularly close attention to the differences and relationships between official institutional religious teachings and the religious sensibilities and practices of communities and laypeople (in the in-travel portion of the course, we will have the opportunity to meet with persons from an array of locations in this regard). Comparative analysis of the different religious formations of these two areas will be a primary consideration. Care will be taken to consider the importance of studying religious life in its appropriate historical and cultural context. Enrolled students must also register for SCSS 196, Sustainable Development in Central America.
REL 190 - RESEARCH IN RELIGION (by request of student)
  • Prereq: Consent of instructor.

REL 198 - INDEPENDENT STUDY (by request of student)
  • Prereq: Consent of instructor.

REL 199 - SEMINAR IN RELIGION (S09, every year)
  • Prereq: Consent of instructor.

 

Last Modified: 10/03/2009 11:57:27 by content editor