WSU Graduate Courses - Religion/REL

REL 510 EARLY AND MEDIEVAL WESTERN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT (Credits: 4)

Survey of important themes in the religious thought of the major Western traditions. Selected readings from primary sources and secondary interpretations.

REL 511 REFORMATION AND MODERN WESTERN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT (Credits: 4)

Survey of important themes in the religious thought of the major Western traditions. Selected readings from primary sources and secondary interpretations.

REL 515 CHRISTIANITY (Credits: 4)

An examination of the structures of religious experience which have shaped the development of Christianity in history. Institutional and ritual forms will be investigated as systems of meaning against the backdrop of the general history of religions.

REL 516 JUDAISM: FAITH AND PEOPLE (Credits: 4)

Judaism as a religious culture of a particular people is examined critically, historically and phenomenologically.

REL 518 CONTEMPORARY JEWISH THOUGHT (Credits: 4)

Examination of the major themes and issues in the works of contemporary Jewish thinkers, e.g., Borowitz, Herberg, Fackenheim, Kaplan, Rothschild, Heschel, Rubenstein and Wiessel.

REL 521 RELIGIONS IN THE BIBLICAL PERIOD (Credits: 4)

Examination of selected religious movements and/or problems in the Biblical period and their interconnectedness and mutual influences.

REL 522 TOPICS IN BIBLICAL LITERATURE (Credits: 4)

Examination of selected aspects of Biblical literature from both literary and historical perspectives to explore the possible structures, functions, and meanings of this literature for its original community.

REL 530 TOPICS IN AMERICAN RELIGION: (Credits: 4)

Examination of selected topics in American religion to investigate basic religious structures and to explore the relationship of religious phenomena to their cultural context.

REL 540 TOPICS IN ASIAN RELIGION (Credits: 4)

Studies in the religious dimension of Asian cultures, with emphasis on historical, social, and aesthetic perspectives.

REL 544 RELIGION IN JAPANESE LIFE (Credits: 3)

Examination of the role of religion in Japanese culture and society with attention to both historical development and current issues.

PREREQUISITE: GRADUATE STANDING.

REL 557 UNDERSTANDING DEATH (Credits: 4)

Basic issues in death and dying using resources from human sciences and humanities in a religious perspective.

REL 561 RELIGION AND SOCIETY (Credits: 4)

(Also listed as SOC 561.) Treatment of religion as a social institution. Examines the influence of religious ideas and organizations on other social institutions, and the influence of society on religion.

REL 562 ANTHROPOLOGY OF RELIGION (Credits: 4)

(Also listed as ATH 546.) Anthropological approach to the meaning and function of religion in social life and the nature of the thought or belief systems that gave rise to different forms of religious life. Emphasis
on primitive and peasant societies.

REL 563 RELIGION AND PSYCHOLOGY (Credits: 4)

An introduction to selected themes, issues, and problems in the interaction of religion and psychology. Differing points of view are considered.

REL 570 STUDIES IN ETHICS (Credits: 4)

A special topics course for intensified study of the ethical dimensions of a particular religious tradition or for concentrated study intheoretical or practical ethical problems.Topics to be announced with each offering.

REL 578 ETHICS AND MEDICINE (Credits: 4)

(Also listed as PHL 578.) An examination of the ethical issues confronting society in the area of medicine and health care, considered from the perspective of philosophical and theological ethics. Examples include ethics of abortion, euthanasia, experimental medicine, and behavior control.

REL 582 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION: PROCESS (Credits: 4)

Realism and the revolt against idealism. Cross-disciplinary analysis of major contemporary process philosophers and the implications of their thoughts for religion. Focus on Alfred North Whitehead.

REL 583 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION: SECULAR (Credits: 4)

Cross-disciplinary analysis of modes of human awareness through which religious meaning is expressed (sensation, morality, beauty, reason, and human relations). Examination of presuppositions of contemporary secular religion in existentialism.

REL 590 STUDIES IN SELECTED SUBJECTS (Credits: 4)

Problems, approaches and topics in the field of religion.Topics vary.

REL 631 RELIGION IN AMERICAN LIFE (Credits: 4)

Development of religious thought and institutional life in the United States viewed in relationship to American social change.

REL 635 BLACK AMERICAN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT (Credits: 4)

Analysis of black American religious thought through critical study of the writings of selected figures who have helped shape black religion from 1780 to the present.

REL 641 ISLAM (Credits: 4)

Study of the origin and development of Islam, including contemporary issues and problems.

REL 643 ASIAN RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY (Credits: 4)

(Also listed as PHL 643.) Perennial themes in Asian cultures, such as individual, society, and cosmos; appearance and reality; time and history; and karma, freedom, and responsibility. Treatment of these themes in the philosophical traditions of Asian cultures.

REL 656 RELIGIOUS THEMES IN LITERATURE (Credits: 4)

Courses offered under this number provide intensive study of literary works in terms of significant and recurring religious themes and images as they can be traced in various cultures, and literary traditions.

REL 670 WORKSHOP (Credits: 1 TO 6)

Intensive study of selected problems (e.g., the teaching of religion in secondary school, medical ethics) to meet particular needs of participating students. Titles vary.

REL 679 ETHICS IN AN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY: THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BUSINESS IN SOCIETY (Credits: 3)

(Also listed as LAW 695 and MGT 695.) Ethical responsibilities of business in light of political, moral, social, and religious considerations. Emphasis on analysis and evaluation of the changing framework of responsibilities facing both business organizations and their leaders.

REL 687 EVOLUTION, RELIGION AND ETHICS (Credits: 4)

Introduction to the biological, philosophical, theological, and ethical aspects of evolution

REL 693 SEMINAR IN RELIGION (Credits: 4)

Topics vary.

REL 694 EXISTENTIALISM (Credits: 3 TO 4)

(Also listed as PHL 694.) Representative writers of the existentialist movement.

REL 701 READING AND RESEARCH IN RELIGION (Credits: 2 TO 4)

Intensive research in specialized areas. Students must submit written proposals, with faculty approval, for acceptance into course.

PREREQUISITE: A MINIMUM OF 30 HOURS OF ADVANCED WORK IN
RELIGION OR APPROVED RELATED COURSES; RELATED
COURSES MUST BE APPROVED BY THE CHAIR OF
THE DEPARTMENT.

REL 702 READING AND RESEARCH IN RELIGION (Credits: 2 TO 4)

Intensive research in specialized areas. Students must submit written proposals, with faculty approval, for acceptance into course.

PREREQUISITE: A MINIMUM OF 30 HOURS OF ADVANCED WORK IN
RELIGION OR APPROVED RELATED COURSES.
RELATED COURSES MUST BE APPROVED BY THE
CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT.

REL 703 READING AND RESEARCH IN RELIGION (Credits: 2 TO 4)

Intensive research in specialized areas. Students must submit written proposals, with faculty approval, for acceptance into course.

PREREQUISITE: A MINIMUM OF 30 HOURS OF ADVANCED WORK IN
RELIGION OR APPROVED RELATED COURSES; RELATED
COURSES MUST BE APPROVED BY THE CHAIR OF
THE DEPARTMENT.