{"id":196,"date":"2024-02-02T17:31:24","date_gmt":"2024-02-02T17:31:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calendar.upei.ca\/future\/chapter\/religious-studies\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T18:55:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T18:55:55","slug":"religious-studies","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/calendar.upei.ca\/current\/chapter\/religious-studies\/","title":{"raw":"Religious Studies","rendered":"Religious Studies"},"content":{"raw":"

http:\/\/upei.ca\/religiousstudies<\/span><\/a><\/p>\r\n

Religious Studies Faculty\r\n<\/strong>Robert H. Dennis, Assistant Professor, Chair\r\nEdward Y.J. Chung, Professor\r\nAirana Patey, Assistant Professor<\/span>\r\nJoe Velaidum, Associate Professor<\/p>\r\n

THE RELIGIOUS STUDIES PROGRAM<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

The Department of Religious Studies offers courses of general interest on religion as well as Major and Minor programs. Religion is one of the vital elements of human existence. Religious inspirations and aspirations help to shape the personal, cultural and social life of human beings; in turn, religious systems reflect and respond to the historical and social settings in which they find themselves. No understanding of human life is complete without some consideration of the basic questions of truth and meaning posed by religions and the rich variety of answers professed and lived within the religious traditions of the world.<\/p>\r\n

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES\r\n<\/strong>Forty-two semester hours in Religious Studies are required for the Major. These must include:<\/p>\r\n

* RS 1050 or both RS 1010 and RS 1020,\r\n* At least one course each from groups B and F,\r\n* At least two courses (one of which must be at the 3000 level) from each of groups C, D, and E.\r\nThe remaining hours of credit may be chosen from among all Religious Studies offerings, including cross-listed courses.<\/p>\r\nNOTE: As per Academic Regulation #1 h), all undergraduate degree programs require successful completion of IKE-1040, one of UPEI-1010, 1020 or 1030, and a Writing Intensive Course.<\/strong>\r\n

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES\r\n<\/strong>Twenty-one semester hours in Religious Studies are required for the Minor. These must include:<\/p>\r\n

* RS 1050 or both RS 1010 and RS 1020,\r\n* At least one course from each of groups B, C, D, and E,\r\n* At least two courses in total must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.\r\nThe remaining hours of credit may be chosen from among all Religious Studies offerings, including cross-listed courses.<\/p>\r\n

Christian Studies Program<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

The Department of Religious Studies offers a Minor program in Christian Studies. Christianity is not only the single most powerful influence on the history and development of Western civilization and culture, but the largest and most widespread religion in the world today. The Minor in Christian Studies offers an academic and scholarly exploration, open to students of all backgrounds, of the fundamental Christian teachings and values, and of Christianity\u2019s continuing role in the shaping of the contemporary world and its issues.<\/p>\r\n

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN CHRISTIAN STUDIES\r\n<\/strong>a. Three core courses: 2020, 2110, 2320\r\nb. Two courses from group C (Western Religious History)\r\nc. Two courses from group E (Religion and Modernity)\r\nd. At least two courses in total should be at the 3000 level<\/p>\r\n

Catholic Studies Program<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

The Department of Religious Studies offers a Minor program in Catholic Studies. The Catholic tradition has had a profound impact on all aspects of Western culture and civilization, from learning and the arts to moral values and social structures. The Minor in Catholic Studies offers an academic and scholarly exploration, open to students of all backgrounds, of Catholicism\u2019s rich heritage and its contemporary engagement with both Western and global issues.<\/p>\r\n

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN CATHOLIC STUDIES\r\n<\/strong>a. One core course \u2014 1710\r\nb. Two courses from 2110, 2835, 3310, 3320, 3770,3870\r\nc. Two courses from\u00a02750, 2790,\u00a03740,\u00a03750, 3760\r\nd. Two courses from 2760, 2770, 2780, 2860, 3735, 3780\r\nAt least two courses in total should be at the 3000 level.<\/p>\r\n

RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES\r\n<\/strong>A. General Introductions\r\n<\/strong>1010 Religions of the World: Western Traditions\r\n1020 Religions of the World: Eastern Traditions\r\n1050 World Religions<\/p>\r\n

B. Thematic Introductions\r\n<\/strong>1030 Myths of Love, Sex and Marriage\r\n1040 Myths of Hate and Evil<\/p>\r\n

C. Western Religious History\r\n<\/strong>1710 Introduction to Catholic Christianity\r\n2020 Christianity\r\n2060 The Great Conversation II: 21st<\/sup> Century Perspective\r\n2110 The Bible\r\n2430 Judaism\r\n2440 Islam\r\n2750 Crises in Religious Authority\r\n2780 Catholic Sacraments and Ritual\r\n2835 Development in Early Catholic Thought\r\n2840 Introduction to Medieval Theology and Philosophy\r\n2860 Spiritual Journey of Christian Mystics\r\n3020 Cults, Sects, and New Religions\r\n3310 History of Christianity to Reformation (see History 3210)\r\n3320 History of Christianity from the Reformation to the Present (see History 3220)\r\n3760 Thomas Aquinas and the Thomist Tradition\r\n3770 Death and the Afterlife in the Catholic Tradition\r\n3870 The New Testament<\/p>\r\n

D. Eastern <\/strong>Religions and<\/strong> Comparative Religion\r\n<\/strong>2210 Buddhism East and West\r\n2420 Hinduism\r\n2510 Japanese Religion and Culture\r\n2610 Chinese Religion and Philosophy\r\n2790 Catholicism, Christian Unity, and World Religions\r\n3040 Alternative Spiritualities\r\n3220 Religious Ethics East and West\r\n3230 Interreligious Dialogue\r\n3520 Mysticism in Buddhism and Christianity<\/p>\r\n

E. Religion and Modernity\r\n<\/strong>2120 Why are we Here: Explorations on the Meaning of Life\r\n2320 Christianity and the Moral Imagination\r\n2350 Skepticism, Agnosticism, Atheism and Belief\r\n2360 Religion and Politics\r\n2620 Psychology of Religion\r\n2760 Catholic Moral Thought\r\n2770 Catholic Social Teaching\r\n3510 Religion and Society (see Sociology\/Anthropology 4210)\r\n3620 Philosophy of Religion (see Philosophy 3620)\r\n3735 Pleasure and Pain: The Catholic Body\r\n3740 Beauty and Belief\r\n3750 Faith and Reason in Modern Catholic Thought\r\n3780 Moral Problems and the Catholic Tradition\r\n3860 Science and Religion<\/p>\r\n

F. Advanced Seminar\r\n<\/strong>4010 Theory and Method in the Study of Religion<\/p>\r\n

Special Topics and Directed Studies\r\n<\/strong>2880, 3880, and 4880 Special Topics\r\n4510 and 4520 Directed Studies<\/p>\r\n

Other\r\n<\/strong>1210 Classical Mythology (see Classics 2210)\r\n2720 Medieval Art (see Fine Arts 2120)<\/p>\r\n\r\n

RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n

1010 RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD: WESTERN TRADITIONS\r\nThis course is an introduction to the major living religions of the West: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Attention is directed to the ways in which each defines and promotes human fulfilment. Various audio-visual materials complement the lectures to convey an awareness of the spiritual and cultural dimensions of religion.\r\nThree hours a week\r\nNOTE: Credit will not be permitted if a student has already received credit for RS 1050.<\/p>\r\n

1020 RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD: EASTERN TRADITIONS\r\nThis course is an introduction to the major living religions of the East: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Attention is directed to the ways in which each defines and promotes human fulfilment. Various audio-visual materials complement the lectures to convey an awareness of the spiritual and cultural dimensions of religion.\r\nThree hours a week\r\nNOTE: Credit will not be permitted if a student has already received credit for RS 1050.<\/p>\r\n

1030 MYTHS OF LOVE, SEX, AND MARRIAGE\r\nThis course explores the great mythologies of love. The historical significance of religion and love is discussed, leading to a better understanding of our current religious values and secular presuppositions. Recurring themes drawn from various Western religious traditions may include the topics of fidelity, marriage, divine love, human love, sexuality, and personal identity.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

1040 MYTHS OF HATE AND EVIL\r\nThis course explores the great mythologies of hate and evil. The historical development of this topic in Western literature is discussed, leading to a better understanding of our current religious and secular presuppositions of hatred and evil. Recurring themes may include scapegoating, the Devil, theodicy, heresy, violence, immorality, and religious intolerance.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

1050 WORLD RELIGIONS\r\nThis course is an introduction to the major western and eastern religions of the world: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. \u00a0Students will explore the origins of each religion, its core beliefs and its central practices.\r\nThree credit hours\r\nNOTE: Credit will not be permitted if a student has already received credit for RS 1010 and\/or 1020.<\/p>\r\n

1060 IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD: ANCIENT THOUGHT AND BEYOND\r\nThis course is a global historical introduction to various religious, secular, and philosophical speculations about questions that are common to human experience across different historical and cultural contexts. Recurring themes may include different visions of creation, the nature of reality, and understandings of immanence and transcendence. Material will be drawn from traditional and non-traditional sources, as well as contemporary critical scholarship, from the beginning of recorded history until the year 1500.\r\nThree credit hours<\/p>\r\n

1210 CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY\r\n(See Classics 2210<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n

1710 INTRODUCTION TO CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY\r\nThis course provides an introduction to the central aspects of Catholic Christianity. Topics may include faith, revelation, the Trinity, creation, the human person, the problem of sin and evil, grace, salvation, and the church\u2019s relation with the world.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

2020 CHRISTIANITY\r\nThis course begins with an examination of the basic teachings of the Christian religion, particularly the nature of God, Christ, the Church, and the process of salvation. The course explores the characteristic doctrines and practices of Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, with special consideration of their roles in Canadian society and culture. Smaller groups like the Hutterites, Mennonites, and Quakers may also receive attention.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

2060 IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD: MODERN THOUGHT AND BEYOND\r\nThis course is a global historical consideration of various religious, secular, and philosophical speculations about questions that are common to human experience across different historical and cultural contexts. Recurring themes may include the place of religion in the public sphere, the relationship between science and religion, and discourses on human rights. Material will be drawn from traditional and non-traditional sources, as well as contemporary critical scholarship, from the year 1500 to present.\r\nThree credit hours\r\nNote: RS 1060 strongly encouraged but not required.<\/p>\r\n

2110 THE BIBLE\r\nThe Bible lies at the heart of three major world religions \u2013 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam \u2013 and it has been shaping Western civilization and culture for over 1500 years. This course examines the essentials of the Bible: its origins, its contents, its themes, and the ways it has been used in religion and society.\r\nThree credit hours<\/p>\r\n

2120 WHY ARE WE HERE: EXPLORATIONS ON THE MEANING OF LIFE\r\nThis course explores various religious, secular, scientific, and philosophical answers to the question: \u201cwhy are we here\u201d?\r\nThree credit hours<\/p>\r\n

2210 BUDDHISM EAST AND WEST\r\nThis course is an introduction to Buddhism, the most influential and popular religion in East Asia. There is special emphasis on the historical development of its major doctrines, practices, and institutions in India, and their transformation in East Asia (China, Japan and Korea). The course studies the recent spread of schools such as Zen in Europe and North America, and also investigates their impact on Western religion and thought.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

2320 CHRISTIANITY AND THE MORAL IMAGINATION\r\nThis course explores the place of morality in Christian thought and life, the basis and content of Christian moral teaching, and Christian approaches to contemporary moral and ethical issues.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

<\/a>2350 SKEPTICISM, AGNOSTICISM, ATHEISM, BELIEF\r\nThis course is an historical examination of the meaning of existence for several theologians, religious thinkers, philosophers, and scientists, and the importance or irrelevance that religious faith and values hold in their systems of thought and various historical circumstances. The historical meanings of skepticism, agnosticism, atheism and belief are studied alongside various contemporary issues, such as the problems posed by science and technology. Writers with both philosophical and theological perspectives are considered.\r\nCross-listed with Philosophy 2350.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

2360 RELIGION AND POLITICS\r\nThis course examines the intersection between religion and politics, primarily from the perspective of the western intellectual tradition. With the help of both classical and contemporary texts, students will explore such issues as the separation between church and state, the role of religious argument and authority in public reason, the difference between a secular society and a secularist society, and the basis and implications of the freedom of religion.\r\nCross-listed with Political Science 2360\r\nThree credit hours<\/p>\r\n

2420 HINDUISM\r\nThis course explores the development of Hinduism from its origins in the Indus Valley Civilization and the arrival of the Indo-Aryans through to the maturation of Hindu culture and civilization. The course covers myths of the Hindu gods and goddesses, approaches to personal and social life, karma and reincarnation, yoga, meditation and the quest for absolute truth. The influences of Islam and European colonialism on Hinduism, and Hindu influences on modern Western religion and thought, also receive attention.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

2430 JUDAISM\r\nThis course follows the development of Judaism from biblical times to the present day. After considering the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Israelites, Jews and Samaritans, the course examines the character of Jewish life and community as it was formed by the laws of the Torah, the commentaries of the Talmud, and the spirituality of Kabbalism and Hasidism. The course also explores the shaping of modern Judaism by such factors as emancipation, the Holocaust, and the establishment of the state of Israel.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

2440 ISLAM\r\nBeginning with the establishment of Islam as a religion and a community under Muhammad, the course follows the spread of Islamic culture and civilization, and gives a thorough introduction to the main Islamic teachings and their basis in the Qur\u2019an and Hadith. Finally, it covers some current issues such as relations with the modern West, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and contemporary \u201cIslamist\u201d movements.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

2510 JAPANESE RELIGION AND CULTURE\r\nThis course is an introduction to Japanese religion and culture. It examines the role of the \u201cNew Religions\u201d as well as the transformation of the older traditions (Shinto, Buddhism, Confucianism) in Japanese society. The course also explores the impact of Western thought and modern developments on traditional Japanese religion and the balance between tradition and modernity in Japan.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

<\/a>2610 CHINESE RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY\r\nThis course is an introduction to Chinese religion and philosophy. It examines the so-called \u201cThree Teachings\u201d in China: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Most of the course deals with the basic philosophical concepts, moral values and religious beliefs of these major traditions. Attention is directed also to their impact on traditional China, as well as on other East Asian countries, including Japan and Korea. The course concludes by considering the contemporary situation of each tradition in response to recent economic, social and political changes.\r\nCross-listed with Philosophy 2640.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

2620 PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION\r\nPsychological theories and insights are used to explain and inquire into the nature of religious phenomena.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

2720 MEDIEVAL ART\r\n(See Fine Arts History 2120<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n

2750 CRISES IN RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY\r\nThis course explores challenges to religious authority that were precipitated by the discoveries of the New World, Galileo\u2019s theory of the universe, the critical reading of the Bible, and the claim of emerging nations to democratic forms of government.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

2760 CATHOLIC MORAL THOUGHT\r\nThis introduction to Catholic moral theology explores the foundational questions regarding the person as a moral agent, natural law, conscience, freedom, responsibility, Church magisterium, and the beatitudes.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

2770 CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING\r\nThis course provides a survey of Catholic thought on social ethics by exploring the principles of the common good and their influence on global issues such as human rights, the family, economics, politics, peace, and the environment.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

2780 CATHOLIC SACRAMENTS AND RITUAL\r\nThis course explores the relationship between the various mysteries of life and the liturgical rites of the Catholic faith. Topics may include community life, spiritual maturity, forgiveness, marriage, suffering, and death.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

2790 CATHOLICISM, CHRISTIAN UNITY, AND WORLD RELIGIONS\r\nThis course is a study of the texts and practices of dialogue, hospitality, and prayer that form the foundation of the Catholic Church\u2019s participation in the movement to promote relations with other Christian communities and world religions.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n2835 Developments in Early Catholic Thought\r\nThis course explores the historical development of the principal doctrines of Christianity from the period of the Early Church to the Middle Ages. Topics will include the doctrine of the Trinity, the doctrine of the Person of Christ, the nature of the Church, and the doctrine of the sacraments.\r\nThree hours a week\r\n

<\/a>2840 INTRODUCTION TO MEDIEVAL THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY\r\nThis course introduces major medieval thinkers and ideas, their sources in Neoplatonism and Aristotelianism, and their influences upon later philosophers and theologians. Topics may include the problem of evil, the relationship between faith and reason, the idea of salvation, and the certainty of human knowledge.\r\nCross-listed with Philosophy 2840.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

2860 SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF CHRISTIAN MYSTICS\r\nThis course provides a study of the spiritual journey and its impact on the transformation of the self. Themes from Catholic mystical literature may include: interiority, ascent, light, and darkness.\r\nThree credit hours<\/p>\r\n

2880 SPECIAL TOPICS\r\nThis is a course in which topics or issues in Religious Studies are explored and analyzed at an introductory level.<\/p>\r\n

3020 CULTS, SECTS AND NEW RELIGIONS\r\nThis course investigates various marginal or unorthodox religious movements which have existed in Europe and North America during the past two centuries. After an introductory discussion of the ways in which religious groups can be classified, the course is devoted to examining the origins, beliefs and practices of movements such as Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses, the Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) and the Unification Church (Moonies).\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

3040 ALTERNATIVE SPIRITUALITIES\r\nThis course examines how the quest for fresh and direct ways of encountering the sacred has driven much of human religious history. Increasingly, people in Western societies express dissatisfaction with both the traditional Judaeo-Christian religions and the purely materialistic and secular understanding of existence. This is a comparative survey of alternative forms of spirituality, focusing upon those arising from three major sources: Western occultism, Eastern religions and mysticism, and revived or reconstructed ancient spiritualities.\r\nThree credit hours<\/p>\r\n

<\/a>3220 RELIGIOUS ETHICS EAST AND WEST\r\nThis course is a study of religious ethics focusing on two major traditions: Confucianism, an \u201cethical humanism\u201d that emphasizes wisdom, and Christianity, a \u201cprophetic religion\u201d that emphasizes revelation. Specific ethical doctrines (e.g., suffering and sin, human nature, good and evil, love\/jen, moral self-cultivation, ideal human life and society) are compared from cross-cultural perspectives.\r\nCross-listed with Philosophy 3220.\r\nPREREQUISITE: Religious Studies 1050 or both Religious Studies 1010 and 1020, or permission of the instructor\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n3230 INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE\r\nThis lecture-seminar course explores interreligious dialogue, a growing topic in comparative religion. The major models, methodological questions, practical issues, and their ongoing developments are discussed from Western, Eastern, and comparative perspectives: e.g., Jewish-Christian-Islamic dialogue, ecumenical dialogue, Hindu-Christian dialogue, Buddhist-Christian dialogue, and Confucian-Christian dialogue. Various readings are selected from the current scholarship on relevant topics, theories, and ideas.\r\nPREREQUISITES: Any two Religious Studies, one of which must be at the 2000 level or higher, or permission of the instructor\r\nThree hours a week\r\n

3310 HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY TO THE REFORMATION\r\nAn examination of the growth and development of Christianity from the time of Jesus up to the Reformation. Special emphasis on the relationship between the growth of the Church and the broader historical context within which it occurred.\r\nCross-listed with History 3210.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

3320 HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY FROM THE REFORMATION TO THE PRESENT\r\nAn examination of some of the principal developments within Christianity from, and including, the Reformation until the present. Special emphasis on the relationship between these developments and the broader historical context within which they occurred.\r\nCross-listed with History 3220.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

3520 MYSTICISM IN BUDDHISM AND CHRISTIANITY\r\nThis course is an introduction to mysticism in two major traditions: Buddhism and Christianity. Some of the major Buddhist doctrines and practices are compared with those of Christianity. Special attention is given to notions of mystical experience, I-Thou relationship, God\/Emptiness, sainthood\/Buddhahood, and self-transformation. The approach is textual and comparative, using cross-cultural perspectives.\r\nPREREQUISITE: Any two Religious Studies, one of which must be at the 2000 level or higher, or permission of the instructor\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

3620 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION\r\n(See Philosophy 3620<\/a>)<\/p>\r\n3735 Pleasure and Pain: The Catholic Body\r\nThis course examines the understanding of the human person (body and soul) in Roman Catholic theology and history. Beginning with the debates on the Incarnation in the early church, the course explores the impact that doctrine had, and continues to have, on the development of Catholic theology, practice and culture. Topics to be discussed may include martyrdom, death, sexuality, asceticism, mysticism and liturgy.\r\nThree hours a week\r\n

3740 BEAUTY AND BELIEF\r\nThis course is an analysis of the relationship between artistic creativity and Catholic belief. Various visual, literary, musical and dramatic arts will be explored.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

3750 FAITH AND REASON IN MODERN CATHOLIC THOUGHT\r\nThis course studies major Catholic debates on the relation between faith and reason. Particular attention is directed to a reading of Pope John Paul\u2019s encyclical, Faith and Reason; 19th- and early 20th-century background; and its setting in the contemporary university.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

3760 THOMAS AQIUNAS AND THE THOMISTIC TRADITION\r\nThis course is intended as an introduction to the philosophical and theological thought of Thomas Aquinas. In addition to investigating Thomas\u2019 thoughts on questions of knowledge, God, and morality, and the relationship between faith and reason, we will also raise questions concerning his contribution to the history of philosophy, Christianity, and the development of western civilization. To accomplish all this, we will consider the writings of St. Thomas himself, as well as the writings of some key contributors to what is now called the \u201cThomistic renewal\u201d of the twentieth century, such as Etienne Gilson, Jacques Maritain, and Josef Pieper.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n3770 Death and the Afterlife in the Catholic Tradition\r\nThis course will examine Catholic ideas about what happens at and after death. It will look at the theology of death, ideas of heaven, hell and purgatory, as well as conceptions of death and the afterlife in popular culture (ex. ghosts and zombies), architecture, literature, etc. of Catholic Christianity.\r\nThree hours a week\r\n\r\n3780 Moral Problems and the Catholic Tradition\r\nThis course explores modern moral problems from the perspective of the Catholic tradition. Topics discussed may include sexuality and gender, contraception, abortion, and medically assisted dying.\r\nThree hours a week\r\n

3860 SCIENCE AND RELIGION\r\nThis course focuses on the current and historical interactions between science and religion. Readings from scientists, philosophers of science, theologians, and scholars of religion are included in this investigation of the interaction, conflict, and continuing dialogue between science and religion. This course aims to provide a better understanding of the current relationship between these two forces and a greater appreciation of their long history.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

3870 THE NEW TESTAMENT\r\nThis course examines the New Testament\u2019s historical context, literary genres, and impact on the formation of faith within early Christian communities.\r\nThree credit hours<\/p>\r\n

3880 SPECIAL TOPICS\r\nThis is a course in which topics or issues in Religious Studies are explored and analyzed at an intermediate undergraduate level.<\/p>\r\n

4010 THEORY AND METHOD IN THE STUDY OF RELIGION\r\nThis course explores various methods, theories, and research tools employed in the academic study of religion.\r\nPREREQUISITE: At least four previous courses in Religious Studies, two of which must be at the 2000-level or above.\r\nThree hours a week<\/p>\r\n

4510-4520 DIRECTED STUDIES\r\nThis is a course in selected topics in Religious Studies offered by visiting professors, or by way of supervised reading, or other special circumstances approved by the Chair and the Dean. Suggested topics include modern research on Jesus; biblical prophetic and apocalyptic literature; Jewish messianism and early christology; interreligious dialogue; Christianity in Asia; shamanism and folk religion in Asia; the thought of Paul Tillich and Karl Barth; the Ecumenical Movement (Protestant, Catholic, Jewish); religion, politics and the economy.\r\n(See Academic Regulation 9<\/a> for Regulations Governing Directed Studies.)<\/p>\r\n

4880 SPECIAL TOPICS\r\nThis is a course in which topics or issues in Religious Studies are explored and analyzed at an advanced undergraduate level.<\/p>","rendered":"

http:\/\/upei.ca\/religiousstudies<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Religious Studies Faculty
\n<\/strong>Robert H. Dennis, Assistant Professor, Chair
\nEdward Y.J. Chung, Professor
\nAirana Patey, Assistant Professor<\/span>
\nJoe Velaidum, Associate Professor<\/p>\n

THE RELIGIOUS STUDIES PROGRAM<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Department of Religious Studies offers courses of general interest on religion as well as Major and Minor programs. Religion is one of the vital elements of human existence. Religious inspirations and aspirations help to shape the personal, cultural and social life of human beings; in turn, religious systems reflect and respond to the historical and social settings in which they find themselves. No understanding of human life is complete without some consideration of the basic questions of truth and meaning posed by religions and the rich variety of answers professed and lived within the religious traditions of the world.<\/p>\n

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES
\n<\/strong>Forty-two semester hours in Religious Studies are required for the Major. These must include:<\/p>\n

* RS 1050 or both RS 1010 and RS 1020,
\n* At least one course each from groups B and F,
\n* At least two courses (one of which must be at the 3000 level) from each of groups C, D, and E.
\nThe remaining hours of credit may be chosen from among all Religious Studies offerings, including cross-listed courses.<\/p>\n

NOTE: As per Academic Regulation #1 h), all undergraduate degree programs require successful completion of IKE-1040, one of UPEI-1010, 1020 or 1030, and a Writing Intensive Course.<\/strong><\/p>\n

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES
\n<\/strong>Twenty-one semester hours in Religious Studies are required for the Minor. These must include:<\/p>\n

* RS 1050 or both RS 1010 and RS 1020,
\n* At least one course from each of groups B, C, D, and E,
\n* At least two courses in total must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.
\nThe remaining hours of credit may be chosen from among all Religious Studies offerings, including cross-listed courses.<\/p>\n

Christian Studies Program<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Department of Religious Studies offers a Minor program in Christian Studies. Christianity is not only the single most powerful influence on the history and development of Western civilization and culture, but the largest and most widespread religion in the world today. The Minor in Christian Studies offers an academic and scholarly exploration, open to students of all backgrounds, of the fundamental Christian teachings and values, and of Christianity\u2019s continuing role in the shaping of the contemporary world and its issues.<\/p>\n

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN CHRISTIAN STUDIES
\n<\/strong>a. Three core courses: 2020, 2110, 2320
\nb. Two courses from group C (Western Religious History)
\nc. Two courses from group E (Religion and Modernity)
\nd. At least two courses in total should be at the 3000 level<\/p>\n

Catholic Studies Program<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Department of Religious Studies offers a Minor program in Catholic Studies. The Catholic tradition has had a profound impact on all aspects of Western culture and civilization, from learning and the arts to moral values and social structures. The Minor in Catholic Studies offers an academic and scholarly exploration, open to students of all backgrounds, of Catholicism\u2019s rich heritage and its contemporary engagement with both Western and global issues.<\/p>\n

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN CATHOLIC STUDIES
\n<\/strong>a. One core course \u2014 1710
\nb. Two courses from 2110, 2835, 3310, 3320, 3770,3870
\nc. Two courses from\u00a02750, 2790,\u00a03740,\u00a03750, 3760
\nd. Two courses from 2760, 2770, 2780, 2860, 3735, 3780
\nAt least two courses in total should be at the 3000 level.<\/p>\n

RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES
\n<\/strong>A. General Introductions
\n<\/strong>1010 Religions of the World: Western Traditions
\n1020 Religions of the World: Eastern Traditions
\n1050 World Religions<\/p>\n

B. Thematic Introductions
\n<\/strong>1030 Myths of Love, Sex and Marriage
\n1040 Myths of Hate and Evil<\/p>\n

C. Western Religious History
\n<\/strong>1710 Introduction to Catholic Christianity
\n2020 Christianity
\n2060 The Great Conversation II: 21st<\/sup> Century Perspective
\n2110 The Bible
\n2430 Judaism
\n2440 Islam
\n2750 Crises in Religious Authority
\n2780 Catholic Sacraments and Ritual
\n2835 Development in Early Catholic Thought
\n2840 Introduction to Medieval Theology and Philosophy
\n2860 Spiritual Journey of Christian Mystics
\n3020 Cults, Sects, and New Religions
\n3310 History of Christianity to Reformation (see History 3210)
\n3320 History of Christianity from the Reformation to the Present (see History 3220)
\n3760 Thomas Aquinas and the Thomist Tradition
\n3770 Death and the Afterlife in the Catholic Tradition
\n3870 The New Testament<\/p>\n

D. Eastern <\/strong>Religions and<\/strong> Comparative Religion
\n<\/strong>2210 Buddhism East and West
\n2420 Hinduism
\n2510 Japanese Religion and Culture
\n2610 Chinese Religion and Philosophy
\n2790 Catholicism, Christian Unity, and World Religions
\n3040 Alternative Spiritualities
\n3220 Religious Ethics East and West
\n3230 Interreligious Dialogue
\n3520 Mysticism in Buddhism and Christianity<\/p>\n

E. Religion and Modernity
\n<\/strong>2120 Why are we Here: Explorations on the Meaning of Life
\n2320 Christianity and the Moral Imagination
\n2350 Skepticism, Agnosticism, Atheism and Belief
\n2360 Religion and Politics
\n2620 Psychology of Religion
\n2760 Catholic Moral Thought
\n2770 Catholic Social Teaching
\n3510 Religion and Society (see Sociology\/Anthropology 4210)
\n3620 Philosophy of Religion (see Philosophy 3620)
\n3735 Pleasure and Pain: The Catholic Body
\n3740 Beauty and Belief
\n3750 Faith and Reason in Modern Catholic Thought
\n3780 Moral Problems and the Catholic Tradition
\n3860 Science and Religion<\/p>\n

F. Advanced Seminar
\n<\/strong>4010 Theory and Method in the Study of Religion<\/p>\n

Special Topics and Directed Studies
\n<\/strong>2880, 3880, and 4880 Special Topics
\n4510 and 4520 Directed Studies<\/p>\n

Other
\n<\/strong>1210 Classical Mythology (see Classics 2210)
\n2720 Medieval Art (see Fine Arts 2120)<\/p>\n

RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES<\/strong><\/h1>\n

1010 RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD: WESTERN TRADITIONS
\nThis course is an introduction to the major living religions of the West: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Attention is directed to the ways in which each defines and promotes human fulfilment. Various audio-visual materials complement the lectures to convey an awareness of the spiritual and cultural dimensions of religion.
\nThree hours a week
\nNOTE: Credit will not be permitted if a student has already received credit for RS 1050.<\/p>\n

1020 RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD: EASTERN TRADITIONS
\nThis course is an introduction to the major living religions of the East: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Attention is directed to the ways in which each defines and promotes human fulfilment. Various audio-visual materials complement the lectures to convey an awareness of the spiritual and cultural dimensions of religion.
\nThree hours a week
\nNOTE: Credit will not be permitted if a student has already received credit for RS 1050.<\/p>\n

1030 MYTHS OF LOVE, SEX, AND MARRIAGE
\nThis course explores the great mythologies of love. The historical significance of religion and love is discussed, leading to a better understanding of our current religious values and secular presuppositions. Recurring themes drawn from various Western religious traditions may include the topics of fidelity, marriage, divine love, human love, sexuality, and personal identity.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

1040 MYTHS OF HATE AND EVIL
\nThis course explores the great mythologies of hate and evil. The historical development of this topic in Western literature is discussed, leading to a better understanding of our current religious and secular presuppositions of hatred and evil. Recurring themes may include scapegoating, the Devil, theodicy, heresy, violence, immorality, and religious intolerance.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

1050 WORLD RELIGIONS
\nThis course is an introduction to the major western and eastern religions of the world: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. \u00a0Students will explore the origins of each religion, its core beliefs and its central practices.
\nThree credit hours
\nNOTE: Credit will not be permitted if a student has already received credit for RS 1010 and\/or 1020.<\/p>\n

1060 IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD: ANCIENT THOUGHT AND BEYOND
\nThis course is a global historical introduction to various religious, secular, and philosophical speculations about questions that are common to human experience across different historical and cultural contexts. Recurring themes may include different visions of creation, the nature of reality, and understandings of immanence and transcendence. Material will be drawn from traditional and non-traditional sources, as well as contemporary critical scholarship, from the beginning of recorded history until the year 1500.
\nThree credit hours<\/p>\n

1210 CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY
\n(See Classics 2210<\/a>)<\/p>\n

1710 INTRODUCTION TO CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY
\nThis course provides an introduction to the central aspects of Catholic Christianity. Topics may include faith, revelation, the Trinity, creation, the human person, the problem of sin and evil, grace, salvation, and the church\u2019s relation with the world.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2020 CHRISTIANITY
\nThis course begins with an examination of the basic teachings of the Christian religion, particularly the nature of God, Christ, the Church, and the process of salvation. The course explores the characteristic doctrines and practices of Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, with special consideration of their roles in Canadian society and culture. Smaller groups like the Hutterites, Mennonites, and Quakers may also receive attention.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2060 IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD: MODERN THOUGHT AND BEYOND
\nThis course is a global historical consideration of various religious, secular, and philosophical speculations about questions that are common to human experience across different historical and cultural contexts. Recurring themes may include the place of religion in the public sphere, the relationship between science and religion, and discourses on human rights. Material will be drawn from traditional and non-traditional sources, as well as contemporary critical scholarship, from the year 1500 to present.
\nThree credit hours
\nNote: RS 1060 strongly encouraged but not required.<\/p>\n

2110 THE BIBLE
\nThe Bible lies at the heart of three major world religions \u2013 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam \u2013 and it has been shaping Western civilization and culture for over 1500 years. This course examines the essentials of the Bible: its origins, its contents, its themes, and the ways it has been used in religion and society.
\nThree credit hours<\/p>\n

2120 WHY ARE WE HERE: EXPLORATIONS ON THE MEANING OF LIFE
\nThis course explores various religious, secular, scientific, and philosophical answers to the question: \u201cwhy are we here\u201d?
\nThree credit hours<\/p>\n

2210 BUDDHISM EAST AND WEST
\nThis course is an introduction to Buddhism, the most influential and popular religion in East Asia. There is special emphasis on the historical development of its major doctrines, practices, and institutions in India, and their transformation in East Asia (China, Japan and Korea). The course studies the recent spread of schools such as Zen in Europe and North America, and also investigates their impact on Western religion and thought.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2320 CHRISTIANITY AND THE MORAL IMAGINATION
\nThis course explores the place of morality in Christian thought and life, the basis and content of Christian moral teaching, and Christian approaches to contemporary moral and ethical issues.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

<\/a>2350 SKEPTICISM, AGNOSTICISM, ATHEISM, BELIEF
\nThis course is an historical examination of the meaning of existence for several theologians, religious thinkers, philosophers, and scientists, and the importance or irrelevance that religious faith and values hold in their systems of thought and various historical circumstances. The historical meanings of skepticism, agnosticism, atheism and belief are studied alongside various contemporary issues, such as the problems posed by science and technology. Writers with both philosophical and theological perspectives are considered.
\nCross-listed with Philosophy 2350.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2360 RELIGION AND POLITICS
\nThis course examines the intersection between religion and politics, primarily from the perspective of the western intellectual tradition. With the help of both classical and contemporary texts, students will explore such issues as the separation between church and state, the role of religious argument and authority in public reason, the difference between a secular society and a secularist society, and the basis and implications of the freedom of religion.
\nCross-listed with Political Science 2360
\nThree credit hours<\/p>\n

2420 HINDUISM
\nThis course explores the development of Hinduism from its origins in the Indus Valley Civilization and the arrival of the Indo-Aryans through to the maturation of Hindu culture and civilization. The course covers myths of the Hindu gods and goddesses, approaches to personal and social life, karma and reincarnation, yoga, meditation and the quest for absolute truth. The influences of Islam and European colonialism on Hinduism, and Hindu influences on modern Western religion and thought, also receive attention.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2430 JUDAISM
\nThis course follows the development of Judaism from biblical times to the present day. After considering the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Israelites, Jews and Samaritans, the course examines the character of Jewish life and community as it was formed by the laws of the Torah, the commentaries of the Talmud, and the spirituality of Kabbalism and Hasidism. The course also explores the shaping of modern Judaism by such factors as emancipation, the Holocaust, and the establishment of the state of Israel.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2440 ISLAM
\nBeginning with the establishment of Islam as a religion and a community under Muhammad, the course follows the spread of Islamic culture and civilization, and gives a thorough introduction to the main Islamic teachings and their basis in the Qur\u2019an and Hadith. Finally, it covers some current issues such as relations with the modern West, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and contemporary \u201cIslamist\u201d movements.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2510 JAPANESE RELIGION AND CULTURE
\nThis course is an introduction to Japanese religion and culture. It examines the role of the \u201cNew Religions\u201d as well as the transformation of the older traditions (Shinto, Buddhism, Confucianism) in Japanese society. The course also explores the impact of Western thought and modern developments on traditional Japanese religion and the balance between tradition and modernity in Japan.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

<\/a>2610 CHINESE RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
\nThis course is an introduction to Chinese religion and philosophy. It examines the so-called \u201cThree Teachings\u201d in China: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Most of the course deals with the basic philosophical concepts, moral values and religious beliefs of these major traditions. Attention is directed also to their impact on traditional China, as well as on other East Asian countries, including Japan and Korea. The course concludes by considering the contemporary situation of each tradition in response to recent economic, social and political changes.
\nCross-listed with Philosophy 2640.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2620 PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION
\nPsychological theories and insights are used to explain and inquire into the nature of religious phenomena.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2720 MEDIEVAL ART
\n(See Fine Arts History 2120<\/a>)<\/p>\n

2750 CRISES IN RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY
\nThis course explores challenges to religious authority that were precipitated by the discoveries of the New World, Galileo\u2019s theory of the universe, the critical reading of the Bible, and the claim of emerging nations to democratic forms of government.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2760 CATHOLIC MORAL THOUGHT
\nThis introduction to Catholic moral theology explores the foundational questions regarding the person as a moral agent, natural law, conscience, freedom, responsibility, Church magisterium, and the beatitudes.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2770 CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
\nThis course provides a survey of Catholic thought on social ethics by exploring the principles of the common good and their influence on global issues such as human rights, the family, economics, politics, peace, and the environment.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2780 CATHOLIC SACRAMENTS AND RITUAL
\nThis course explores the relationship between the various mysteries of life and the liturgical rites of the Catholic faith. Topics may include community life, spiritual maturity, forgiveness, marriage, suffering, and death.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2790 CATHOLICISM, CHRISTIAN UNITY, AND WORLD RELIGIONS
\nThis course is a study of the texts and practices of dialogue, hospitality, and prayer that form the foundation of the Catholic Church\u2019s participation in the movement to promote relations with other Christian communities and world religions.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2835 Developments in Early Catholic Thought
\nThis course explores the historical development of the principal doctrines of Christianity from the period of the Early Church to the Middle Ages. Topics will include the doctrine of the Trinity, the doctrine of the Person of Christ, the nature of the Church, and the doctrine of the sacraments.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

<\/a>2840 INTRODUCTION TO MEDIEVAL THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY
\nThis course introduces major medieval thinkers and ideas, their sources in Neoplatonism and Aristotelianism, and their influences upon later philosophers and theologians. Topics may include the problem of evil, the relationship between faith and reason, the idea of salvation, and the certainty of human knowledge.
\nCross-listed with Philosophy 2840.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

2860 SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF CHRISTIAN MYSTICS
\nThis course provides a study of the spiritual journey and its impact on the transformation of the self. Themes from Catholic mystical literature may include: interiority, ascent, light, and darkness.
\nThree credit hours<\/p>\n

2880 SPECIAL TOPICS
\nThis is a course in which topics or issues in Religious Studies are explored and analyzed at an introductory level.<\/p>\n

3020 CULTS, SECTS AND NEW RELIGIONS
\nThis course investigates various marginal or unorthodox religious movements which have existed in Europe and North America during the past two centuries. After an introductory discussion of the ways in which religious groups can be classified, the course is devoted to examining the origins, beliefs and practices of movements such as Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses, the Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) and the Unification Church (Moonies).
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

3040 ALTERNATIVE SPIRITUALITIES
\nThis course examines how the quest for fresh and direct ways of encountering the sacred has driven much of human religious history. Increasingly, people in Western societies express dissatisfaction with both the traditional Judaeo-Christian religions and the purely materialistic and secular understanding of existence. This is a comparative survey of alternative forms of spirituality, focusing upon those arising from three major sources: Western occultism, Eastern religions and mysticism, and revived or reconstructed ancient spiritualities.
\nThree credit hours<\/p>\n

<\/a>3220 RELIGIOUS ETHICS EAST AND WEST
\nThis course is a study of religious ethics focusing on two major traditions: Confucianism, an \u201cethical humanism\u201d that emphasizes wisdom, and Christianity, a \u201cprophetic religion\u201d that emphasizes revelation. Specific ethical doctrines (e.g., suffering and sin, human nature, good and evil, love\/jen, moral self-cultivation, ideal human life and society) are compared from cross-cultural perspectives.
\nCross-listed with Philosophy 3220.
\nPREREQUISITE: Religious Studies 1050 or both Religious Studies 1010 and 1020, or permission of the instructor
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

3230 INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
\nThis lecture-seminar course explores interreligious dialogue, a growing topic in comparative religion. The major models, methodological questions, practical issues, and their ongoing developments are discussed from Western, Eastern, and comparative perspectives: e.g., Jewish-Christian-Islamic dialogue, ecumenical dialogue, Hindu-Christian dialogue, Buddhist-Christian dialogue, and Confucian-Christian dialogue. Various readings are selected from the current scholarship on relevant topics, theories, and ideas.
\nPREREQUISITES: Any two Religious Studies, one of which must be at the 2000 level or higher, or permission of the instructor
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

3310 HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY TO THE REFORMATION
\nAn examination of the growth and development of Christianity from the time of Jesus up to the Reformation. Special emphasis on the relationship between the growth of the Church and the broader historical context within which it occurred.
\nCross-listed with History 3210.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

3320 HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY FROM THE REFORMATION TO THE PRESENT
\nAn examination of some of the principal developments within Christianity from, and including, the Reformation until the present. Special emphasis on the relationship between these developments and the broader historical context within which they occurred.
\nCross-listed with History 3220.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

3520 MYSTICISM IN BUDDHISM AND CHRISTIANITY
\nThis course is an introduction to mysticism in two major traditions: Buddhism and Christianity. Some of the major Buddhist doctrines and practices are compared with those of Christianity. Special attention is given to notions of mystical experience, I-Thou relationship, God\/Emptiness, sainthood\/Buddhahood, and self-transformation. The approach is textual and comparative, using cross-cultural perspectives.
\nPREREQUISITE: Any two Religious Studies, one of which must be at the 2000 level or higher, or permission of the instructor
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

3620 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
\n(See Philosophy 3620<\/a>)<\/p>\n

3735 Pleasure and Pain: The Catholic Body
\nThis course examines the understanding of the human person (body and soul) in Roman Catholic theology and history. Beginning with the debates on the Incarnation in the early church, the course explores the impact that doctrine had, and continues to have, on the development of Catholic theology, practice and culture. Topics to be discussed may include martyrdom, death, sexuality, asceticism, mysticism and liturgy.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

3740 BEAUTY AND BELIEF
\nThis course is an analysis of the relationship between artistic creativity and Catholic belief. Various visual, literary, musical and dramatic arts will be explored.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

3750 FAITH AND REASON IN MODERN CATHOLIC THOUGHT
\nThis course studies major Catholic debates on the relation between faith and reason. Particular attention is directed to a reading of Pope John Paul\u2019s encyclical, Faith and Reason; 19th- and early 20th-century background; and its setting in the contemporary university.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

3760 THOMAS AQIUNAS AND THE THOMISTIC TRADITION
\nThis course is intended as an introduction to the philosophical and theological thought of Thomas Aquinas. In addition to investigating Thomas\u2019 thoughts on questions of knowledge, God, and morality, and the relationship between faith and reason, we will also raise questions concerning his contribution to the history of philosophy, Christianity, and the development of western civilization. To accomplish all this, we will consider the writings of St. Thomas himself, as well as the writings of some key contributors to what is now called the \u201cThomistic renewal\u201d of the twentieth century, such as Etienne Gilson, Jacques Maritain, and Josef Pieper.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

3770 Death and the Afterlife in the Catholic Tradition
\nThis course will examine Catholic ideas about what happens at and after death. It will look at the theology of death, ideas of heaven, hell and purgatory, as well as conceptions of death and the afterlife in popular culture (ex. ghosts and zombies), architecture, literature, etc. of Catholic Christianity.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

3780 Moral Problems and the Catholic Tradition
\nThis course explores modern moral problems from the perspective of the Catholic tradition. Topics discussed may include sexuality and gender, contraception, abortion, and medically assisted dying.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

3860 SCIENCE AND RELIGION
\nThis course focuses on the current and historical interactions between science and religion. Readings from scientists, philosophers of science, theologians, and scholars of religion are included in this investigation of the interaction, conflict, and continuing dialogue between science and religion. This course aims to provide a better understanding of the current relationship between these two forces and a greater appreciation of their long history.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

3870 THE NEW TESTAMENT
\nThis course examines the New Testament\u2019s historical context, literary genres, and impact on the formation of faith within early Christian communities.
\nThree credit hours<\/p>\n

3880 SPECIAL TOPICS
\nThis is a course in which topics or issues in Religious Studies are explored and analyzed at an intermediate undergraduate level.<\/p>\n

4010 THEORY AND METHOD IN THE STUDY OF RELIGION
\nThis course explores various methods, theories, and research tools employed in the academic study of religion.
\nPREREQUISITE: At least four previous courses in Religious Studies, two of which must be at the 2000-level or above.
\nThree hours a week<\/p>\n

4510-4520 DIRECTED STUDIES
\nThis is a course in selected topics in Religious Studies offered by visiting professors, or by way of supervised reading, or other special circumstances approved by the Chair and the Dean. Suggested topics include modern research on Jesus; biblical prophetic and apocalyptic literature; Jewish messianism and early christology; interreligious dialogue; Christianity in Asia; shamanism and folk religion in Asia; the thought of Paul Tillich and Karl Barth; the Ecumenical Movement (Protestant, Catholic, Jewish); religion, politics and the economy.
\n(See Academic Regulation 9<\/a> for Regulations Governing Directed Studies.)<\/p>\n

4880 SPECIAL TOPICS
\nThis is a course in which topics or issues in Religious Studies are explored and analyzed at an advanced undergraduate level.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"menu_order":36,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-196","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":123,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/calendar.upei.ca\/current\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/calendar.upei.ca\/current\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/calendar.upei.ca\/current\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calendar.upei.ca\/current\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/calendar.upei.ca\/current\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":750,"href":"https:\/\/calendar.upei.ca\/current\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/196\/revisions\/750"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/calendar.upei.ca\/current\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/123"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/calendar.upei.ca\/current\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/196\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/calendar.upei.ca\/current\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calendar.upei.ca\/current\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=196"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calendar.upei.ca\/current\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=196"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calendar.upei.ca\/current\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}