"Introducing Religious Studies"
Most of us would agree with William James: "There must be something solemn, serious, and
tender about any attitude which we denominate religious." We tend to think about religion as
something inherently serious, something that always calls for our deepest reverence. But
religion can surprise us. Throughout history and around the world, religion has been full of
stories that seem strange, even irreverent. In this course, we'll look at some of those
stories from the traditions of Judaism, Islam,
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity. Many of those stories feature tricksters, mythic
figures who defy social standards, use wit to get their way, and sometimes change the world by
sheer silliness.
This course will introduce the major world religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam by attending to their basic
history, teachings, and practices. In addition, it will also attend to the question of what tricksters and strange tales can
tell us about religion, about the divine, and about ourselves. Along the way we'll ask whether all religions are really the
same at their heart, or whether the apparent differences are very real indeed.
