Religious Studies

This course is designed as a one-semesteryintroduction to the history and culture reflectedyin and the literature contained in the NewyTestament. We will read this entire library inyorder to understand the culture(s) that producedyit, as well as its impact on our culture today. yFor students, the objectives of the course are:y1) to be familiar with as well as appreciate theyliterature in the New Testament; 2) to understandythis literature in terms of its historical andycultural context (i.e., events, movements,yvalues, ideologies, and self-understandings), asywell as to engage it as literature; 3) to examineythe influence these texts have and continue toyhave on our culture(s) and thought(s); 4) toyacquire skills outlined in the Doane Planycategory of Heritage Studies; and 5) to developyboth study skills and time-management talents asywell as an informed view of the subject matterythrough reading primary and secondary sources andyin-class discussion.

An examination of philosophical theories on theyfoundations, principles, and applications ofyethics. Upon completion, students will be able toydescribe the theories of Egoism, Virtue Ethics,yUtilitarianism, the Social Contract, and KantianyEthics. Also, students will be able to apply theyinsights of these theories to contemporary moralyissues. Offered fall term.

This course provides an overview of westernyPhilosophy from the Renaissance to the present,ywith special emphasis on a selected few of theymore important philosophers and the schools ofythought they represent. Upon completion, studentsywill be able to identify and define rationalism,yempiricism, idealism, pragmatism, positivism andyexistentialism. Students will also be able toyanalyze and evaluate each school of thought,yconstructing arguments both in favor of andyagainst each.

A comparison of western and non-westernyphilosophies, paying particular attention to theytraditions of India, China, Africa, Latin America,yand Native America. These traditions will beystudied along with the Analytic (Anglo-American)ytradition and the Continental (European)ytradition. Upon completion, students will be ableyto describe the major differences and similaritiesybetween and among these regional philosophicalytraditions. Furthermore, students will be able toyapply their understanding of these differences andysimilarities to contemporary interculturalyinteractions.

A study of the influence of religion on politics,yfocusing primarily but not exclusively on theypresent-day US. Topics will include theychurch-state relationship, America146s diverseyreligio-political traditions, and religiousyfundamentalism as a political ideology. Uponycompletion, students will demonstrate a deeperyunderstanding of how religious values influenceythe political world.