RELI 250 - Across Religious Boundaries: Understanding Differences

Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)

The study of a selected topic or theme in religious studies that cuts across the boundaries of particular religions, allowing opportunities for comparison as well as contrast of religious traditions, beliefs, values and practices.

Topic for 2016/17a: Celestial Sphere: Astrology & Mythopoetics. This course focuses on the powers, limitations, structures, and nuances of myth through a critical examination one of the major languages of Western Esotericism, Astrology. Beginning with an investigation of diachronic (historical evolution) versus synchronic (present symbolic system) visions of the zodiac, the course investigates the archetypes, systems of folklore, psychologies, and esoteric practices associated with astrology, repeatedly returning the semiotic question: “How and why does these things mean what they are purported to mean.” Rick Jarow.

Topic for 2016/17b: Zen and the West: Meetings Between Buddhism and Post Modernity. (Same as ASIA 250 ) This course focuses on the encounter between Buddhist ideas and postmodern paradigms in both Science and the Humanities. How do Buddhist theories of perception relate to current paradigms in Theoretical Physics and Cognitive Science? What light does the Buddhist encounter with the West shed upon issues of gender, equality, and social justice? How have Buddhist teachings related to the teachings of major Western religions? Rick Jarow.

Two 75-minute periods.