Look no further! We have a couple of great courses that have filled up in the past, so be sure to get registered soon!
RELS:1903 Judaism, Christianity & Islam (June 29 - Aug 6)
Instructor: Paul Dilley
Description: This course offers an introduction to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam by focusing on the scriptural foundation and historical development of these three related traditions. Lectures cover the texts and other forms of religious expression, including art, music, literature, and philosophy. Requirements include a short paper and two exams.
Readings come from the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and Quran, as well as later Jewish, Christian, and Islamic writings. John Corrigan, Frederick Denny, Carlos Eire, Jews, Christians, Muslims: A Comparative Introduction to Monotheistic Religion (2nded.; Prentice Hall, 2012)
Quest for Human Destiny (May 19 - Aug 6)
Instructor: Ellen Holstein
Description: The framework for this course is made up of three ancient works: The Epic of Gilgamesh and, from the Bible, the first nine chapters of the Book of Genesis and the Book of Jonah. The differing ways in which these three texts deal with the issue of the inevitability of death is the focal point of the course. How this point is exploited is examined in Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych," Clarke's Childhood's End, the Book of Ecclesiastes, the E'numa E'lish, and Stanley Kubrick's film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Upon completing this course, students should be able to (a) reflect on how various quests for meaning in life as expressed in literature relate to the human condition, with particular attention to matters relating to the table, the bedroom, and the grave; (b) specify the dangers in making generalizations about biblical texts and the individuals and groups that hold them to be sacred; (c) indicate how fundamental human questions such as "Where do we come from?", "Where are we going?", and "How long do we have?" are expressed from the contrasting viewpoints of the pagan and biblical visions.
In addition to reading materials and interactive tools, online content includes audio slideshows and video (recorded class lectures of Professor Jay Holstein); evaluation consists of one 2-page writing assignment and online assessments by way of multiple-choice practice quizzes (which do not factor into the course grade), and midterm and final exams, all of which are accessed in the ICON course management system. While this online venue is designed in such a way that it will replicate as much as possible the classroom experience, it also aims to capitalize on the element of flexibility made possible by the online experience.
Don't hesitate to email us if you have any questions.