Catalog

REL Course Descriptions

REL1000 Introduction to the Old Testament (3)
Reviews the Sacred Scriptures, which Jews and Christians share, as interpreted by the latest Biblical scholarship. Course includes guided reading of the Old Testament. Special attention is given to the role of women in the Bible and to issues of justice and peace.

REL1005 Introduction to the New Testament (3)
Offers an overview of the New Testament in keeping with the document of Vatican II on Revelation. Special attention is given to the way in which the teaching of the historical Jesus was transmitted in preaching before the final production of the canonical gospels.

REL1100 Jesus of History, Christ of Faith (3)
Examines Jesus Christ as a person in the light of the questions "Who do people say that I am?" and "Who do you say that I am?" (Mark 8:27, 29), and in the light of the answers given to these questions from the beginning of Christianity down to our own day.

REL1105 Jesus and the Gospels (3)
Introduces the messianic activity and person of Jesus proclaimed in the synoptic gospels.

REL1110 The Study of the Gospel of Mark (3)
Explores the earliest Gospel and attempts to discern the purposes of Mark in creating the Gospel-genre. Interpretive approaches through modern critical and feminist scholarship are studied.

REL1120 Study of the Gospel of Luke and Acts (3)
An in-depth study of the two volume work known as the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Luke is credited with being the first Christian historian and the only evangelist to carry the story of Jesus into the early Christian era. In addition to a verse-by-verse examination of Luke-Acts, a special effort will be made to discern Luke's purpose in writing this work, the sociological situation of the community for which he was writing, and his understanding of Salvation History.

REL1130 John, Gospel, and Letters (3)
Explores the composition and structure of the Gospel of John and analyzes the Book of Signs and the Book of Glory, the relationship between the Gospel and the first Letter of John, and an introduction to a reading of the Apocalypse.

REL1140 The Pauline Letters (3)
Studies the letters of Paul to understand how the early Christians separated from Judaism and met the challenge of Hellenism.

REL1145 Mystical Experience in the Religions of the Book (3)

This course enables students to understand the similarities and originalities of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic religions through the lens of mysticism. We begin with mysticism in the Hebrew Bible and then read from the Christian mystics such as Julian of Norwich and Hildegard of Bingen, Kabbalah and Sufi mystics. We study what occurs when mysticism encounters the scientific revolution and the post-modern world.

REL1200 Christianity: Beginnings to 1500 (3)
Covers Christianity during its formative early period, growth and reaction to "Imperial Church", rise of monasticism, development of scholastic theology, and origins of Protestantism. Emphasizes richness and diversity of life-giving faith within the Christian communities from first to 16th centuries.

REL1205 Modern Christianity (3)
Explores Christianity from Reformation to the present. Emphasizes richness and diversity of various Christian communities. Analyzes how developments in Christianity reflect needs of the times. Reflects on the Christian message in our day.

REL1210 Reel Religion: Christianity in Film (3)

This course is designed to be an introduction to the study of the portrayal of Christianity in films. It introduces the vision and vocabulary helpful for film criticism and uses these tools in coordination with those of cultural studies and historical and theological criticism to critique films in terms of their composition, historical accuracy and theological and ethical messages. The interplay of the arts, particularly cinema, and religion in American culture is examined from both a historical and cultural standpoint

REL1300 Church and Sacraments (3)
Explores the history and theology of the Christian sacramental life with special emphasis on contemporary understandings of Baptism and Eucharist.

REL1400 Challenged by Christian Ethics (3)
Focuses on Christian ethical responsibility, including introductory moral foundations and selected contemporary issues of individual and social morality.

REL1405 The Christian in Society (3)
Considers revolutionary forces in the fields of economics, politics, culture, and religion which have been and are still shaping the modern world, and the responses formulated and being formulated by Christian theologians.

REL1410 Marriage and Friendship (3)
Explores the human and religious dimensions of marriage, family, and friendship. An exploration of the psychological, sociological, cultural, and theological factors that impact the problems, challenges, and possibilities of intimate relationships in the contemporary world.

REL2000 Introduction to the Old Testament (3)
Reviews the Sacred Scriptures, which Jews and Christians share, as interpreted by the latest Biblical scholarship. Course includes guided reading of the Old Testament. Special attention is given to the role of women in the Bible and to issues of justice and peace. The amount of work required for upper-division credit will differ in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

REL2005 Introduction to the New Testament (3)
Offers an overview of the New Testament in keeping with the document of Vatican II on Revelation. Special attention is given to the way in which the teaching of the historical Jesus was transmitted in preaching before the final production of the canonical gospels. The amount of work required for upper-division credit will differ in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

REL2100 Jesus of History, Christ of Faith (3)
Examines Jesus Christ as a person in the light of the questions "Who do people say that I am?" and "Who do you say that I am?" (Mark 8:27, 29), and in the light of the answers given to these questions from the beginning of Christianity down to our own day. The amount of work required for upper-division credit will differ in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

REL2105 Jesus and the Gospels (3)
Introduces the messianic activity and person of Jesus proclaimed in the synoptic gospels. The amount of work required for upper-division credit will differ in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

REL2110 The Study of the Gospel of Mark (3)
Explores the earliest Gospel and attempts to discern the purposes of Mark in creating the Gospel-genre. Interpretive approaches through modern critical and feminist scholarship are studied. The amount of work required for upper-division credit will differ in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

REL2120 Study of the Gospel of Luke and Acts (3)
An in-depth study of the two volume work known as the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Luke is credited with being the first Christian historian and the only evangelist to carry the story of Jesus into the early Christian era. In addition to a verse-by-verse examination of Luke-Acts, a special effort will be made to discern Luke's purpose in writing this work, the sociological situation of the community for which he was writing, and his understanding of Salvation History. The amount of work required for upper-division credit will differ in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

REL2130 John, Gospel, and Letters (3)
Explores the composition and structure of the Gospel of John and analyzes the Book of Signs and the Book of Glory, the relationship between the Gospel and the first Letter of John, and an introduction to a reading of the Apocalypse. The amount of work required for upper-division credit will differ in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

REL2140 The Pauline Letters (3)
Studies the letters of Paul to understand how the early Christians separated from Judaism and met the challenge of Hellenism. The amount of work required for upper-division credit will differ in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

REL2145 Mystical Experience in the Religions of the Book (3)

REL2200 Christianity: Beginnings to 1500 (3)
Covers Christianity during its formative early period, growth and reaction to "Imperial Church", rise of monasticism, development of scholastic theology, and origins of Protestantism. Emphasizes richness and diversity of life-giving faith within the Christian communities from first to 16th centuries. The amount of work required for upper-division credit will differ in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

REL2205 Modern Christianity (3)
Explores Christianity from Reformation to the present. Emphasizes richness and diversity of various Christian communities. Analyzes how developments in Christianity reflect needs of the times. Reflects on the Christian message in our day. The amount of work required for upper-division credit will differ in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

REL2210 Reel Religion: Christianity in Film (3)

REL2250 Religions of the World [CDiv] (3)
Focuses on a critical survey of world religions, exploring the beliefs, rituals, sacred texts, and ethical ideals of representative religious manifestations of the past and present. Covers characteristic traits and patterns in tribal, imperial, naturalistic, mystical, and national religions. Examines the role assigned to women by world religions and the importance given to building a just and peaceful society.

REL2300 Church and Sacraments (3)
Explores the history and theology of the Christian sacramental life with special emphasis on contemporary understandings of Baptism and Eucharist. The amount of work required for upper-division credit will differ in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

REL2400 Challenged by Christian Ethics (3)
Focuses on Christian ethical responsibility, including introductory moral foundations and selected contemporary issues of individual and social morality. The amount of work required for upper-division credit will differ in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

REL2405 The Christian in Society (3)
Considers revolutionary forces in the fields of economics, politics, culture, and religion which have been and are still shaping the modern world, and the responses formulated and being formulated by Christian theologians. The amount of work required for upper-division credit will differ in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

REL2410 Marriage and Friendship (3)
Explores the human and religious dimensions of marriage, family, and friendship. An exploration of the psychological, sociological, cultural, and theological factors that impact the problems, challenges, and possibilities of intimate relationships in the contemporary world. The amount of work required for upper-division credit will differ in both quantity and quality from that required for lower-division credit.

REL2425 Liberation Theologies [CDiv] (3)
This class focuses on theologies that strive to liberate oppressed and marginalized peoples, including Liberation Theology in Latin America, Dalit Theology in India, and Feminist and Black Theology.

REL2430 Developments in Gender and Sexuality in Christianity [CDiv] (3)
This course discusses and analyzes the evolution of images of masculinity and femininity, sexuality and gender beginning with Greco-Roman and Jewish traditions and analyzes their influence upon Christianity examining from its origins to the present day. We study changing understandings of celibacy, marriage, homosexuality and power using the tools of queer theory, feminist studies, and men's studies.

REL2600 Voices in Christian Spirituality (3)
Reading the Desert Mothers and Fathers, Augustine's Confessions, medieval mystics, Teresa of Avila, and modern spiritual leaders, this course explores the evolution of a personal spirituality in the Christian life. How do these authors form their personal spirituality, their connection to God, and a better understanding of themselves? How do they then relate this inner spirituality to the world around them?

REL2605 Women's Spirituality [CDiv] (3)
Focuses on history and experience of women in Christian churches using women's writings to better understand how women view themselves and their spiritual development. Explores underlying questions: "How do women live within the Christian community and express their spirituality?" "What influences might Christian feminist views have on our world?

REL2620 Way of the Earth [CDiv] (3)
Explores the profound links between ecology and spirituality, between "Mother Nature" (Gaia concept) and conceptions of human/divine nature(s). The course aims to integrate perspectives on such topics as science and religion, the spirituality of indigenous peoples, ecofeminism, Creation Spirituality, and reverence for nature in the teachings of world religions.

REL2994 Teaching Assistant (1-3)
Offers an opportunity for outstanding Religious Studies majors to earn credit for assisting instructors may be arranged. Three units may be used as upper-division elective units in the major. Satisfies one unit of Career Development Requirement.

REL2997 Senior Thesis (3)

Taken by majors in their senior year. Students write a 15-25 page paper on a topic of their choice, written in conjunction with an upper-division Religious Studies course being offered in the same semester.

REL2999 Independent Study in Religious Studies (1-3)
Provides an opportunity for independent study or research in Religious Studies, which may be arranged under the direction of the instructor. See Undergraduate Policies and Procedures section on Independent Study.