REL 229 - Religions of the West

3 Credits

Students explore the histories, beliefs, and practices of major and minor religious traditions of the Western hemisphere, with a special focus on the significance of those religious traditions for Western history and culture. Students gain familiarity with the three major monotheistic faiths of the West (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) in addition to less well known religious traditions (e.g., ancient “paganism,” nature spirituality, Wiccanism, New Age spirituality). Students also explore the significance of religious traditions for issues of contemporary importance (e.g., religion and gender, religion and violence, religious pluralism, religion and the environment, Western colonialism).