RELG 191 - Religion and Social Change

FC ARHU

4 credits
Is religion an obstacle to change or a source for radical politics? The opiate of the masses or the spirit of revolution? This course introduces students to basic concepts and approaches in the study of religion through a comparative study of religion’s role in global social movements. During the semester, students will develop familiarity with major theorists of religion and society before bringing those frameworks to bear on a series of specific historical case studies. Topics to be considered include the abolitionist movement, Haitian Revolution, and US anti-abortion movement. As we consider these cases, we will interrogate what religion is, exactly, how it has inspired or constrained practices of social transformation, and the entanglement of religion with nationalism, secularism, gender, and race.

This course is appropriate for new students.