Religion and Unbelief
Course is Full
Course Description
Enrollment for this course is closed. We will only admit students from the waitlist if places become available. Please make other selections for your application.
What does it mean to be religious? What does it mean to be critical of religion? What does it mean to have a religious critique? Can one be spiritual but not religious? Can one lack religion? In this course, we will try to answer these questions by critically analyzing the terms “religion,” “secularism,” “spirituality,” and “atheism” to better understand how they each shape allegiances and dividing lines in contemporary social and political life. In the first part of the course, we will examine classical and contemporary approaches to religion and unpack how and why religion became an object of academic as well as political study. In the second part, we will explore the history of secularism as a philosophical and political project that has shaped our present reality, as well as consider scholarly approaches that attempt to “speak back” to secularism’s global influence. Finally, we will interrogate what it might mean to claim to be spiritual but not religious, or to be an atheist, while exploring how these claims relate to the problem of secularism. As we work through course material, you will also conduct your own ethnography in the Hyde Park area through a series of site visits, as well as consider the politics of religion and unbelief through film and object-based learning.
Academic Interest
Examining Culture and Society, Humanities (e.g, arts, philosophy), Social Sciences (e.g., history, sociology, business)
Application Materials
A complete application includes a transcript, two short essays, a letter of recommendation, writing sample, application fee, and a submitted parent confirmation. If you are seeking need-based financial aid, you must indicate that in your application before it is submitted. Please refer to the Application Instructions for complete details.
Instructor(s)
Sam Baudinette
Cost
$8,900
This course is completely full. Please choose another course instead. We recommend that you apply for more than one course on your application.
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