The Religious Studies Program is an interdisciplinary unit within the College of Arts & Sciences, with participation from faculty and students from across the entire University. Our undergraduate program provides both an introduction to the scholarly study of religion and broad training in the liberal arts. We study religion in its own right and as a lens through which to view the human condition, contemporary human societies, intellectual and social history, spirituality, and ethics. Students major or minor in religious studies in order to pursue careers as educators or scholars of religion, to work toward becoming clerical or lay ministers in a variety of traditions, to prepare for professional school, to pursue graduate education in allied humanities or social science disciplines and/or to explore their own deepest interests.
Courses
RELG 103.
Introduction to Bible.
(3)
Survey of Bible in historical context.
RELG 104.
Beginning New Testament Greek.
(3)
(Also offered as GREK 104)
Introduction to New Testament Greek.
RELG 105.
Religion and the Arts.
(3)
Introduction to the relationship between religion and culture as reflected in the arts.
RELG 106.
Intermediate New Testament Greek.
(3)
(Also offered as GREK 106)
A continuation of the introductory course. Recommended is one semester of Greek or some equivalent instruction. Goal of the course is an independent and self-confident dialogue with the Greek language and the rediscovery of biblical texts.
RELG 107.
Living World Religions.
(3)
Introduction to major living world religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.
RELG 109.
Biblical Hebrew I.
(4)
(Also offered as MLNG 109)
Introduction to the language of the Hebrew Bible.
RELG 230.
Hebrew Scriptures.
(3)
Pentateuch and the historical books of the Old Testament.
{Fall}
RELG 231.
Hebrew Prophets.
(3)
Prophetic books and later Hebrew scriptural writings.
RELG 232.
Christian Scriptures.
(3)
New Testament and early Christian history.
RELG 247.
Studies in Religions.
(3 ?)
Elementary topics in the study of world religions. Course may be repeated up to three times provided the topics vary.
RELG 263.
Eastern Religions.
(3)
A study of major Asian traditions, such as Taoism, Hinduism and Buddhism.
{Fall}
RELG 264.
Western Religions.
(3)
A study of major Western traditions, such as Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
{Spring}
RELG 303.
Introduction to Black Liberation and Religion.
(3)
(Also offered as AFST 303)
Students will be introduced to the Black experience, which necessitates the redefinition of God and Jesus Christ in the lives of Black people as the struggle for transcendental and political freedom.
RELG 306 / 506.
Reformation Era, 1500?1600.
(3)
(Also offered as HIST 306)
Religious revolution and concurrent developments in European politics, society and culture.
RELG 323.
History of the Jewish People to 1492.
(3)
(Also offered as HIST 323)
Survey of Jewish history in Ancient and Medieval times, stressing major religious, intellectual, political and social developments. Traces the transformation of the Hebrews into the Jews and Israelite religion into Judaism, Highlights the Rabbinic era and the diaspora experience in the Islamic and Christian worlds.
{Fall}
RELG 324 / 524.
Modern History of the Jewish People.
(3)
(Also offered as HIST 324)
Survey in ethnic history stressing political, religious and social developments from the expulsion from Spain (1492) to the present. Concentrates on European Jewry but will include consideration of American Jewish community, modern anti-semitism and rise of the state of Israel.
{Spring 2004 and alternate years}
RELG 326.
History of Christianity to 1517.
(3)
(Also offered as HIST 326)
The history of Christianity from its beginnings in Palestine to the eve of the Protestant Reformation. Primary focus will be on the rich variety of forms–doctrinal, liturgical and institutional–that Christianity assumed through the Medieval centuries. Also of concern will be its contributions and significance as a civilizing force.
{Fall}
RELG 327.
History of Christianity, 1517 to Present.
(3)
(Also offered as HIST 327)
The development of Christianity from the Protestant Reformation into the modern world, including biography, doctrine, liturgy, institutions and religious practice, together with the interaction of Christianity with society at large.
{Spring}
RELG 333 / 533.
Ritual Symbols and Behavior.
(3)
(Also offered as ANTH 333)
Ethnographic studies and a variety of anthropological approaches to ritual are read to examine the defining characteristics of ritual activity and its contemporary significance in peoples' lives.
RELG 343.
Buddhist Philosophy.
(3)
(Also offered as PHIL 333)
This course traces the evolution of such topics as karma and rebirth and the nature of the liberated mind as discussed in the Buddhist traditions of India, Tibet, East Asia and the modern West.
Prerequisite: one course in Philosophy.
RELG 347.
Topics in Religious Studies.
(3, may be repeated 3 times ?)
Studies in major religious figures or movements. Topic varies.
RELG 350.
Religion and Literature.
(3)
An introduction exploring relationships between the literary and religious traditions.
{Fall}
RELG 355.
Atheism: Trends and Critiques.
(3)
This class surveys classical and contemporary currents in atheism.We will consider different definitions and types of Atheism, current demographic and psychological profiles of atheists, and key atheistic critiques of arguments for the existence of God.
Prerequisite: 107 or 264.
RELG 361.
Modern Christian Thought.
(3)
(Also offered as PHIL 361)
Background of the intellectual issues facing Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions today.
Prerequisite: one course in Religious Studies or Philosophy.
RELG 365.
Philosophy of Religion.
(3)
(Also offered as PHIL 365)
Philosophic analysis of some major concepts and problems in religion.
Prerequisite: one course in Religious Studies or Philosophy.
RELG *407.
Sanskrit I.
(3)
(Also offered as LING, MLNG 407)
An introduction to the Sanskrit language in conjunction with readings from classical Sanskrit literature in translation.
RELG *408.
Sanskrit II.
(3)
(Also offered as MLNG 408)
The continuation of Sanskrit I: the completion of the study of Sanskrit grammar and an introduction to the reading of Sanskrit texts.
RELG *413.
Kierkegaard.
(3)
(Also offered as PHIL *413)
Prerequisite: one course in Religious Studies or Philosophy.
RELG *422.
Sociology of Religion.
(3)
(Also offered as SOC 422)
Study of belief, commitment, and practice within religious and spiritual traditions and institutions, with a focus on contemporary United States, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Prerequisite: 107 or 263 or 264 or SOC 101.
{Spring}
RELG 426 / 626.
History of the Holocaust.
(3)
Pugach
(Also offered as HIST 426)
An examination of the motives, methods and execution of the destruction of the Jews by Nazi Germany and the responses of Jews, Western Powers, the Churches and Righteous Gentiles in the context of Jewish and world history.
RELG *430.
American Religious Communication.
(3)
(Also offered as CJ 430)
This course examines the roles of religious communication during the Puritan period, the first and second awakenings and the period of media evangelism. The course examines various types of communicators, messages, audiences and channels of persuasion.
RELG *431.
Ch?an and Zen.
(3)
(Also offered as PHIL *431)
An examination of key writings by Chinese Ch’an teachers (e.g., Huineng and Tung Shan), medieval Japanese Zen teachers (e.g., Eisai and Dogen) and modern Japanese thinkers (e.g., Suzuki and Nishitani).
Prerequisite: 263 or 343 or PHIL 333 or PHIL 334 or PHIL 336.
RELG *434.
South Asian Mystical Traditions.
(3)
(Also offered as PHIL *434)
This course will examine a wide range of mystical thought and experience in South Asia from the first millennium BCE through the medieval period in Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
Prerequisite: 263 or 343 or PHIL 333 or PHIL 334.
RELG *438.
Indian Buddhist Philosophy.
(3)
(Also offered as PHIL *438)
A survey of Hinayana and Mahayana philosophical thought as it developed in South Asia, together with its religious, historical and social context.
Prerequisite: 343 or PHIL 333 or PHIL 334.
RELG *440.
Summer Seminar in Buddhism.
(3 to a maximum of 6 ?)
(Also offered as PHIL *440.)
Two-week intensive summer course at Jemez Bodhi Manda Zen Center. Study of both theory and practice with visiting professors from various universities. Opportunity for directed meditation for interested participants.
Prerequisite: 263 or 343 or PHIL 333 or PHIL 334 or PHIL 336.
RELG 441 / 641.
History of Religion in America.
(3)
Szasz
(Also offered as HIST 441)
This class will cover the rise and development of the nation’s religious groups, from first contact to the present day. The focus will be on the social impact of the groups and how they influenced the development of American life.
RELG *447.
Seminar in Religious Studies.
(1-3, may be repeated 3 times ?)
Major religious figures or movements. Topic varies.
Prerequisite: one RELG course.
RELG *448.
Seminar in Hindu Tradition.
(1-3, may be repeated 3 times ?)
The origins and development of the traditional religion of India.
RELG *450.
Spanish Mysticism.
(3)
A study of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross in the contexts of the Renaissance, mystical theology, and the history and culture of Spain.
RELG *452.
Medieval English Mystics.
(3)
A study of the literary and religious aspects of the English contributions to Christian mystical theology in the works of the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing and similar works.
RELG 453.
Asian Studies Thesis.
(3)
(Also offered as COMP, HIST, PHIL, POLS 453)
Supervised research in one or more disciplines leading to an undergraduate thesis for the major in Asian Studies.
RELG *457.
Seminar in Islamic Tradition.
(3 to a maximum of 12 ?)
Topics in classical and contemporary Islamic thought and life. Course may be repeated up to three times provided the topics vary.
Prerequisite: 107 or 264.
RELG *463.
Seminar in Biblical Studies.
(3 to a maximum of 6 ?)
Topics in the literary and historical analysis of Biblical texts.
Prerequisite: 230 or 231 or 232.
RELG 464.
Seminar in Philosophy of Religion.
(3 to a maximum of 12 ? [3 to a maximum of 6 ?])
(Also offered as PHIL 464)
Advanced topics in philosophy of religion.
Prerequisite: 15 hours Philosophy or Religious Studies coursework.
RELG 465.
C. S. Lewis.
(3)
Treats of the literary and theological writings of this 20th-century thinker.
RELG *475.
Dante in Translation.
(3)
(Also offered as ITAL 475)
Principally the Vita Nuova and the Divine Comedy.
RELG *482.
New Mexico Hispanic Religious Arts.
(3)
Religion-related material culture fashioned by New Mexico Hispanics (painting, sculpture, architecture) in the context of ethnohistory.
RELG *483.
New Mexico Hispanic Ritual.
(3)
Religious rituals and customs enacted by New Mexico Hispanics (songs, plays, ceremonies) in the context of ethnohistory.
RELG *491.
African-American Religious Traditions.
(3)
(Also offered as AFST 491)
This course will examine the bipolarity of religion in African-American history, showing how Black religion in the U.S. has served as an institution both for acculturation and also for self and cultural assertion.
RELG 497.
Independent Studies.
(1-3, may be repeated 2 times ?)
Restriction: permission of program chairperson.
RELG 506 / 306.
Reformation Era, 1500?1600.
(3)
(Also offered as HIST 506)
Religious revolution and concurrent developments in European politics, society and culture.
RELG 507.
Teaching World Religions.
(3)
Preparation for teaching courses about living world religions. Includes teaching experience in 107.
RELG 524 / 324.
Modern History of the Jewish People.
(3)
(Also offered as HIST 524)
Survey in ethnic history stressing political, religious and social developments from the expulsion from Spain (1492) to the present. Concentrates on European Jewry but will include consideration of American Jewish community, modern anti-semitism and rise of the state of Israel.
{Spring 2004 and alternate years}
RELG 533 / 333.
Ritual Symbols and Behavior.
(3)
(Also offered as ANTH 533)
Ethnographic studies and a variety of anthropological approaches to ritual are read to examine the defining characteristics of ritual activity and its contemporary significance in peoples' lives.
RELG 547.
Advanced Seminar in Religious Studies.
(3 to a maximum of 6 ?)
RELG 551.
M.A. Problems.
(1-6 to a maximum of 12 ?)
Tutorial arrangement with a member of the graduate faculty.
RELG 560 / 360.
Christian Classics.
(3)
(Also offered as PHIL 560)
A study of major writings in the Christian tradition, written by such persons as Origen, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin and Teresa of Avila.
Prerequisite: one course in Religious Studies
RELG 626 / 426.
History of the Holocaust.
(3)
Pugach
(Also offered as HIST 626)
An examination of the motives, methods and execution of the destruction of the Jews by Nazi Germany and the responses of Jews, Western Powers, the Churches and Righteous Gentiles in the context of Jewish and world history.
RELG 641 / 441.
History of Religion in America.
(3)
Szasz
(Also offered as HIST 641)
This class will cover the rise and development of the nation’s religious groups, from first contact to the present day. The focus will be on the social impact of the groups and how they influenced the development of American life.
