Courses in Ancient History & Religious Studies

MAJOR IN ANCIENT HISTORY & RELIGIOUS STUDIES

A Major in Ancient History & Religious Studies requires at least 12 credit hours of lower-level (100 or 200) Ancient History & Religious Studies courses, of which nine credit hours must be in the core courses: AncH 100, 101, and 201 or their equivalent.

A minimum of 21 credit hours must be taken at the upper-level (300 or 400), and must include AncH/RS 340 and at least one seminar course.
A grade of C or better in each core course is required for the major.

NOTE: The thesis (AncH/RS 490 and 493) may only count as three credit hours toward the requirements for the upper-level electives.

MINOR IN ANCIENT HISTORY & RELIGIOUS STUDIES

A minor in Ancient History & Religious Studies requires the core courses: AncH 100, 101, and 201 or their equivalent, plus an additional 15 credit hours in Ancient History & Religious Studies of which 12 credit hours must be at the upper level.

A grade of C or better in each core course is required for the minor.

REQUIRED & CORE COURSES IN ANCIENT HISTORY & RELIGIOUS STUDIES

AncH 100 Early Christian Origins

Introduces the student to the political and religious history of the first century in Palestine and to the literature of the new testament.

AncH 101 Ancient Israel and Second Temple Judaism

Introduces the student to the historical background and literature of the Israelite nation from its beginnings to the Maccabean period.

AncH 201 Religious Expression in the Early Church

Uses the new testament and other early christian writings as primary sources, and aims to provide the student with the framework to understand the christian faith of the early church.

ELECTIVE COURSES IN ANCIENT HISTORY & RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Phil 100 Worldview, Faith & Reason

Provides an introduction to the concept of worldview as well as to the history of Western philosophy. Along the way, it brings questions about faith and reason to light and helps people begin to think critically about such issues. The history of the creation/evolution debate is studied, as is the question of correct or wise interpretation of religious texts.

RS 2/381 Theological Reflections on Suffering
Examines the difficulties related to theodicy (or the justice of God) in light of the suffering of the world. Readings are drawn from Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish sources. The focus grows from individual laments to discussion of societal injustice in the Holocaust and in South Africa under Apartheid. There is a consistent concern for finding the most helpful responses toward our own suffering as well as the suffering of others.

RS 295 World Religions

This course is an overview and comparison of the major religions of the world with a focus on Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam, the religions found in SE Asia.

RS 2/397 World Religions Research

Through anthropological observation, lectures in Southeast Asia and discussions with practitioners, the student learns to appreciate and understand the religion as it is practiced, including, for example, local customs, Animist influence, and historical development.

RS/AncH 340 Religious Expression in the Hebrew Scriptures

Aims to examine the theological themes and teachings about the person and nature of God and His relationship with creation as they are expressed in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament.

RS/Hist 351 The Reform Movements of 16th Century Europe: Effects on Society and Culture

Explores the reform movements of the early 16th century in central Europe, particularly those associated with Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, the Anabaptists, and the significance of the Roman Catholic Counter- Reformation.

RS/Hist 357 Historical Themes in Religion and Culture
This course surveys some of the most important writers in the history of the Christian church, helping students to gain understanding of challenges and perspectives from various times and places. Sources include Apostolic Fathers, Athanasius, Augustine, Benedict, Gregory the Great, Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis of Assisi, Thomas à Kempis, Luther, Calvin, Theresa of Avila, Thérèse de Lisieux, Bonhoeffer and C. S. Lewis.

RS 360 Response to Religious Difference

This course is concerned both with facts and with ideas, with history, theology and philosophy, and with trying to understand the past while assessing the present in order to be prepared for the future. The course title is intentionally broad so as to encompass these different threads, and so that the themes of the course can be connected with relevant sites visited during our travel programme, leaving it to individual students to delve more deeply into chosen aspects. Within this broad scheme, ‘religious difference’ could include the dissent of a religious minority, or even an individual, in the face of religious hegemony; the disagreement and discord of two religious groups with equal power; or simply the reality of religious diversity within a given region or nation. Likewise, ‘responses’ could come from an individual, a faith group, a political power, a nation, an ideological movement, or even the continent as a whole, and can encompass the full gamut of possible responses: debate, conflict, excommunication, tolerance, persecution, violence, acceptance, disregard, or recon- ciliation.

AncH/RS 455 Directed Reading
Selected Topics

RS460 Contemporary Themes in Religion and Culture (Jesus through a Postmodern Lens)

This course surveys various kinds of Christian post- modern writings in order to bring different questions to New Testament stories. Largely, it focuses on understanding a postmodern ethos and how this affects an approach toward “Truth”, the nature of reality, and communication within a changing cultural context. Class material aims at a balance between Truth as an act of power over others and Truth as flux without anchor.

RS 465 Seminar

Critically analyses the role that institutional and popular religion plays in popular culture in North America in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

AncH 470 Scope and Methods Seminar

Familiarizes students with the process of researching and writing a thesis. Fosters reflection on the various methods employed in academic research in view of the need for upper-level students to integrate their previous learning in the various disciplines as well as hone their skills for writing their theses.

AncH/RS 490 Thesis Reading and Research

The research portion of the baccalaureate thesis project in Religious Studies. By the end of the term, each student will submit to the instructor: (1) an annotated bibliography of the secondary material relevant to the thesis, (2) an 8- to 10-page paper related to some aspect of the material examined during the bibliographical search, and (3) a detailed outline of the thesis.

AncH/RS 493 Baccalaureate Thesis

Following successful completion of RS 490, a student may use the research to write a thesis of at least 15,000 words (exclusive of footnotes and bibliography). The thesis should demonstrate thoughtful appraisal and the ability to present a scholarly argument, and should reflect the ethos of SSU in a substantial way. At the conclusion of the term, students will be required to make oral presentations based on their theses.