Any subject as grand as the “Nature and Experience of Religion” will require a careful balancing of breadth and depth. In this course we will explore a wide range of religious theories, practices, and historical periods—from the Hinduism of Ancient India to the Christian Science of twentieth-century America—as well as diverse modes of interpreting and comparing these traditions. In Part One we will begin with the earliest extant doctrines and practical instructions of Hinduism, before turning to Buddhist responses in Part Two. In Part Three we focus on different ritual traditions, from ritual healing in Christian Science to the social rituals of modern America. Throughout the course we will read theories of religion and consider the importance of creative imagination in myth, doctrine, and ritual.
- Teacher: McGrath William