Offered this year

RCS 200: Greek and Roman Mythology

Instructor: Dr. Janet Downie

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

Meditate on Om, follow the Dao, have your Zen moment... all in one class! This course will bring you up to speed on the basic beliefs and practices of Asian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Daoism and more....

*This course is cross-listed with PAAS 204

RCS 202: Food, Religion and Culture

Instructor: Dr. Rachel Brown

Investigates intersections among food, religion and culture. Addresses food prohibitions, rituals involving food, and food symbols that are present (or absent) in various religious and spiritual traditions. Pays particular attention to how religious groups and individuals use food to (1) construct relationships (real or imagined) between individuals, the community, and nonhuman beings (animals, deities, ancestors), and (2) construct and maintain cultural norms and values.

*This course is cross-listed with ANTH 202

RCS 305: Magic, Mysticism and the Occult

Instructor: Dr. Martin Adam

Survey of mysticism and the occult as found in the history and literature of various religious traditions; critical analysis of the nature and significance of mystical experience; an exploration of belief in occult forces and figures; probing the connection between the occult and mysticism and the relationship between mysticism, the occult, and knowledge.

RCS 323A: Heavy Metal and Religion

Instructor: Dr. Shamma Boyarin

Uses the example of global heavy metal subculture to introduce key conceptual and methodological elements drawn from religious studies, cultural studies and media studies. Questions the category of “religion” while showing it as a useful tool for scholarly inquiry. Considers the impact of new forms of media on religion. Studies lyrics, images, music, fashion, gender dynamics and more.

RCS 328: Myth and Theory

Instructor: Dr. Graham Butler

An introduction to the major approaches to the interpretation of classical myth, from ritualist to structuralist to feminist and beyond.

This course is cross listed with GRS 328.

RCS 369: Milton's Major Poetry and Selected Prose

Instructor: Dr. Gary Kuchar

A study of Paradise Lost, as well as other major poems and selected prose.

This course is cross listed with ENSH 355. 

RCS 383: Politics and Religion

Instructor: Dr. Andrew Wender

We will explore and critically assess diverse scenarios – within geographic settings from North America to Eurasia, and in environments from cyberspace to political rallies – where religious experience, doctrine, and symbolism intertwine with political life. Engaging historical, contemporary, and imaginable (or perhaps beyond imaginable?) future examples, we think carefully about what religion is (or at least what it is sometimes perceived to be), and how it helps to animate political identities and allegiances, and has been mobilized in the service of conflict as well as peacebuilding. This Israeli billboard depiction of United States President Donald Trump, occurring within the context of US/Israeli war against Iran, is illustrative.

This course is cross listed POLI 382.

RCS 384: Religion in the United States

Instructor: Dr. Norman 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 HSTR 310E.

RCS 411: West Coast Spirituality

Instructor: Dr. Paul Bramadat

Have you ever wondered about the distinctive spiritual, religious, and secular context of the Pacific Northwest? In this class we will not only think, talk, and read about the strange cultural and historical features of the region, but we also get out into the world to experience things like hiking, yoga, meditation, churches, and mosques

RCS 450: Capstone Seminar

Instructor: Dr. Paul Bramadat

Graduating Major's research project consisting of readings and assignments based on what has been learned from the academic study of religion in the program and focused on the relationship of religion and society. Designed to develop as well as measure the student's integration of the various aspects of the discipline of Religious Studies.

RCS 102: Religion in History

Instructor: Dr. Paul Bramadat

Religion or something like religion has been a major influence on most events throughout human history. In this course we move freely through space and time to address the various ways religion animates events involving violence, scientific controversies, labour strife, political upheavals, charismatic leaders, and sexual revolutions.

*This course is cross-listed with HSTR 101R.

RCS 200: Greek and Roman Mythology

Instructor: Dr. Graham Butler

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: Introduction to Judaism, Christianity and Islam 

Instructor: Dr. Shamma Boyarin

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 220: History of Yoga 

Instructor: Dr. Paul Bramadat

Introduces the roots of the most common forms of postural yoga. Explores the ways Indic ideas and practices are transformed as practitioners, teachers, gurus and entrepreneurs adapt South Asian practices and philosophies to North American settings. Explores: cultural appropriation; Orientalism and colonialism; the impact of western notions of gender; casteism; North American precursors to yoga; the increasing commercialization of yoga and India; globalization.

*This course is cross-listed with HSTR 200C.

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 ENSH 233.

RCS 310: Liberation through Anarchy?: A Religious Exploration

Instructor: Dr. Shamma Boyarin

“No gods no masters” is a popular slogan associated with anarchism. This course explores figures who went against this idea melding the principles of anarchism with their religious commitments. While examples will be primary drawn from Judaism students are encouraged to explore this issue in other religions as well.

*Please take note of the time variation for this class
Tuesday 2:30 - 4:20 and Friday 2:30 - 3:30

RCS 307: Religion and the Environment

Instructor: Dr. Martin Adam

What are the intersections between religion and the environment? As the global environment continues to be stressed placed by ongoing human activity, we ask whether spiritual perspectives might offer any insight into the deeper causes of the climate crisis. We examine how religious understandings and ways of living might aid in addressing our collective predicament.

RCS 313: Religion in the News

Instructor: Dr. Rachel Brown

Religion makes the news, and has increasingly so in the last two decades. How it makes the news, and how various news organizations present religious traditions, and the people who adhere to them, is the focus of this course. The course is divided into three sections. First, in “History and Sources,” we will trace the development of news coverage of religion from penny press, to late night comedy news shows, to social media platforms. In the second, and largest section of the course, “Religions in the News,” we will engage with the news presentation of specific religious traditions, examining which traditions get focussed on and which ones are relegated to the realm of “strange,” “unfamiliar” and “not worthy of hard journalism.” Finally, in the third and final section of the course, we will briefly address three “Issues and Beats” in the news coverage of religion, examining the most recent and prevalent religious “issues” that show up across different news platforms.

RCS 361: Religions of East Asia

Instructor: Dr. Martin Adam

Is enlightenment possible? Take a deep dive into the beliefs of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism as these appear in the foundational texts of ancient Chinese civilization. Together we will take a deep dive into religious literary classics such The Analects, The Dao de jing, and The Platform Sutra, searching for the answers to some of humanity’s most enduring questions.

*This course is cross listed with PAAS 305.

RCS 464: The Bible and Literature

Instructor: Dr. Christopher Douglas

The relationship between the Bible and 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.

*This course is cross listed with ENSH 330.