The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - Butler University

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RL346, Heresy: This course focuses on the
study of primary texts that didn’t make it into
the Bible, and in the process explores how various
definitions of what is orthodox and what is
heretical came about. In addition to the socalled
Gnostic Gospels, students will also learn
about a Gnostic group that has survived from
the ancient world down to the present day.
(U)(3). Occasionally.
RL347, History of Christianity: Historical
development of Christianity from the first
century to the present. Special attention to
selected topics, such as Eastern Orthodox
worship and icons, Benedictine monasticism,
the Roman Papacy, Luther and the Protestant
Reformation, African Christianity and the
challenges to Christian belief in modern times.
Prerequisite: One religion course or sophomore
standing. (U/G)(3). Fall even-numbered years.
RL350, Topics in Judaism: Study of a central
area of Jewish studies such as introduction to
Judaism, American Judaism, Jewish religious
thought and philosophy, and Jewish-Christian
relations. May be repeated with a different
topic. Prerequisite: One religion course or
sophomore standing. (U/G)(3). Occasionally.
RL353, Buddhism: Past and Present: Introduction
to the basic concepts, philosophies and
practices of Buddhism in South Asia and East
Asia from antiquity to the present. Prerequisite:
One religion course or sophomore standing.
(U/G)(3). Fall even-numbered years.
RL354, Islam: Religion, Culture, Society:
An introduction to Islam: origins, sacred texts,
world view, culture and society, history and
expansion, and Islam in the modern world.
Origins and sacred texts are emphasized; relative
emphasis on other topics varies. Prerequisite:
One religion course or sophomore standing.
(U/G)(3). Spring odd-numbered years.
RL358, Hinduism: Past and Present: This
course will examine Hinduism’s practices and
beliefs as depicted in its foundational scriptures
as well as in the lives of modern Hindus.
Topics may include the following: Meditation
practices, Indian medicine, male and female
saints, Hinduism as portrayed in literature/film,
Hinduism and modern South Asian politics.
(U/G)(3). Fall odd-numbered years.
Butler University
RL363, Religion, Politics, and Conflict in
South Asia: Investigation of the interaction
of South Asia’s many religious communities,
especially Hinduism, Islam, Christianity,
Sikhism and Buddhism, paying particular
attention to how religious ideas, practices and
demographics have affected communal relations
at various points in the Subcontinent’s history.
The course will focus on moments of conflict
and movements of peace. (U/G)(3). Occasionally.
RL366, Topics in Jewish and Christian
Traditions: Treats a specific subject area of
Judaism or Christianity which is not the major
subject regularly scheduled course. (U)(3).
Occasionally.
RL367, Topics in Islam/Asian Faiths: Treats a
specific subject area of Islam or the Asian faiths
which is not the major subject of a regularly
scheduled course. (U)(3). Occasionally.
RL368, Topics in Religion and Society: Treats
a specific subject area of Religion and Society,
which is not the major subject of a regularly
scheduled course. (U)(3). Occasionally.
RL369, Topics in Religious Studies: Treats a
specific subject area of religion that is not the
major subject of a regularly scheduled course.
(U)(3). Occasionally.
RL370, Modern Religious Thought: A survey
of important religious thinkers and theological
issues of the 19th and 20th centuries (e.g.,
Buber, Tillich, Weil, liberation theology,
feminism). Emphasis is on the Christian
and Jewish traditions as they relate to earlier
theological developments and to contemporary
philosophical and cultural movements.
Prerequisite: One religion course or sophomore
standing. (U/G)(3). Occasionally.
RL371, Religion and Science: Surveys some
main issues in the interaction between science
and religion: a comparison of the tasks of
scientific and theological research; models of
interaction between science and religion; the
Big Bang, evolution and creation; contemporary
ideas of God. Prerequisite: One religion course
or sophomore standing. (U/G)(3). Occasionally.
RL372, Mysticism: Study of the varieties of
mysticism in world religion, with emphasis
on Christian and Jewish mysticism. Includes