PAR 201: History of Western Philosophy l
Dr. W. Thomas Schmid
This course is an introduction to philosophy through the study of its origins in ancient Greece. We will discuss questions that have puzzled and intrigued human beings ever since thinking began—about the relationship of science to understanding human life, about the meaning of freedom, about human desire and its relation to thinking, about happiness, excellence, and friendship.
ONLINE
PAR 205: American Philosophy
Dr. W. Thomas Schmid
This class is an introduction to American philosophy through the study of some of its major philosophers and political thinkers. We will discuss questions that have puzzled and intrigued Americans throughout our history—about the relationship of faith and science to one another, and to understanding human life, about the meaning of freedom and its relation to thinking for oneself, about our country’s ideals, and how we achieve and fall short of them.
TR 2:00-3:15 Bear 100
PAR 213: Existentialism
Dr. Matthew Eshleman
In this course we will examine both literary and philosophical expressions of ‘existentialism.’ While many of the philosophers and authors surveyed here are well known, few of them labeled themselves ‘existentialist’ and it is difficult to say precisely what ‘existentialism’ means. This course approaches existentialism by focusing on several prominent themes: God, disbelief, absurdity, contingency, freedom, anguish, responsibility, and authenticity.
TR 9:30-10:45 AM Bear 100 &
TR 11:00 -12:15 PM Bear 100
PAR 230: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Dr. Jamie Brummitt
In this course we will study Judaism, Christianity, and Islam by examineing the relationships between these religions and various technologies. Despite the common assumption that “religion is belief in something,” scholars often study religion as technology by examining the visual, material, and digital cultures of religion. PAR 230 will employ these methods in lectures, readings, and assignments to help you understand that religion cannot be separated from technologies, such as temples, books, statues, objects, images, films, and digital media. We will also explore some of the latest digital data collection methods in religious studies, like radiocarbon dating of artifacts and the preservation of objects.
MWF 10:00-10:50 Leutze 108
PAR 233: African Religions
Dr. Dorcas Dennis
What are the religious beliefs and practices indigenous to peoples of African descent? In what forms did these religions exist before the arrival of Islam, slavery, colonialism, and Christianity in Africa? What impact did colonialism, slavery, and foreign religions have on African Religions (AR)? In what sense/s are Islam and Christianity in Africa, African Religions (AR)? And in what forms do AR exist in modern times? To answer these questions, we will critique colonial and post-colonial theories of Africa, religion, and race.
ONLINE
PAR 235: Intro to Old Testament
Dr. Theodore Burgh
This course explores a range of issues and inquiries related to the Bible regarding its nature, origin, composition, history, culture, setting, people, and their stories, and its teachings. Students analyze and analyze approaches to interpreting the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, how it impacts people’s lives, how the study of the text developed, and the reasons for its enduring presence. Students will examine the range of literary genre, symbolic metaphors, figures of speech and religious and theological themes.
ONLINE
PAR 292-800: New Religious Movements
Dr. Diana Pasulka
This class will provide an introduction to new religious movements that have emerged within the last one hundred and fifty years, with special emphasis on those that have emerged in the last thirty years. We will look at belief in atheist religions, religions that focus on extraterrestrials, religions based on movies (fiction-based religions), and neo-pagan movements.
Online
PAR 322: Ritual Therapy and Health
Dr. Dennis Dorcas
We will explore Caribbean religious and cultural understandings of disease, health, and healing, ethnomedical and ritual therapeutics, and other metaphysical healing techniques and spaces. These will include Ebo healing of Ifa divination, Palo, Vodou, and Santeria (Lukumi) Botanica, and other Caribbean healing spaces to understand and critique the health and healing technologies, discourse, and praxis of the Caribbean. We will study the different health and healing approaches and techniques in the diverse Caribbean communities, loosely connected to their indigenous religions and understand how religious ritual discourse and praxis are increasingly becoming a part of alternative healthcare delivery systems.
ONLINE
PAR 495-001: Death, Dying, and the Meaning of Life
Dr. Scott James
Fun fact: one and the same individual (at one and the same time) can be alive in one U.S. state but dead in another. Why? Because we have not answered this fundamental question: What is it to die? In this course we’ll ask: What is the nature of death? Is death the end of our existence? If death is in fact the end, how (if at all) could death be bad for the deceased, since the deceased cannot suffer at all? Is it then irrational to fear death? The very inevitability of our death prompts this question: What is the point of life? Does life have meaning? If so, what is it?
TR 3:30-4:45 PM BR 261
PAR 495-002: Philosophy of Political Economy
Dr. Matthew Eshleman
This multidisciplinary seminar examines the reciprocal relations between politics and economics. It aims to give students a working knowledge of three main economic theories: Neoclassical, Keynesian, and Marxist. Along with key concepts from political theory: Freedom, Equality, and Justice. After a short history of the political economy in the U.S., we will use the political concepts and economic theories to address difficult questions about political power, ideology, and the distribution of material resources. We will pose some big questions: ‘What role did slavery play in our economy?’, ‘Is capitalism ethical?’, ‘Is oligarchy compatible with capitalism?’, ‘Is equal opportunity fair?’, ‘Should we prefer socialism to capitalism?’. Along the way, other topics like the financialization of markets, inequality, immigration, debt, poverty, wages, and unemployment will be covered.
W 3:30-6:15 PM BR 261
