2024-2025 Fall/Winter
RLG340H5S - Topics in Christianity: North American Evangelicals and Their Politics (Instructor: B. Carwana)
In this course, we will explore arguably the most powerful and influential religious community on earth - North America's evangelicals. We will look at how evangelical politics questions distinctions of public and private, its focus on issues of gender and sexuality, its relevance to identity, and understand core beliefs and practices. In addition, we will explore surprising ties between secular liberalism and evangelicalism and ask about how or whether liberal democracies are well structured to accommodate conservative religiosity.
RLG350H5S - Topics in Islam: Political Islam (Instructor: K. Ali)
This course will introduce students to a range of topics on political Islam and its diverse manifestations and impacts across different regions of the world such as the Middle East, North Africa, East Africa, South Asia, and the Western World. Key topics include the emergence of political Islam in the 20th century, its relationship with colonialism and post-colonialism, and the evolution of Islamic movements in various countries. Given current events and conflicts, students will be introduced to the religious politics of organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as states like Iran. The course will also address the intersections of political Islam with issues of gender, nationalism, democracy, global geopolitics, violence, and terrorism. Students will gain an understanding of the complex nature of political Islam and its impact on global affairs, enabling them to critically analyze and discuss issues related to Islam and politics.
RLG360H5S - Topics in South Asian Religions: TBA (Instructor: TBA)
Description: TBA
RLG370H5S - Topics in Buddhism: Buddhism, Sexuality and Gender (Instructor: B Hazelton)
This course is designed to illuminate the diversity and complexity of the topic of Buddhism, Sexuality and Gender through the detailed study and analysis of readings, ancient and modern on this topic. The exploration is based on three central forms of Buddhist expression, philosophical and ritual texts, the life stories found in Buddhist biographies and Buddhist forms of art. Through these resources we will explore historical, textual and social questions concerning the status and interpretation of sexuality and gender in Buddhism from its early origins through its spread to other cultures over time.
RLG415H5S - Advanced Topics in the Study of Religion: Religion and Culture in Japan (Instructor: K. Derry)
An exploration of various links in Japan between broad understandings of “religion” and “culture.” This could include rituals in everyday life; the use of anime in temples (and vice versa); ordinary objects left at shrines; and sumo wrestling. Students will have the option to travel to Tokyo and Kyoto with the instructor during Reading Week.
RLG460H5F - Advanced Topics in South Asian Religions
Description: COURSE CANCELLED
RLG470H5F - Advanced Topics in Buddhism: Buddhism and Indigeneity (Instructor: C. Emmrich)
Recent scholarship has witnessed a shift away from the image of Buddhism as a missionizing religion which brings the Dharma to previously dark and unenlightened lands and thus inevitably produces historical narratives of conversion, civilization, and conquest. This course will confront these older narratives with emergent visions of Buddhism as oppressed, originary, autochthonous, and subversive that have shaped much of politically active, ritually creative, and textually productive Buddhist life between the 19th and the 21st century in Asia and beyond. By doing so, we shall aim at formulating an answer to the question what Buddhism may have contributed and what Buddhist Studies may contribute to decolonization and indigenous empowerment.