RS 401: Selected Topics

West Coast Spirituality

Spirituality and religion on the west side of the Rocky Mountains differ significantly from what one finds in the rest of Canada and the United States. Various kinds of yoga meditation, Buddhism, eco-spirituality, and agnosticism exist alongside more conventional forms of religiosity. In this course, students will explore what makes the religion(s) of the so-called “Cascadia” region distinctive. The course will involve site visits, open conversations, discussions with leaders of new/alternative religious or spiritual communities, and critical reflections on the research, literature, and art of Cascadia.