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Religious Studies (REL)

REL 101  (3 credit hours)  
Introduction to Religious Studies  

Introduces students to the study of religion, emphasizing the varieties, differences, and similarities of religious experience and expression. Examines the interaction between religious experience and expression and social and cultural contexts through study of selected examples. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Attributes: Cultural Competence, AH - Arts and Humanities, SB - Social Behavior Science
Components: LEC: Lecture
REL 120  (3 credit hours)  
Introduction to the Old Testament  

Introduces books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) using knowledge of literary forms as well as historical and cultural backgrounds to aid in the interpretation of the religious and philosophical meanings of the text. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Attributes: AH - Arts and Humanities
Components: LEC: Lecture
REL 121  (3 credit hours)  
Introduction to the New Testament  

Introduces New Testament using knowledge of literary forms as well as historical and cultural backgrounds to aid in the interpretation of the religious and philosophical meanings of the text. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Attributes: AH - Arts and Humanities
Components: LEC: Lecture
REL 130  (3 credit hours)  
Introduction to Comparative Religion  

Introduces students to a comparative analysis of world religions, emphasizing beliefs, rituals, artistic expressions, and cultural and social organization. Includes both Eastern and Western religions. (Same as ANT 130). Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Attributes: Cultural Competence, AH - Arts and Humanities, SB - Social Behavior Science, Course Also Offered in Modules
Components: LEC: Lecture
REL 135  (3 credit hours)  
Christianity in Cultural Context  

Surveys the historical and theological movements in Christianity from the 1st century to the mid -16th century. Emphasis will be placed on the interaction of Christian institutions and religious movements with other prevailing social, cultural, and political institutions within this timeframe. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).

Components: LEC: Lecture
REL 150  (3 credit hours)  
Comparative Ethics of Major World Religions  

Examines central theological teachings, modes of ethical reasoning, key ethical virtues and norms of major religious traditions from both Eastern and Western Religions. Considers the lives, sacred stories, dogma and texts of central religious figures as part of the context for moral thinking in a global setting. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).

Attributes: Cultural Competence, AH - Arts and Humanities
Components: LEC: Lecture
REL 160  (3 credit hours)  
Religious Expressions of Forgiveness and Justice  

Introduces students to a comparative analysis of world religions, emphasizing the nature of forgiveness and justice and how it is conceptualized and understood in sacred texts, beliefs, rituals, artistic expressions, and cultural and social organizations. Includes both Eastern and Western religions. 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Attributes: Cultural Competence, AH - Arts and Humanities
Components: LEC: Lecture
REL 170  (3 credit hours)  
Philosophy of Religion  

Introduces students to issues in philosophy of religion including defining the concept of God, arguments for and against the existence of God, the relation between faith and reason, the nature of religious experience, the problem of evil, and immortality. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Attributes: AH - Arts and Humanities, Other
Components: LEC: Lecture
REL 240  (3 credit hours)  
Life and Teaching of Jesus  

Investigates the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth through a critical analysis of the ancient sources and modern scholarly reconstructions. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).

Attributes: Other
Components: LEC: Lecture
REL 241  (3 credit hours)  
Life and Letters of Paul  

Presents the person and thought of the Apostle Paul in social, cultural, political, philosophical, and theological context. Investigates Paul's ethics and his views as preserved in the Christian New Testament. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).

Components: LEC: Lecture
REL 299  (3 credit hours)  
Special Topics in Religion: Topic  

Examines special topics in Religion. Includes but not limited to individual religious figures, movements, sacred writings, religious traditions and selected eras. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).

Attributes: Other
Components: LEC: Lecture