Religious Studies

This course examines how the story of the Buddha has come for some to be a story of authenticity, individualism and wisdom-seeking. Yet it has not always been so. It explores how Buddhism in Thailand has followed a gamut of historical changes, from promoting monarchy through monumental architecture to modernization and meditation to, at times, being a handmaiden of military rule. It has often in Thailand been accompanied by narratives of ghosts and dark magic, as well as of tiger-defying monks and romantic tales of bodhisattvas. By stressing how Buddhism has changed in Thailand over time and place, this course looks critically rather than romantically or conservatively at what Buddhism has been in Thailand over the centuries, of how it has tied itself to and reflected the desires, fears and political wills of its followers.

Jerusalem's glory rests not only in the archeological sites and ancient monuments which shed light on its past, but also in the multiple dynamic religious groups whether of Jewish, Christian, Islamic, or other origin, which flourish in it today. This unique course tours the city, meeting representatives of these religious groups, visiting their communities, and thus understanding the complex but also amazing fabric of this exquisite city. 

This course explores the developmental context of Buddhist history and the evolution of important Buddhist ideas, systems, and cultures. It provides an analysis of historical materials and the interpretation of religious thoughts, as well as new perspectives and theories of Buddhism research in China and abroad. The course focuses on the history of Chinese Buddhism, taking into account topics such as early Indian Buddhism, Japanese, and Korean Buddhism.

The course examines key aspects of popular religious culture during the early modern period in Europe which witnessed the transformation of religious life associated with the Protestant and Catholic Reformations. It deals specifically with religious ideas and devotional practices at a popular level and the changes introduced by both Protestant and Catholic reformers. As part of the spectrum of belief it examines ideas concerning magic and witchcraft and it includes a study of the witch hunting which swept through Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. Throughout the course particular attention will be given to the role of women in churches and society and how they were affected by the religious upheavals of the period. 

On this course, students read a range of Buddhist literature from different historical and geographical contexts, and use this literature to explore key Buddhist ideas, themes, and literary forms.