Autumn 2024 Courses | Center for the Study of Religion

**Updated 3/12/2024. Listings are subject to change. Students, confirm meeting arrangements in BuckeyeLink when enrolling. All courses are full-term, 3 credit hour offerings unless otherwise noted.**

Please go to comparativestudies.osu.edu/courses to see a detailed description of this class.

Introduces comparative studies majors to theoretical tools, methods of investigation, and key concepts in comparative studies research and scholarship. CompStd major, or permission of instructor.

Prereq: English 1110 (110) or equiv. CompStd major, or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for 398.

*For Major credit only.

Introduction to religious views of the universe, the supernatural, social organization, ethics, etc., through sacred texts (oral and written) of diverse cultures and historical periods.

Prereq: English 1110 (110), or equiv. Not open to students with credit CompStd 2102.02 (202.02). GE lit and diversity global studies course.

Introduction to the academic study of religion through comparison among major traditions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.) and smaller communities.

Prereq: English 1110 (110) or equiv. Not open to students with credit for 2370H or CompStd 2370H (270H) or 2370 (270). GE cultures and ideas and diversity global studies course.

History and structure of Buddhism from founding to present in South, Southeast, and East Asia. Emphasis on rituals, beliefs, and local and regional variations. RelStds 2370 recommended.

Prereq: Not open to students with credit for 323, CompStd 3673 (323), or RelStds 3673 (323). Cross-listed in RelStds 3673.

The purpose of this course is to provide the student with some fundamental insights into the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) within the context of their social, cultural, and historical milieux, as well as their common Near Eastern setting. One of the main objectives is to explore the searching spirit of ancient man for ultimate issues, such as the purpose of existence, the destiny of man, the problem of evil, etc.

Prereq: English 1110. Not open to students with credit for 2700H, JewshSt 2700, or 2700H. GE lit and diversity global studies course. Cross-listed with JEWSHST 2700.

Prereq: Honors standing, and English 1110; or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for 2700, JewshSt 2700 or 2700H. GE lit and diversity global studies course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts course. Cross-listed in JewshSt.

Introductory survey of the New Testament writings in translation, including non-canonical sources of the early Christian movement.

Prereq or concur: English 1110.xx, GE foundation writing and info literacy course, or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for 2221E, Clas 2221, 2221E, 2401, or 2401E. GE for lit and historical study course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts and historical and cultural studies course. Cross-listed in Clas.

An introduction to the historical, ideological, and cultural growth of Judaism examined from a variety of methodological perspectives.

Prereq: Not open to students with credit for 201. GE cultures and ideas and diversity global studies course. GE foundation historical and cultural studies course.

Reading and analysis of selected chapters from the Hebrew scriptures and post-biblical Hebrew writings representative of major historical, cultural, and literary trends.

Prereq: English 1110.xx, or GE foundation writing and info literacy course. Not open to students with credit for 2700H, Hebrew 2700, or 2700H. GE lit and diversity global studies course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts course. Cross-listed in Hebrew.

Prereq: Honors standing, and English 1110.xx, or GE foundation writing and info literacy course; or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for 2700, Hebrew 2700, or 2700H. GE lit and diversity global studies course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts course. Cross-listed in Hebrew.

A survey including at least three of the following philosophical systems of Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Taoism, and Confucianism.

GE lit and diversity global studies course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts course.

History and structure of Buddhism from founding to present in South, Southeast, and East Asia; emphasis on rituals, beliefs, and local and regional variations. 2370 (270) recommended.

Prereq: Not open to students with credit for CompStd 3673 (323), EALL 3223 (323), or RelStds 323. Cross-listed in EALL 3223.

While the practice of religion in Africa is as diverse as its people, three major belief systems define the practice: African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity. This course will examine classical and contemporary definitions of African Traditional Religion/s and the introduction and adaptations of Islam and Christianity in Africa, as well as religious practices in the African Diaspora.

GE cultures and ideas and diversity global studies course. GE theme traditions, cultures, and transformations course.

An examination of the social, legal, and religious position of women as they appear in the Hebrew Bible and the ways in which they have been represented and interpreted in later textual, visual, and audio sources.

Prereq: English 1110. Not open to students with credit for 2704, JewshSt 2704, or 3704. GE lit and diversity global studies course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts and race, ethnicity and gender div course. Cross-listed in JewshSt.

Prereq: English 1110. Not open to students with credit for 2704, Hebrew 2704, or 3704. GE lit and diversity global studies. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts and race, ethnicity and gender div course. Cross-listed in Hebrew.

A study of the history of witchcraft and magic from 400 to 1700 C.E. within sociological, religious and intellectual contexts.

Prereq: Not open to students with credit for Medieval 240. GE culture and ideas and diversity global studies course. GE foundation historical and cultural studies course.

A survey including at least three of the following philosophical systems of Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Taoism, and Confucianism.

GE lit and diversity global studies course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts course.

Introduction to religious views of the universe, the supernatural, social organization, ethics, etc., through sacred texts (oral and written) of diverse cultures and historical periods.

Prereq: English 1110 (110), or equiv. Not open to students with credit CompStd 2102.02 (202.02). GE lit and diversity global studies course.

The representation of religion in visual culture, in the United States and around the world; the ways that religious traditions are represented or misrepresented; the ways religious traditions appropriate popular culture for their own purposes; new forms of religious practice and community that grow directly out of popular culture.

Prereq: English 1110. GE VPA course. GE foundation lit, vis and performing arts course.

Comparative, interdisciplinary approach to studying religion and law. Drawing on concrete cases, historical studies, and theoretical literature, the course explores how the relationship between religion and law has been configured differently in different liberal democracies, such as the U.S., France, and Israel, and what this might mean for contemporary debates.

Prereq: Not open to students with credit for History 3680. GE historical study and diversity global studies course. GE theme citizenship for div and just wrld course. Cross-listed in History.

**Please note that the following courses are NOT currently listed for major/minor credit, but may be of interest to our students anyway. If you would like to inquire about substituting one of the courses listed here for major/minor credit, please email Dr. Hugh Urban at urban.41@osu.edu.