Course Description

An examination of religions historically and today as global phenomena: communities and traditions with changing and interacting boundaries. Focuses on religion in plural societies, diasporas, and transnational religions; on the Ancient Near East, Africa, China, Japan, and the Americas; and on worldwide Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

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Athena Title

Religion in Global Society

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Semester Course Offered

Offered spring

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Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

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Course Objectives

Goal: To shape the thesis and dissertation process with some theoretical orientation or frame. Outcome: Thesis and dissertations that are theoretically as well as descriptively sound.

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Topical Outline

Topics and coverage will vary from instructor to instructor. A sample topical outline might be: I. Key themes and processes in the religious history and literature of the world’s societies: changing, permeable, and interacting religious boundaries; religion in plural societies, diasporas, and transnational religions; globalization and religion in the world’s societies. II. The study of how these themes have played out in the history and contemporary situation of A. Global Hinduism and Buddhism B. Religions of Chinese and Japanese societies C. Religions of Africa D. Religions of the Ancient Near East and Jewish societies E. Religions of the Americas F. Global Christianity G. Global Islam H. The anthropology of global religious societies

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