REL100.001
Introduction to Religious Studies

Expressing devotion in a South Indian temple

Professor
Dr. Steven Ramey
sramey@bama.ua.edu

Student Assistant
Jaci Gresham
reldesk@bama.ua.edu

Office: 203 Manly Hall
Office Phone: 348-4218
Office Hour:
Course: TR, 12:30-1:45
Location: ten Hoor 30

Description

As a general introduction to the academic study of religion, Rel 100 examines the relationships between religion and human beliefs, social practices, and culture. In this course we will survey a broad number of important debates in the history of religious studies, such as the definition of religion, the insider/outsider problem, theories on the origins of religion, the comparison of religions, religion's psychological, sociological, and political functions, and the manner in which human communities authorize systems of behavior. We will also look at two different religious traditions in India, namely Hinduism and Christianity, to ground these debates in the conceptions and practices of a particular place and to provide an opportunity to apply theoretical conceptions from religious studies to specific data. As a "Core" Humanities course, Rel 100's goal is for all students to learn to define, accurately describe, and compare in a non-evaluative manner so as to discover significant similarities and differences in various forms of human behavior.

Note: This course is not an introduction to world religions; rather, it is an introduction to the study of religion and its tools, in which religion is conceived as an observable aspect of human culture and history.

Fall Syllabus 2008 (PDF)

Fall Schedule 2008 (PDF)

For additional required course materials, please login to eLearning and visit the eLearning page for this course.

Books (required)

Raj, Selva & Dempsey, Corinne eds
Popular Christianity in India: Riting Between the Lines
SUNY Press, 2002
ISBN: 0791455203

McCutcheon, Russell
Studying Religion: An Introduction
Equinox Press, 2007, (US Distributor David Brown Book Co)
ISBN: 1845530129