Concentration on three or four different positions such as those of Cox, Daly, Heschel, King, Niebuhr, Vatican II, and Third-World Catholic figures. The Jewish Mind to 1600 Foundations of Jewish thought and institutions from the age of the Talmud to the early modern period. Characteristic features of Talmudic law and lore, medieval Jewish philosophy, mysticism, and humanism are examined, with attention both to historical context and to Biblical background. Junior standing or permission of instructor. This course explores feminism and theology as resources for each other.
Students form semester-long working groups around relevant topics of their own choosing.
The history of religion in America from the earliest settlements to the present day. Particular attention is given to the nature and content of belief among the various American denominations, and to the ways in which those groups have attempted to put their beliefs into practice. This course explores the roots of these differences in the Confucian tradition.