Fall 2025 Courses

RELS 201 History and Theory
Paul Powers TTH 9:40AM-11:10AM 
History of the field. Psychological, literary, anthropological, sociological, and historical approaches to the study of religion. Readings by major theorists. Should normally be taken no later than the junior year.

Prerequisites: None.

RELS 202 Sacred Space
Jessica Starling M 3:00PM-4:30PM
Exploration of various theories of space and the sacred from disciplines such as religious studies, geography, sociology, and phenomenology. Application of these theories to case studies from a variety of religious and secular traditions, encountered through a combination of primary texts, documentary films, and site visits to
sacred spaces in the Portland area.

Prerequisites: None.

RELS 224 Jewish Origins
Daniel Kimmel MWF 9:10AM- 10:10AM
Exploration of early Judaism, from circa 450 B.C.E. to 200 C.E. Focus on the development of the religion in the multicultural, pluralistic context of the Greco-Roman world. Study of the archaeological and written evidence for Jewish origins (i.e., the archaeology and literature of pre-Jewish Israelite religion and of early Jewish communities in Egypt and Palestine, the Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls and the related excavations at Qumran, documentary and literary texts of Jews in Egypt, and related archaeological evidence). Analysis of key themes in the study of early Judaism (i.e., gender, colonialism, multiculturalism and identity, early Judaism’s relationship to earliest Christianity).

Prerequisites: None.

RELS 243 Buddhism: Theory, Culture, Practice
Jessica Starling MWF 11:30AM-12:30PM
Introduction to Buddhist thought and practice. Indian origins, contemporary Theravada Buddhism, emergence of the Mahayana, Buddhism and society in Tibet, Zen and Pure Land traditions of East Asia,
and the Western reception of Buddhism. Problems in the study of Buddhism.

Prerequisites: None.

RELS 275 Introduction to Islam
Paul Powers TTH 1:50PM - 3:20PM

Beliefs, practices, and history of Muslim societies from their origins in seventh-century Arabia to their complex current expressions throughout the world. The Qur’an; the Prophet Muhammad; ritual practice; law; politics; gender roles/relations. The many debates and voices of dissent that have helped define the varieties of Islamic culture. Focus on the Middle East/North Africa will be supplemented by attention to other contexts, including America.

Prerequisites: None.

RELS 341/441 Religions of the Northwest
Susanna Morrill MWF 10:20AM-11:20AM

Exploration of the religious history of the Pacific Northwest, with a focus on Oregon and Washington. Examination of the religious traditions of regional Native American tribes, early Protestant missions, and the growth of Catholicism and Mormonism in the region, as well as recent immigrant religions (such as Vietnamese Buddhism), nondenominational Christian groups, and alternative forms of spirituality. Using theoretical models from religious studies to consider why the Northwest does not carry the imprint of a dominant religious tradition or traditions, as most other regions of the country do. This course is cross-listed with RELS 441. Students taking the 300-level version of this course will complete a guided research project, identifying and mastering the range of scholarly positions on a theme, critical issue, or essential primary text, and will produce a technically sound research paper. Students taking the 400-level version of this course will complete a more comprehensive research paper, defending an original thesis and offering critical judgments of relevant arguments and evidence. The course can only be taken once and cannot be repeated at the other level.

Prerequisites: None.

Restrictions: Sophomore standing required.

RELS 350 Social and Religious World of Early Judaism and Christianity 
Daniel Kimmel TTH 11:30AM - 1:00PM

Recent research into the relationship between the social setting of early Judaism and Christianity and the texts both religions produced. Special attention to the sociohistorical aspects of selected regional expressions of Judaism and Christianity (e.g., Asia Minor, Palestine, Egypt). Readings from the Dead Sea Scrolls, Jewish pseudepigrapha, the New Testament, other early Christian literature, and media interpretations of Judaism and Christianity to the present.

Prerequisites: One course in religious studies, classics, or history.