Offered this year

RCS 200: Greek and Roman Mythology

Instructor: TBA

Study of Greek and Roman myths, in the context of the culture and thought of Greece and Rome. Uses literary and artistic sources to establish and analyze the nature and function of myths in these cultures. Topics include the gods, heroes, local myths, political and cultural uses of myths and the origins of the influence of Greek and Roman myths on European culture.

* This course is cross-listed with GRS 200.

RCS 200B: Introduction to Asian Religions

Instructor: Dr. Martin Adam

A survey of the sources, beliefs and practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and the Chinese religions. The traditions are studied in their cultural and political contexts from both historical and contemporary perspectives.

*This course is cross-listed with PAAS 204

RCS 260: The Bible as Literature

Instructor: Dr. Christopher Douglas

Surveys basic stories and books in the Old and New Testaments (including Genesis, Exodus, 1 and 2 Kings, Job, Song of Songs, Psalms, Isaiah, select minor prophets, the Gospels, Acts, select Pauline epistles, Hebrews and Revelations). Focus on the intrinsic literary features of the biblical books themselves. Aims to familiarize students with important biblical stories, genres and references in literature and religious discourse.

*This course is cross-listed with ENGL 260.

RCS 309: Religion and Sexuality

Instructor: Dr. Rachel Brown

Religions have historically had a great deal to say about the body and its politics. This course will survey the theme of “Regulating Sex” across various religious traditions.  We will explore how religions, over centuries and contexts, have tried to regulate what is gender, what sex is meant for and in what contexts, what is permissible and what is taboo, ​among other topic

RCS 311: Gandhi and the Ethics of Nonviolence

Instructor: Martin Adam

Centres upon the life and teachings of Mohandas K. Gandhi. Examines Gandhi's religious thought with regard to ideals of nonviolence (ahimsā) and truth (satya), as well as his attempts to realize these principles in the personal, social and political spheres. Also covers a number of religious and political figures with comparable views, including B. R. Ambedkar, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Krishnamurti, Thich Nhat Hanh, Aung San Suu Kyi and the Dalai Lama.

*This course is cross-listed with PAAS 367.

 RCS 384: Religion in the United States

Instructor: Dr. Norm Fennema

Explores spirituality and organized religion in the United States, from the Indigenous encounters with the Puritans to today. Focuses on the tension between religion and American expansionism, slavery and war, the emergence of religious freedom and ongoing negotiation of separation of church and state. Explores the reasons for the vibrancy and complexity of American religion, its role in shaping American social policy and the centrality of race and ethnicity in American religion and identity.

*This course is cross-listed with HSTR 310E.

RCS 101: The Anthropology of Religion and Food

Instructor: Dr. Rachel Brown

This course is an investigation into the intersections of food and the world’s religions. We will address food prohibitions, rituals involving food and food symbols that are present (or absent) in the various traditions and will pay particular attention to how religious groups use food to construct relationships (real or imagined) between individuals, the community, and nonhuman beings (animals, deities, ancestors).

*This course is cross listed with ANTH 150

RCS 200: Greek and Roman Mythology

Instructor: TBA

Study of Greek and Roman myths, in the context of the culture and thought of Greece and Rome. Uses literary and artistic sources to establish and analyze the nature and function of myths in these cultures. Topics include the gods, heroes, local myths, political and cultural uses of myths and the origins of the influence of Greek and Roman myths on European culture.

*This course is cross-listed with GRS 200

RCS 200A A01: Introduction to Judaism, Christianity and Islam 

Instructor: TBA

An introductory survey of the sources, beliefs and practices of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The traditions are studied in their cultural and political contexts from both historical and contemporary perspectives.

RCS 305: Magic, Mysticism and the Occult

Instructor: Martin Adam

A study of nature and significance of mystical phenomena and experience from a Religious Studies perspective with emphasis on the philosophical issues raised.

RCS 401: Selected topics in Religious Studies

Topic: Indian Religioun and Philosophy

Instructor: Dr. Martin Adam

This course is a survey of the history of philosophy in India. Beginning with the ancient period that saw the formation of Hindu and Buddhist schools of thought, our aim will be to understand the philosophical perspectives that developed on the Indian subcontinent through time. Indian thinkers argued for a wide range of views on the nature of reality, knowledge, and the good life. We will examine the doctrinal positions of the main Indian schools. The course aims to provide an overview of the philosophical systems that emerged within the religious traditions of India.

*This course is cross-listed with PAAS 495.

RCS 464: The Bible and Literature in English

Instructor: Dr. Shamma Boyarin

The relationship between the Bible and the canon of literature in English, and especially intertextual relationships between biblical and literary texts. Topics include the history of biblical translation, the Bible and popular culture, the combination of biblical and classical mythologies in the creation of Western cultural ideals, the impact of biblical interpretation on literary theory. May include literary works by Shakespeare, Milton, Melville, Faulkner, Atwood.

*This course is cross-listed with ENGL 464

RCS 450: Capstone

Instructor: Dr. Andrew Wender

More information coming soon!

Please note that this course is for RCS Majors and is only offered once evey 2 years.