What does it mean to be a religious person in modern society? How does one's religious identity impact the way in which one understands the world? What are religious responses to perennial questions of doubt, love and suffering, and social injustice and oppression in light of the contemporary cultural context? How do religious persons deal with practical issues such as religious pluralism, politics, scientific developments, and culture? We will examine these questions and others in the pursuit of a greater understanding of the study of religion.

This course will ask participants to critically evaluate their notions of both the nature and the role of religion in today's world through an exploration of the works of novelists, theologians, political philosophers, and scientists, among others. In the first portion of the course, we will examine how particular thinkers conceive of the relationship between religion and historical events such as the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement. As the course proceeds, we will explore the intersections of religion with society, politics, science, and popular culture. One of the main goals of the course is to provide an opportunity for students to explore the unique perspective of religious studies and to suggest the continuing relevance of this standpoint.