Syllabi Archive

A 2006 course by Michael Zank at Boston University surveys "Philosophical critiques of revealed religion from Enlightenment to the 20th century, including analysis of criticisms in Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Major trends examined include rationalism, idealism, materialism, and nihilism."

A 2012 course by Mark Lewis Taylor at Princeton Theological Seminary examines "Christianity's relation to the problems of white supremacist and racist phenomena" and to explore how "different theological works . . . enable Christian faith to be anti-racist in practice, and to facilitate course member’s creation of their own anti-racist strategies in belief and practice."

A course by Stephen Shoemaker at the University of Oregon "various aspects of Christianity during the first seven centuries of its existence. . . . focuses to a certain extent on the development of what would later become “orthodox” Christianity within the bounds of the Roman Empire, this is not to the exclusion of rival forms of early Christianity."

A 2016 course by Lynn Neal at Wake Forest University examines "the history of specific 'cults,' and tackle the methodological and conceptual issues that arise in studying New Religious Movements (NRMs)."

A 2018 course by Lynn Neal at Wake Forest University uses "myth and ritual, sources and stereotypes, identity and aesthetics, and more" to ponder what religion is and how to study it.

A 2017 course by Lynn Neal at Wake Forest University examines "numerous sources, topics, and dilemmas" from popular culture as it considers "religion IN popular culture, popular culture IN religion, popular culture AS religion, and religion and popular cuture in dialogue."

A 2014 course by Rob O'Lynn at Kentucky Christian University focuses "on current aspects of homiletics and crafting Biblical messages that are theologically and culturally relevant."

A 2012 course by Philip Harland at York University "examines cases of ethnic, social, and political conflict relating to honours for the god(s) in the Roman empire."

A 2012 course by Loren Townsend at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary "explores historical and epistemological foundations for the practice of Marriage and Family Therapy, especially as this is integrated in a theological context."

A 2017 course by Dan Capper at the University of Southern Mississippi "is a basic introduction to the variety of the world’s religions as well as methods for studying them. . . . In rapid survey we will discuss the nature of religion; indigenous religions; and the religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam."