Most CAS first-year students take interactive courses with senior faculty who are also their academic advisors.

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William Paden, "Mapping the Gods: Comparative Religion and the Search for Patterns"

31 March 2009, 6:00 pm

We can’t escape seeing the world in terms of patterns. The patterns in turn help us connect things in the world to larger frames of significance. How does this apply to religion? For centuries people have tried to figure out the themes common to all religions. Professor Paden will illustrate how these patterns of “comparative religion” reflect changing worldviews, from an age of Christian allegory to the current times of evolutionary biology.

The College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Lecture Series honors faculty members who are both excellent teachers and highly respected professionals in their own disciplines. Professor William Paden is the Spring 2009 recipient of this honor.
Video (MP4) Audio (MP3)