Using the theories of religious studies, we will look at religions like Buddhism, Islam, and a selection of Native American religions through categories like myth, ritual, society, doctrine, and ethics. Students gain knowledge of religions and analytical tools for understanding religion as a human phenomenon.

The students will read extensively both scholarly texts and primary source texts, as well as using the web to find resources about contemporary religious groups. The course will allow students to explore a fourth religion of their choosing as a final project. There are no exams or tests.

Participation in the course will entail such activities as discussion board exchanges, short journal and reading responses, a group website analysis, and a final paper. (these requirements reflect previous summers' implementation of the course, and may be slightly different this summer.)