RELI 090 A-Z - (HP) Special Topics in ReligionSemester Hours: 1-3 Studies in such special topics as the psychology of religion; religion in America; new religious movements; religion, media and American culture; and religion and the liberal arts. For additional information on these courses, visit the Department of Religion website.
Current Special Topics
RELI 090G - Love, Rumi, Sufism, and Society
Have you heard of Rumi, the poet of love? Where do his powerful words come from? Have you heard of the “whirling dervishes”? What does the whirling mean? In this class, you will find out about a tradition that produced countless thinkers, artists, and activists in the East and the West. Students will learn about the social and historical conditions that gave rise to Rumi and the Sufi orders by reading key excerpts from poems and other texts. We will follow the culture and evolution of Sufism’s extraordinary mystics of the eighth century to the full-fledged Sufi institutions of today.
Crosslisted as ANTH 188N
RELI 090P - Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracies seem to be everywhere … but are they? For some, they explain what is hidden in the world, and for others, they are a misguided interpretation of this same world. Discrimination, persecution, attacks against political systems, and even murders have followed these theories. This course will explore what is behind this phenomenon. We will explore everything from the histories, politics, media, and social media discourses, to the possibilities and problems behind conspiracy theories. We will ask why some religious, racial, and gender collectives seem to be usual targets. Students will be able to understand not only how conspiracy theories came to be and changed through time, but also to discern between them and sound social critique.
Prerequisite(s)/Course Notes: As individual subjects are selected, each is assigned a letter (A-Z) which is affixed to the course number. May be repeated three times for a maximum of 9 semester hours when topics vary.
View Course Offering(s):
Summer I 2025
Summer II 2025
Summer III 2025
Fall 2025
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