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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Birmingham-Southern College Catalog 2016-2017
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RE 221 World Religions (1)
An introductory survey of such major world religious traditions as Hinduism, Buddhism,
Confucianism, Daoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Course topics may vary each
time the course is taught. In addition to a historical overview of diverse thought traditions
and practices, a primary focus will be the response to modernity and the challenge and
change in contemporary religious thought. Additional topics may include the place of
women in these different traditions, understanding of diversity and pluralism, and
responses to religious violence.
RE 222 Religions of Asia (1)
A survey of the major religious traditions of Asia including Hinduism, Buddhism,
Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto. This course explores the major
concepts, doctrines, and practices of each tradition in historical perspective. Emphasis
will be placed on the examination of cross-cultural religious categories within each, such
as salvation, ritual, gender, or ecology.
RE 230 Christian Scriptures in Literature, Art, and Film (1)
An investigation of the
interpreted
Bible, or the Bible as it has been visualized, filmed,
painted, sculpted, and retold by early and modern readers. One reason for the Bible’s
enduring cultural significance is the way artists and authors have engaged biblical texts
and themes as conversation partners in the creation of their own texts. This course
explores the dynamics of biblical interpretation in diverse forms of media with the
intention of fostering more sophisticated reading strategies of film, visual, and literary
culture, and the biblical text itself.
RE 231 Popular and Folk Religion (1)
An examination of popular and folk religions, including beliefs and practices that exist
among the people, apart from and alongside the theological and liturgical forms of
mainline religion.
RE 235 Abrahamic Religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (1)
A study of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the three major religious traditions that trace
their historical and theological roots to one figure: Abraham. The objective of the course
is to explore the interconnection of these traditions, a historical and theological
entwinement that is vital for understanding the modern world situation.
RE 275 Buddhism (1)
A study of the Buddhist traditions from the life of the Buddha to modern times. The
course explores the doctrines and practices of Buddhist traditions in historical and
geographic context. Emphasis is placed on the how the study of Buddhism in historical
context contributes to our understanding of cross-cultural categories in the study of
religion as well as the concept of “religion” itself.
RE 276 Hinduism (1)
A study of the Hindu traditions from prehistory to modern South Asia and the era of
globalization. This course examines the diversity and unity of those South Asian religious