2005/2006 - Registrar - McMaster University

R.ELIG ST 3MM3 . SCEPTICISM, ATWEISMAND RELlGlo.US-FAITH, A st!Jdyof conceptions of religious belief, knowledge andGodinthehistory of modem thought up to the 20th century, with special attention tomajor challenges to the role of religious faith .in human existence. Authorsmay include: . Descartes, Hume, Kant, Schleiermacher, Nietzsche;Dostoevsky, Kierkegaard, Camus, Buber, Levinas.'Two lectures, one tutorial; one term'RELIG ST 3N03 Jo.HN'S Po.RTRAIT OF JESUS .An ~xamination of the Gospel of John, with emphasis on its historicalbackground, its literary' character and its distinctive theology .. The histoiyofthe, Johannine community will' also. be considered.Two lectures, one tutorial;. one termAntirequisite: RELIG ST 2003 , .RELiG ST 3NN3 THE ENCo.UNTER o.F SCIENCE AND RELlGlo.NA study of contemporary discussions of: (a) methods of inquiry in scienceandreligion, (b) the human being's relation to nature and (c) God'srelation to nature.Two lectures, one tutorial; one termRELI~ ST 3P03 BUDDHISM IN TIBETThis course takes particular religi9us themes in Tibetan Buddhism suchas revelation, the dying process, or visionary techniques, and locatesthem within their historical context.Two lectures, one tutorial; one termRELIG ST 3R03 DEATH AND THE AFTERLIFE IN EARLY,JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY' _ .An examination of the variety of ways in which physical death and theafterlife were understood in biblical and post-biblical Judaism as well asin the . New Testament and early Christianity. Among the topics to beconsidered are the netherworld, immortality and resurrection, as well asthe relationship of these concepts to issues of faith and morality.Two lectures, one tutorial; one term .RELIG ST 3S03 THE EAST ASIAN RELlGlo.US TRADITlo.NReadings in East Asian religious texts in translation will concentrate onthemes such as culture vs. nature, virtue VS. ,power, social responsibilityvs. personal cultivation,. bookish learning v'S .. meditation:Two lectures, one tutorial; 'one termPrerequisite: Registration in Level III and aboveCross-list ARTS&SCI3S03, JAPAN ST 3S03 .REUG ST3T03 THE QUEST Fo.R THE HISTo.RICAL JESUSA look at the continuing scholarly effort to reconstruct the career andteaching of the historical ,Jesus., I.Two lectures, one tutorial; one termRELIG ST 3U03 THE BUDDHIST TRADITlo.N .IN INDIAA study of the origins and earlyldevelopment of Indian Buddhism,largely_, through readings in Buddhist scripture (pre-Mahayana and Mahayana) in,- translation. ' .Two, iectures, one tutorial;' one termRELIG ST 3UU3 BUDDHISM IN EAST ASIAAn examination of myth, history, doctrine, monastic culture, and ritual. practices in East Asian Buddhism.Two lectures, one tutorial; one te'rmCross-list JAPAN ST 3UU3RELIG ST 3V03' INDIAN PHILo.So.PHYExploration of select themes in Indian .philosophy through a reading of. primary texts in English translation. Possible topics include: an examinationof Indian concepts of the soul, free will and determinism, origins ofthe universe and Indian debates concerning the existence and functionof an omnipotent god.Two lectures, one tutorial; one term,Antirequisite: REUG ST 2T03RELIG ST 3W03' PLATO.: RELlGlo.US AND Po.LlTICAL THEMES. An examination of ethical, political, philosophic and religious themes inselected Platonic dialogues, including the Apology of Socrates, Phaedo,. Symposium, Gorgias and Repub/ic.Two lectures, one tutorial; one term .RELIG ST 3X03 CHRISTIAN MYSTICALAND SPIRITUAL WRITINGSClose reading.of selected primary texts in Eastern and Western traditionsof Christian spiritual life. Possible readings include: the Desert Fathers,Augustine, the Philokalia, John of the Cross, Simone Weil, Thomas Merton.Two lectures, one tutorial; one termRELIGIOUS STUDIES - 293'RELIG ST 3Z03 JUDAISM, THE JEWISH PEo.PLE ANDTHE BIRTHo.FTHEMo.DERN Wo.RLDOn the lures and threats of the modern world from the early eighteenth tothe early.twentieth century. Topics include: Jewish philosophy in theAge of Reason, new Jewish denominations, assimilation, early Zionism,Yiddish socialism; the beginnings of modern anti-semitism, movementsof cultural renewal.'"Twi:> leCtures,one tutorial; o'ne termCross-list·HISTORY 3Z03 .. Antirequisite: RELiG ST 2X03 .' . '.. RELIG ST 3ZZ3 JUDA{SM AND THE JEWISH PEOPLEIN THE TV\fENTIETH CENTURYJews and Judaism in a century of catastrophe and renewal. The progressof Emancipation: Jews in C.anada a.nd the U.S.; the Jewish catastrophein Europe; the Jewish state; Jewish. identities in literature and the arts ..Two lectures, one tutorial; one termCross-list HISTORY 3ZZ3Antirequisite: RELIG ST 2XX3RELIG ST4A06 Ho.No.URS SEMINAR, . A seminar in selected topics. in the study of religion, including a presentationand discussion of research conducted by students in the HonoursResearch Course (4J06). ' . . . 'Seminar ,(three hours); two termsPrerequisite: R~gistration in Level IV Honours ReJigiqus StudiesCorequisite: RELIG ST 4J06 . .RELIG ST 4AA3 ADVANCED READING: ASIANRELlGlo.NS'Independent study of sPE3cial topics in,Asian Religions. .Prerequisite: Registration in'Level IV of an honours program and written .permission of the supervising instructorREL.IG ST 4BB3 ADVANCED READING: BIBLICAL STUDIESIndependent study of special topics in Biblical Studies.Prerequisite: Registration in Level IV of an honours program and writtenpermission of the supervising instructorRELIGST 4CC3 ADVANCED READING: WESTER~RELlGlo.US THo.UGHTIndepend~nt study of special topics in Western Religious Thought.. Prerequisite: Registration in Level IV of an honours program and writtenpermission of the supervising instructor 'RELIG ST4DD3 . ADVANCED READING: Co.NTEMPo.RARYAND Co.MPARATIVE RELlGlo.N. Independent study of special topics in Contemporary and ComparativeReligion.''Prerequisite: Registration in Level IV of an honours program and writtenpermission of the supervising instructorRELIG ST 4J06 Ho.No.URS RESEARCH Co.URSEStudents in this course will work closely With faculty members whospecialize in the fields in which they plan to write their honours essay.Two terms·'Prerequisite: Registration in Level IV Honours Religious StudiesCorequisite: RELIG ST 4A06RELIG SiI" 4W06 GUIDED READING IN RELlGlo.US STUDYIndependent study on a topic approved by the instructor.Two terms .Prerequisite: Registration in Level IV of an honours program in ReligiousStudies and permission qf the instructor.----------~-------------------HEBREW2A03 INTRo.DU'CTlo.NTo. ~IBLICAL HEBREW IAn introduction to the basics of grammar, syntax and vocabulary Of theIc;mguage of the Hebrew Bible. The' student will begin to read in theHebrew Bible.'Four hours (two lectures); one termAntirequisite: HEBREW 2A06HEBREW 2B03 I INTRODUCTlo.N TO. BIBLICAL HEBREW ilAn introduction to more grammar, syntax and vocabulary of the Ian.:guage of the Hebrew Bible. The knowledge acquired should enable thestudent' to read the simple prose and poetry of the Hebrew Bible.Four hours (two lectures); .one term, Prerequisite: HEBREW 2A030r permission of the instructorAntirequisite: HEBREW 2A06