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 and Buddhism 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 religious healing and specific religious communities in the modern United States, including those of Christian Science in Massachusetts and Hmong popular religion in California. By taking this course, students will learn to read and interpret scripture, analyze and narratively explain the difficulties of life from multiple religious perspectives, and finally reconcile these diverse conceptions within the context of a modern pluralistic society.
- Teacher: McGrath William