Offered this year

RCS 120: The People, Practices and Politics of Contemporary Yoga

Instructor: Dr. Paul Bramadat

More information coming soon!

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 261: Philosophy of Religion

Instructor: Dr. Chris Goto-Jones

More information coming soon!

RCS 303: Origins of Space, Time and Matter in the Universe

Instructor: Dr. Arif Babul

More information coming soon!

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 310: Topics in the Study of Religion

Topic: What's God got to do with it? Heavy Metal and Religon

Instructor: Dr. Shamma Boyarin

More info coming soon!

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 351: The Transformation of the Late Roman World

Instructor: Dr. Gregory Rowe

RCS 365: Renaissance Literature

Instructor: Dr. Gary Kuchar

 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 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: 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 201: Religion, Coloniality and Indigeneity in Canda and the World

Instructor: Dr. Andrew Wender

More information coming soon!

RCS 310: Topics in the Study of Religion

Topic: Religion and the News

Instructor: Dr. Rachel Brown

More information coming soon!

RCS 350: Medieval Latin

Instructor: Dr. Gregory Rowe

RCS 363: The Buddhist Tradition

Instructor: Dr. Martin Adam

RCS 380: Religion and the Making of the Modern Middle East

Instructor: Dr. Andrew Wender

RCS 383: Politics and Religon

Instructor: Dr. Andrew Wender

RCS 401: Selected topics in Religious Studies

Topic: West Coast Spirituality

Instructor: Dr. Paul Bramadat

More information coming soon!

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.