RELIGIOUS STUDIES PROGRAM COURSES SUMMER AND FALL 2017
SUMMER 2017 RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSE
Number
Title
Instructor
Summer Session
Day/Time
Prereq.
RS 333
Early Christian Lit: The New Testament
Norman
July 17-Aug 13
M-Th, 9-12 None
This course focuses on developing skills that students can use for further study in variety of fields while developing an
understanding of early Christian communities and literature. This is a well-paced course for summer school, based in
conversational lectures and discussions supported with technology and a clear, engaging textbook. Graded exercises
encourage development and improvement over the course and should be low-anxiety vehicles if students prepare as
instructed and participate consistently. Students with a range of career and field interests and a range of preparation
have taken this course successfully in past summers. Meets LIT requirement. Honors Option. Review over coffee at 9;
new material/conversation begins at 9:30, M-Th.
RS GATEWAY COURSE FOR FALL: OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS/FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS ENCOURAGED/NO PREREQUISITES
RS 102: Exploring Religion in Sickness & Health (formerly taught under the topic number RS 101)
How do religious peoples understand and live in sickness and health? How does physical well-being connect to spiritual
well-being? Medicine to meaning-making? How does looking at religion in sickness and health provide insight into its
roles in different cultures and contexts? What is “religion”? “Sickness”? “Health”? How can we understand their
relationships? From Southeast Asia to the Caribbean, Africa and the Mediterranean, we’ll approach these questions
using perspectives from anthropology, history, sociology, legal studies and the medical sciences, among others. And
we’ll be coming home to Wisconsin/U.S.A. along the way to examine these questions as well. Skills Building:
comparative and interdisciplinary analysis, religious literacy and cultural competency. Required for: RS Major and RS
Certificate. Counts toward the Global Health Certificate and the CALS International Studies requirement. Honors section.
NEW COURSES IN FALL 2017
RS is very excited to announce 3 new courses, all appropriate for students without previous work in RS.
RS 200: Jewish Law, Business and Ethics
How do Jewish texts inform modern business practices in the multi-billion dollar modern kosher industry? Can Jews
drink and sell coffee? These are just some of the questions that will be answered in “Jewish Law, Business, and Ethics.”
By focusing on legislation relating to business and ethics, this course will introduce students to the development of
Jewish law over three millennia. No pre-req.
RS 311: Sects and Cults
This course explores new religious movements in the United States--those groups frequently referred to as "sects,"
"cults," and "fringe religions." We will be paying special attention to 6 key charges made against alternative
movements—for example, brainwashing, hypocrisy, and violence—as well as how these groups are portrayed in the
media. We will read some secondary material as well as various primary sources written by the founder and/or followers
of movements including: Christian Science, Latter-day Saints, Wicca, Jonestown, and the Branch Davidians. Through
these materials and scholarly analyses of these movements we will explore how they hope to change themselves,
society, and the world. Soph standing but instructor will admit freshmen.
RS 327: Christianity and the Almighty Dollar
From the Prosperity Gospel to Christian Freegans to vows of poverty, this course explores the variety of ways that
Christians have engaged in the economy. Using material culture, historical records, and biographies, we will analyze the
ways that religious groups have sought to sacralize the marketplace. Soph standing but instructor will admit freshmen.
ADVANCED TOPICS COURSE
RS 502: Special Topics in the Philosophy of Religion: Modern Jewish Philosophy
The history of modern Jewish philosophy can be read as a continuing attempt to grapple with the questions and
problems posed by the thought of Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). Beginning with Kant’s own explicit comments on
Judaism, we will follow this legacy as it informs a range of Jewish philosophers across the eighteenth, nineteenth, and
twentieth centuries. Along the way, we will ask questions concerning religion and law, morality and history, redemption
and war. Texts will include works by Mendelssohn, Cohen, Rosenzweig, Strauss, Arendt, Levinas, and Derrida.
ALL FALL 2017 RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES
Freshmen interested in sophomore standing courses are encouraged to contact instructors about enrollment.
Number
RS 102
RS 173
RS 200
RS 205
RS 234
RS 234
RS 267
RS 270
RS 311
RS 327
RS 335
RS 342
RS 343
Title
Religion in Sickness and Health
Consuming Happiness
Jewish Law, Business and Ethics
Islamic World: Middle East 500-1500
Western Religious Writing (Comm B)
Western Religious Writing (Comm B)
Asian Religions
Environment and Religion
Sects and Cults
Christianity and the Almighty Dollar
King David
Mythology of Scandinavia
Anthropology of Religion
Instructor
Norman
TBA
Rosenblum
Chamberlain
Rosenhagen
Stern
Hansen
Gade
Ridgely
Ridgely
Hutton
Mellor
Al-Mohammad
Day/Time
M/W 11-11:50
T/Th 9:30-10:45
M/W 9:55-10:45
T/Th 9:30-10:45
T/Th 1-2:15
T/Th 9:30-10:45
T/Th 4-5:15
T/Th 9:55-10:45
M/W 2:30-3:45
M/W 4-5:15
M/W 11-11:50
T/Th 2:30-3:45
Th 6-8:30
Room
Soc Sci 5206
Na Nicholas 2255
Ingraham 22
Humanities 1217
Sterling 1339
Soc Sci 4308
Grainger 1295
Humanities 1641
Soc Sci 6203
Soc Sci 6240
Van Hise 494
Ingraham 222
Soc Sci 4308
RS 350
RS 352
RS 370
RS 421
RS 502
RS 512
RS 600
Meulenbeld
DuBois
Gade
Khedup
Stern
Carlsson
Hansen
M/W 2:30-3:45
T/Th 1-2:15
T/Th 1-2:15
M/W 2:30-3:45
T/Th 4-5:15
T/Th 9:30-10:45
W 4-6:30
Van Hise 494
Ingraham 120
Soc Sci 4308
Van Hise 114
TBA
Van Vleck B215
Van Hise 382
RS 601
Introduction to Taoism
Shamanism
Islam: Religion and Culture
Survey of Tibetan Buddhism
S.T.Phil of Rel: Mod Jewish Phil
The Enlightenment and its Critics
Religion in Critical Perspective
For RS Majors/Certificate Students
and graduate students, with
permission from RS Program Office
Capstone in Religious Studies
Norman
W 4-6
Soc Sci 6112
RS 624
For RS Majors only by permission
Meditation-Buddhism and Hinduism
Buhnemann
T/Th 11-12:15
Van Hise 399
Prereq.
None
None
None
None
Comm A
Comm A
None
Soph *
Soph *
Soph *
Soph
JR
Anth 104 or
instr perm
Soph
Soph
Soph *
Soph
JR
Soph
Contact RS
Program
Office
Contact RS
Program
Office
So/1S.Asian
Rel course/
instr. perm.