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 conflicts between duty and renunciation in early Hinduism, before turning to Buddhist explanations of karma and suffering in Part Two. In Part Three we focus on specific religious communities in the modern United States, including those of early Christian Science, Cambodian Mormonism, and Hmong popular religion in California. Because this course is an Arches section, we will integrate our study of religion with service and cultural activities throughout the semester.
- Teacher: McGrath William