RELIGST 168: Philosophy of Religion: An Historical Introduction
Most attitudes toward religion found on college campuses today trace their origins back to the European Enlightenment of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Calls for social justice, a political order free of ecclesiastical domination, and the recognition of legitimate religious pluralism; the rejection of the authoritarianism, obscurantism, and fanaticism associated with the monotheistic faiths; skepticism about the rationality of belief in God, miracles, and otherworldly salvation-these and other familiar themes were fiercely debated by philosophers in early modern Europe, often at great personal risk. What's more, central branches of philosophy such as epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and political theory were transformed in the modern period amidst debates over the credibility of religious belief - primarily Christian theism - in a world come of age. After a brief look at some "natural theology" in the Middle Ages, we will study and discuss what Descartes and Pascal; Spinoza and Rousseau; Hume and Kant; and Schleiermacher and Kierkegaard had to say about matters religious.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-Hum, WAY-A-II
Instructors:
Sockness, B. (PI)
RELIGST 170A: Biblical Hebrew, First Quarter (JEWISHST 107A)
Establish a basic familiarity with the grammar and vocabulary of Biblical Hebrew and will begin developing a facility with the language. Students that are enrolled in this course must also enroll in Beginning Hebrew. This course requires no prior knowledge of Hebrew and will begin with learning the alphabet. By the end of the year, students will be able to translate basic biblical texts, will be familiar with common lexica and reference grammars, and will have sufficient foundational knowledge to enable them to continue expanding their knowledge either in a subsequent course or own their own.
Last offered: Spring 2017
RELIGST 170D: Readings in Talmudic Literature (JEWISHST 127D, JEWISHST 227D)
Readings of Talmudic texts. Some knowledge of Hebrew is preferred, but not necessary. The goal of the ongoing workshop is to provide Stanford students with the opportunity to engage in regular Talmud study, and to be introduced to a variety of approaches to studying Talmudic texts and thought.
Last offered: Spring 2023
| Repeatable
6 times
(up to 6 units total)
RELIGST 171A: Biblical Greek (CLASSICS 6G, JEWISHST 5)
This is a one term intensive class in Biblical Greek. After quickly learning the basics of the language, we will then dive right into readings from the New Testament and the Septuagint, which is the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. No previous knowledge of Greek required. If demand is high for a second term, an additional quarter will be offered in the Spring.
Last offered: Autumn 2018
RELIGST 173X: Latin 400-1700 CE (CLASSICS 6L, CLASSICS 208L)
Readings in later Latin, drawing on the vast bodies of texts from the late antique, medieval and early modern periods. Each week students will prepare selections in advance of class meetings; class time will be devoted to translation and discussion. Students taking this course will gain exposure to a wide range of later Latin texts; hone translation skills; and develop an awareness of the grammatical and stylistic features of post-classical Latin. The course is aimed both at classical Latinists seeking to broaden their reading experience and at medievalists and early modernists seeking to consolidate their Latin language skills. May be repeat for credit.nnPrior experience in Latin is required, preferably
CLASSICS 11L. Equivalent accepted. Classics majors and minors may repeat for credit with advance approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Does not fulfill the language requirement in Classical Studies track.
Last offered: Summer 2023
| Repeatable
for credit
RELIGST 174: Religious Existentialism
Existentialism is often thought to be a secular or anti-religious philosophy of life, a replacement for Christian belief and ethics in a post-theistic "world come of age." And yet, this twentieth-century philosophical movement owes many of its concerns and much of its vocabulary to the hyper-Protestant Danish thinker Soren Kierkegaard. Conversely, most of the best Christian and Jewish thought in the 20th century embraced existentialism as the "right philosophy" for (re)articulating the deepest insights of these ancient traditions. After a careful study of some of Kierkegaard's most important ideas, we will explore a series of modern religious classics associated with the existentialist movement. Works by Soren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Buber, Karl Barth, Simone Weil, Jean-Paul Sartre, Gabriel Marcel, and Paul Tillich.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-A-II, GER:DB-Hum
Instructors:
Sockness, B. (PI)
RELIGST 196: Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
Undergraduate interns will assist in the publication of The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr., the authoritative fourteen-volume edition of Dr. King's most historically significant speeches, sermons, correspondence, and other works. Since Mrs. Coretta Scott King sponsored the Project in 1985 and with the help of hundreds of undergraduates, we have published seven volumes of the edition, which have become essential reference works. Research consists of archival, library, internet, and database research; analyzing primary-source materials for use in scholarly writing; and basic processes of scholarly publication. Interns receive individual supervision from an assigned Project staff member. Prerequisite: Instructor consent required.
RELIGST 199: Individual Work
Prerequisite: consent of instructor and department. May be repeated for credit.
Terms: Aut, Win, Spr, Sum
| Units: 1-15
| Repeatable
for credit
(up to 99 units total)
Instructors:
Abbasi, R. (PI)
;
Bigelow, A. (PI)
;
Fisher, E. (PI)
...
more instructors for RELIGST 199 »
Instructors:
Abbasi, R. (PI)
;
Bigelow, A. (PI)
;
Fisher, E. (PI)
;
Fonrobert, C. (PI)
;
Gentry, J. (PI)
;
Harrison, P. (PI)
;
Huntington, E. (PI)
;
Kieschnick, J. (PI)
;
Lum, K. (PI)
;
Martin, L. (PI)
;
Mayse, E. (PI)
;
Mross, M. (PI)
;
Penn, M. (PI)
;
Pitkin, B. (PI)
;
Sockness, B. (PI)
;
Wells-Oghoghomeh, A. (PI)
;
Willburn, S. (PI)
;
Yearley, L. (PI)
RELIGST 202A: Monsters, Ghosts and Other Fantastic Beings: The Supernatural and the Mysterious in Japanese Culture (RELIGST 302A)
Examine the development of strange and fantastic creatures in Japan. Mysterious creatures in folklore, literature, art, manga and movies. Through them see how the concept of the strange or mysterious have evolved and how they inform Japanese modernity.
Last offered: Autumn 2011
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-Hum
RELIGST 204: The Buddhist Body: Exorcism, Self-Immolation, and Tattoo Art (RELIGST 340)
In Buddhist practices, devotees have long used their bodies to express religious devotion. This can be seen through asceticism, exorcism, hallucination, mummification, immolation, and even tattoo art. This course examines such themes through textual readings, material culture, and visual imagery. In regards to asceticism, ascetic practices can be used to alter one's physical form, through starvation, fire, practices in the mountains, or other such means. Examples of this include the mountain practitioners who mummified in Japan, immolation practices in China and Tibet, and the "marathon monks" of Mount Hiei. Subthemes of this course include gender and the body, and the body and violence. Undergraduates register for 200-level for 5 units. Graduate students register for 300-level for 3-5 units.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: WAY-A-II
Instructors:
Cross, J. (PI)
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