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Religion (REL)

CLAS 211 Understanding Ancient Religions (3)

Comparative and historical survey of the religious beliefs and practices in ancient times throughout Egypt, Mesopotamia, Syria-Canaan, Anatolia, Persia, Greece, and Rome. A-F only. (Cross-listed as REL 211)

REL 149 Introduction to the World’s Goddesses (3)

Cross-cultural analysis of the religious narratives, beliefs, practices, iconography, and sacred sites related to female deities in the Americas, Polynesia, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe from prehistory to 1500 C.E. (Crosslisted as WGSS 149)

REL 150 Introduction to the World’s Major Religions (3)

Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shinto, Taoism and indigenous traditions of Hawai‘i and/or Oceania.

REL 151 Religion and the Meaning of Existence (3)

Basic ideas and issues in contemporary religious thought about the meaning of existence.

REL 151A Religion and the Meaning of Existence (3)

Basic ideas and issues in contemporary religious thought about the meaning of existence.

REL 160 Religion and Social Justice (3)

Religious persons and organizations play significant roles in fighting for issues of social justice worldwide. Introduces students to the relationship between religions and social
justice in China, South America, U.S., and Hawai‘i. Repeatable one time. A-F only.

REL 170 Religion and the Environment (3)

Examines the roles contemporary religious groups play in ground movements for sustainability. Introduces students to key scholars, religious leaders, and activists who
are implementing sustainable solutions to pressing environmental problems. A-F only. (Cross-listed as SUST 170)

REL 200 Understanding the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) (3)

Examines the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) as an expression of the religious life, history, and thought of ancient Israel and as a sacred text within later Judaism and Christianity.

REL 201 Understanding the New Testament (3)

Origin and development of early Christian message as set forth in the New Testament; special attention to Jesus and Paul.

REL 202 Understanding Indian Religions (3)

Historical survey of the teachings and practices of major religious traditions of India.

REL 203 Understanding Chinese Religions (3)

Taoist, Confucian, Buddhist and folk beliefs and practices in their social and historical context. Repeatable one time.

REL 204 Understanding Japanese Religions (3)

Broad survey, with primary focus on Shinto, Buddhist, and modern sectarian movements, analyzed in relation to social and cultural themes of major historical periods.

REL 205 Understanding Hawaiian Religion (3)

Major teachings and practices from ancient times to present, their cultural influence; analysis of religious texts; relation to other traditions of Oceania and to Christianity.

REL 207 Understanding Buddhism (3)

Survey of major forms and practices.

REL 208 Understanding Judaism (3)

Survey from origin to modern times; emphasis on Jewish thought in Talmudic and medieval periods.

REL 209 Understanding Islam (3)

Historical survey of the beliefs and practices of Islam as a world religion, including the prophet Muhammad, scriptures, philosophy and science, theology, law, major sectarian movements, relations with other religious traditions, and fundamentalism. (Alt. years)

REL 210 Understanding Christianity (3)

History of ideas concentrating on events, persons, and issues with the greatest impact on the evolution of Christianity.

REL 211 Understanding Ancient Religions (3)

Comparative and historical survey of the religious beliefs and practices in ancient times throughout Egypt, Mesopotamia, Syria-Canaan, Anatolia, Persia, Greece, and Rome. A-F only. (Cross-listed as CLAS 211)

REL 214 Viking Religion (3)

Introduction to the Scandinavian religions in the Viking Age, their depiction
in popular culture, and reconstruction in the form of new religious movements.

REL 300 Myth, Religion, and Society (3)

Theories and methods used in the study of myth, ritual, and
religion. Sophomore standing or higher. (Cross-listed as CLAS 300) DH

REL 301 Biblical Hebrew I (3)

Orthography and structure of Biblical Hebrew, history and development of Hebrew as the sacred language of Judaism, overview of religious and historical development of the Hebrew Bible. Pre: sophomore standing or consent. (Fall only) (Cross-listed as CLAS 301)

REL 302 Biblical Hebrew II (3)

Reading of selected prose passages from the Hebrew Bible; analysis of literacy forms, paying special attention to stories which have played an important role in the development of the Abrahamic religions. Minimum C- grade required for prerequisites. Pre: 301/LLEA 301. (Spring only) (Cross-listed as CLAS 302)

REL 303 Creation and Evolution (3)

An exploration of interactions between science and religion with a focus on cosmogonies. Pre: 150 or consent.

REL 304 Indigenous & Decolonial Approaches to Religion and Culture (3)

Introduction to indigenous and decolonial approaches to the study of religion and culture. Includes a critical assessment of tools and terminology traditionally used in academia. Sophomore standing or higher. (Cross-listed as CLAS 304)

REL 305 Sacred Animals (3)

Critical study of the ethical treatment of nonhuman animals and the religious beliefs and practices associated with them throughout history and across various cultures.

REL 308 Zen (Ch’an) Buddhist Masters (3)

Study of lives, teachings, practices of Zen masters in China, Japan, Korea, and the West. Pre: one of 150, 203, 204, 207; or consent.

REL 310 Global Christianity (3)

Christianity as a transcultural religion, through the study of Christian art, literature, ritual, and theology in diverse cultures; including the Near East, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific. Pre: 150, 201, or 210; or consent. (Once a year)

REL 311 Ka Baibala ‘Ôlelo Hawai‘i (The Bible in Hawaiian) (3)

Survey of and selected readings from the Hawaiian Bible (Baibala Hemolele). Conducted in Hawaiian. Repeatable one time. Pre: HAW 201.

REL 333 Cults and New Religions (3)

Study of cults and new religious movements in America, the Pacific, and East Asia; examining types, causes, and functions of these movements. Pre: 150 or consent.

REL 345 Religion and Conflict in American History (3)

Analyzes selected historical examples of religious conflicts in America, discerning characteristic patterns of American religious discourse, and identifying the social structures, interests, and ethical principles at stake in conflicts about religion. Sophomore standing or higher. (Fall only) (Cross-listed as AMST 345)

REL 348 Religion, Politics, and Society (3)

Exploration of the diverse approaches and perspectives that American religious groups embrace in addressing controversial and diverse issues of contemporary American life. Emphasis on considering and discussing ethical approaches and practicing oral communication. DH

REL 351 Christian Ethics in Modern Life (3)

The meaning of Christian faith for the moral life with reference to contemporary moral issues. Pre: 150 or 151, or consent.

REL 352 Sufism: Mystical Traditions of Islam (3)

Introduction to the history, literature, and worldview of Sufism. Students will encounter the following topics in relation to Islamic mysticism: asceticism, monotheism, philosophy, love, union, sainthood, ecstatic experience, and spiritual uses of art. Pre: 209 or 383 or PHIL 330 or HIST 354, or consent. (Once a year)

REL 353 Witches and Witchcraft (3)

Persecution of witches, witchcraft in Europe, 1300–1700, examined as crisis of church and theology; origins, effects on church and society. Pre: one of 201, HIST 151, HIST 152, PSY 100, or consent.

REL 354 Islam in History (3)

Examination of the historical connections between Islam and other civilizations will focus on the role of Islam in world history. Pre: 150 or 209 or consent.

REL 356 Women and Religion (3)

Examining roles of, and attitudes toward, women in major religious traditions through autobiographies, films, and primary texts. Pre: 149 or WGSS 149 or REL 150 or HIST 151 or WGSS 151. (Cross-listed as WGSS 356)

REL 361 Love, Sex, and Religion (3)

Love and sex as themes in religions of Asia and the West. Pre: 150 or consent.

REL 363 Religion and Art (3)

The uses of art in religion are studied with historical examples. Pre: 150 or consent.

REL 371 Prophecies of the Last Days (3)

In-depth look at ancient Judeo-Christian apocalyptic texts and the communities in which they originated, followed by a survey of the medieval and modern day heirs of apocalyptic traditions. Pre: 150 or consent.

REL 373 Vedic Hindu Mythology (3)

Study of major Hindu myths of the Vedic Sanskrit literature within the perspective of ancient Indian civilization. Literary sources will be tapped for understanding creation, cosmogony and celestial, atmospheric and terrestrial divinities. Sophomore standing or higher, or consent. A-F only. (Fall only) (Cross-listed as IP 373)

REL 374 Classical Hindu Mythology (3)

Study of major myths of Epic Sanskrit literature, primarily with focus of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Literary sources will be tapped for appreciating myths and epics, especially with reference to dharma, karma, ways of life. Sophomore standing or consent. (Spring only) (Cross-listed as IP 374)

REL 383 Mysticism East and West (3)

Mystic traditions of the West from desert monasticism to
Renaissance mystics compared with those of South and East Asia. Focuses on the ethical lives of these mystics, and developing oral communication skills. Sophomore standing or higher.

REL 390 Hawaiian Gods (3)

The traditions and practices related to one or more major indigenous gods, or class of gods, will be studied by the interpretation and analysis of primary texts. Repeatable one time. Pre: 205 or consent.

REL 394 On Death and Dying (3)

Aspects of death and dying; relation to our culture and society, to understanding of each other and of ourselves. (Crosslisted as COA 394)

REL 399 Directed Reading (3)

Pre: one 200-level REL course and consent.

REL 409 Life and Teachings of Jesus (3)

Critical study of synoptic gospels and of extra-Biblical sources. Sophomore standing or higher.

REL 422 Anthropology of Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion (3)

Cults, legends, millennial movements, myths, possession, rituals, sacred healing, shamanism, sorcery, spirits, symbolism, witchcraft, and other forms of religious and symbolic expression and experience, from small scale to highly urban societies. Pre: ANTH 152. (Cross-listed as ANTH 422)

REL 431 Health/Medicine in Religion (3)

Issues of health and disease in the light of religious beliefs and practices with a focus on ethical matters shaping policies in the U.S. and the world. A-F only.

REL 433 Religion and Food (3)

Seminar exploring foodways as a basic component in the practice of religions. Examines theoretical issues, foodways as creators of community and identity, sustainability, and
other ethical issues, abstinence and fasting, and healing. Pre: 150. (Alt. years: fall)

REL 443 Anthropology of Buddhism (3)

Selected aspects of national, regional and local manifestations of Buddhism are explored through the perspective of anthropology with an emphasis on the daily lives of monks, nuns and lay persons in their socio-cultural contexts. Pre: 207, 422, 475, or consent. (Alt. years) (Cross-listed as ANTH 443)

REL 444 Spiritual Ecology (3)

Lectures and seminars provide a cross-cultural survey of the relationships between religions, environment and environmentalism. Pre: junior standing or consent. (Alt. years) (Cross-listed as ANTH 444)

REL 445 Sacred Places (3)

Lectures and seminars provide a cross-cultural survey of sites which societies recognize as sacred and their cultural, ecological and conservation aspects. Pre: junior standing or consent. (Alt. years) (Cross-listed as ANTH 445)

REL 452 Sociology of Religion (3)

Seminar on research in sociological aspects of religious sectarianism, historical and current; special reference to Hawai‘i. Pre: SOC 300 or consent. (Cross-listed as SOC 455)

REL 475 Seminar on Buddhism (3)

Selected historical, thematic, and textual research topics in Buddhism; topics and geographical focus to be announced each semester.

REL 476 Daoism: Philosophy and Religion (3)

Seminar on religious Taoism, its historical development and its role in the present-day context. Sophomore standing or higher.

REL 478 New World Rituals and Ideologies (3)

Study of cross-cultural patterns in ritual behaviors and creolization of African, indigenous, and Iberian ideological frameworks in the Americas. Topics may include syncretic religions (voodoo, candomble), Andean Christianity, spiritual conquest, conceptions of death, etc. Sophomore standing or higher. Minimum C- required grade for prerequisites. Pre: LAIS 360, or consent. (Fall only) (Cross-listed as ANTH 478 and LAIS 478)

REL 480 Field Methods in Religion (3)

Introduction to theoretical and methodological approaches to doing fieldwork in the study of religion. Application of these in studying Hawai‘i’s diverse religious environment. Pre: 300 or consent.

REL 490 Buddhism in Japan (3)

Major features and trends in thought, institutions, and practices in the context of Japanese history and culture, 6th–20th century. Pre: 204 or 207, or consent.

REL 492 Polynesian Religions (3)

Introduction to field, comparison of several traditions; beliefs and practices from analysis of texts. Historical interactions with Christianity. Sophomore standing or higher.

REL 495 Seminar in Religion (3)

Topics pre-announced each semester. Pre: upper division standing or consent. Repeatable one time.

REL 499 Directed Reading or Research (V)

Repeatable up to six credits. A-F only. Pre: consent of instructor and department chair.

REL 600 History and Theory of the Study of Religion (3)

Survey of development of history of religions; application of methodologies from anthropology, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology.

REL 601 Sacred Space (3)

Introduces ways that sacred sites are used by religious adherents in Asia and the Pacific. Students will survey different methodologies, and develop a final project on a single sacred site. Graduate students only. Pre: graduate standing or instructor consent. (Alt years)

REL 602 The Study of the Ways Religion is Practiced (3)

The study of rituals and practices in the religious traditions of Asia and the Pacific, with a focus on the importance and significance they play in people’s lives. Graduate students only. Pre: graduate standing or instructor consent. (Alt. years)

REL 603 The Study of New Religious Movements (3)

Seminar exploring methods developed for the study of New Religions, particularly in the U.S., Asia, and the Pacific. Considers implications of these methodologies for studies of other religious traditions. Graduate students only. Pre: graduate standing or instructor consent. (Alt. years)

REL 604 Indigenous Religions & Decolonial Theories and Methods (3)

Surveys decolonial approaches to the study of religion(s) and focuses on a specific Indigenous religion of Asia and the Pacific to examine the ways that historical paradigms have adversely influenced the study of Indigenous religions. Graduate students only. Pre: graduate standing or instructor consent. (Alt. years)

REL 605 Healing in the Religious Traditions of Asia and the Pacific (3)

Seminar focused on approaches to healing in the religious traditions of Asia and the Pacific. Explores commonalities between religious traditions, geographical areas, historical periods, and disciplines. Graduate students only. Pre: graduate standing or instructor consent. (Alt. years)

REL 661 (Alpha) Seminar on East Asian Religions (3)

Selected historical, thematic, and textual research topics in East Asian religions and traditions: (B) Chinese religions; (C) Japanese religions; (D) East Asian Buddhism. Repeatable up to six credits for (D), up to nine credits for (B) and (C). A-F only. Pre: 661B or 661C for (D).

REL 662 (Alpha) Seminar on South Asian Religions (3)

Selected historical, thematic, and textual research topics in Indian religious traditions: (B) Indian religions; (D) Indian Buddhism. Repeatable two times, up to nine credits for (B). A-F only

REL 663 (Alpha) Seminar in Polynesian Religions (3)

Selected historical, thematic, and textual research topics in Polynesian and Hawaiian religious traditions: (B) Polynesian religions; (C) Hawaiian religion. Each alpha repeatable up to nine credits. A-F only.

REL 680 (Alpha) Pedagogy in Religion (3)

Theory, preparation, and practice in the teaching of religious studies at the community college level: (B) teaching religion; (C) teaching religion practicum. REL majors only. A-F only.Pre: 650 for (B); 600, 650 and (B) for (C).

REL 688 Plan B Research (3)

Research for master’s degree Plan B. Restricted to students in the Religion Masters Program in Plan B. Enrollment must be approved by student’s project committee. A-F only. Pre: consent of committee.

REL 695 Topics in Religious Studies (3)

Topics in the study of religion with special emphasis on theoretical approaches and concerns. Specific topics to be preannounced. Repeatable one time. Pre: 600 or consent. (Alt. years)

REL 699 Directed Reading and Research (V)

Repeatable unlimited times.

REL 700 Thesis Research (V)

Repeatable unlimited times. Pre: consent of thesis chair.