Religion Minor

Five courses are required for the minor in religion. Students are encouraged to choose a sequence of courses in consultation with the department of Philosophy and Religion to suit their specific needs. All students are required to take two courses with a REL prefix. The three additional courses may include any courses that have a REL prefix or other courses approved by the department.

(Students should consult the department’s religious studies adviser as to whether other religion-oriented courses at the College or elsewhere may be counted ­toward the minor.)

The following non-REL courses are eligible for the minor.

• AAS 201/African and Diaspora Religions
• AAH 215/The Arts of South Asia
• AAH 216/The Arts of East Asia
• AAH 217/Arts of the Islamic World
• AAH 321/Early Medieval Art
• AAH 322/Romanesque and Gothic Art
• CLS 250/Introduction to Greek Mythology
• HIS 307/Jews, Christians, and Muslims in the Premodern World
• HIS 312/Medieval Culture and Society
• HIS 313/Medieval Christianity
• HIS 332/Topics: Islamic Mysticism and Shrines
• HIS 332/Topics: Silk Road
• HIS 338/Indian Civilization
• HIS 341/Islamic History from Muhammad to the Ottomans
• HIS 342/Modern Middle East
• HIS 344/Politics and Religion in the Middle East
• HIS 455/Readings Seminars (where topic has religious studies component)
• HIS 498/Research Seminars (where topic has religious studies component)
• HNR 272/Philosophy of Religion (Prerequisite: One prior philosophy or religion course, or permission of instructor)
• HNR 349/Cities and Sanctuaries of Greece and Rome
• HNR 362/Goodwives and Witches: Women in Colonial America
• LIT 251/British Literature to the Restoration
• LIT 340/The Bible as Literature
• LIT 354/Middle English Literature
• LIT 358/British Literature Reformed, 1550-1700
• LIT 317/WGS 317/The Witch in Literature
• MUS 351/ Music from 600 to 1750: Gregorian Chant to High Baroque
• PHL 250/Philosophy of Religion (Prerequisite: One prior philosophy or religion course, or permission of instructor)
• POL 357/Middle East Politics
• SOC 375/Religion and American Culture (Prerequisite: SOC 101 or HON 216)

 

Religion (REL) Courses at TCNJ

REL 100/Basic Issues in Religion                                                                            

(annually)

Characterization of religious phenomena and their relationship to human understanding of oneself and society. The course is an opportunity to look at religion sympathetically but critically.

 

REL 110/World Religions                                                                                          

(every semester)

An exploration of the world's major religious traditions. Students will examine and compare the essential teachings, and the historical and cultural context, of most or all of the following: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and one or more additional non-Western tradition(s).

 

REL 111/Buddhism and Buddhist Thought                                                           

(annually)

An examination of Buddhism and some of the intellectual traditions that have flourished in conjunction with Buddhism. Students will study the historical origins and essential teachings of a particular religion and explore some of the literary and philosophical traditions that developed from or in close connection with

Buddhism.

 

REL 112/Hinduism and Hindu Thought                                                                 

(annually)

An examination of Hinduism and some of the intellectual traditions that have flourished in conjunction with it. Students will study the historical origins and essential teachings of this religion and explore some of the literary and philosophical traditions that developed from or in close connection with Hinduism.

 

REL 113/Islam and Islamic Thought                                                                         

(annually)

An examination of Islam and some of the intellectual traditions that have flourished in conjunction with it. Students will study the historical origins and essential teachings of this religion and explore some of the literary and philosophical traditions that developed from or in close connection with Islam.

 

REL 120/Early Judaism                                                                                               

(annually)

An examination of the fundamentals, history and development of the Jewish faith and way of life. Students will study the Jewish historical experience and the evolving theological responses to that experience from the beginnings of Judaism until the French Revolution.

 

REL 121/Modern Judaism                                                                                          

(annually)

An examination of the fundamentals, history and development of the Jewish faith and way of life. Students will study the Jewish historical experience and the evolving theological responses to that experience from 1492 to the present.

 

REL 22O/Catholicism                                                                                                 

(annually)

A survey course which traces the development of the Catholic faith from the first through the beginning of the 21" century. It presents the basics of Catholicism in terms of: essential beliefs and practices, scriptures, theological understandings, authority and political life. The major philosophical, cultural and political influences on the practices and beliefs of Catholicism are considered, as well as how Catholicism has evolved and changed over time, using a model of major paradigm shifts.

 

REL 370/Special Topics in Religion                                                                          

(occasionally)

Prerequisite: One course in religion or philosophy or permission of the instructor

300-level seminar on a problem, text, religious thinker, historical period or other topic in religion not covered in depth in regular courses. Topics will vary. May be repeated for credit with permission of the department.

 

REL 39l/Independent Study in Religion                                                                 

(every semester)

Prerequisite: Permission of the department

Independent study of a particular topic in religion, in close consultation with a member of the department.