RS 100A Introduction to Religion-K
An introduction to Religion, religious phenomena, beliefs, ideas, practices and experience through the study of material and examples from the various fields in Religious Studies.
Religious Studies (RS)
95 courses in the 1993–94 Undergraduate Calendar, read from the scanned original. The text comes from OCR, so check the scanned page before relying on a detail.
RS 100A Religions of the EastF,W 3C 0.5
An introduction to the religious traditions of the East: history, religious beliefs and practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Shinto.
Area 1
16:129
RS 100B Religions of the West Encounter with Judaism, Christianity andF 3C 0.5
Islam: the characteristics and interaction of the 3 major religious traditions originating in the Middle East that have shaped the image of the Western World.
Area 1
RS 100C Religious QuestsF 3C 0.5
Profiles, biographies and autobiographies of individuais in search of ultimate meaning. Persons studied are spiritual seekers from all walks of life: traditional religious figures, artists, novelists, scientists and others.
Area 5
RS 100D Introduction to Christian EthicsF 0.5
An exploration of the foundations of
Christian ethical theory and practice.
biblical roots, historical developments.
contemporary approaches and their
implications for personal and social living. Area 4
RS 100E Biblical Studies 1F,W,S 3C 0.5
A survey of the literature, history and religious thought of the Old Testament as seen in its cultural setting in the ancient Near East.
Area 3
RS 100F Biblical Studies 2F,W,S 3C 0.5
A survey of the literature, history and religious thought of the New Testament as seen in its cultural setting in the Greco- Roman world.
Area 3
RS 100H Introduction to the Roman Catholic TraditionF,W 3C 0.5
A study of the principal teachings of the Christian Faith affecting Catholics today. Topics will include Bible and Tradition; worship and sacraments; authority; changing views concerning laity, women, ministry, and ecumenism.
Area 4
RS 100K Introduction to TheologyF,W 3C 0.5
The basics of Christian theology explored systematically and historically: theological language, revelation and truth, God and Creation, sin and the fall, Christ and satvation, tradition and church, consummation and the end of history.
AS 105A F 3C 0.5 Elementary Biblical Hebrew An introductory course designed to tender a reading knowledge of Biblical Hebrew: the sounds and forms of the language followed by the reading of selected texts from the Hebrew Bible.
Cross-listed as RE 140-3C
Taught at WLU
RS 105B Etementary Biblical HebrewW 3C 0.5
A continuation of the introduction to Biblical Hebrew. Cross-listed as RE 140-3C Taught at WLU
RS 106A New Testament GreekF 3C 0.5
An introduction to Greek grammar with appropriate grammatical exercises and development of vocabulary.
RS 106A and GRK 100A may not both be taken for credit.
Area 3
RS 106B New Testament GreekW 3C 0.5
A continuation of the study of Greek grammar with an exegetical study of some texts from the Gospel of Mark.
Area 3
RS 200 The Study of ReligionF 3C 0.5
An exploration of the nature of religion through: 1) the history of the study of religion, 2) exposure to varying methods and ways of approaching religious phenomeha, and 3) consideration of accounts of religious experience.
RS 201 New Testament GreekF 3C 0.5
A continuation and completion of the study of the Greek Grammar of the New Testament, with appropriate exercises and a number of readings of the Greek New Testament and the Didache.
Area 3
RS 205 The Hebrew ProphetsF 3C 0.5
A study of the prophetic movement from Amos to Malachi in the historical, social, and religious context of Israel and the ancient Near East.
Area 3
Course Descriptions Religious Studies
RS 206 Jesus: Life and LegacyW.3C 0.5
The life, teachings, and significance of
Jesus of Nazareth as experienced and
interpreted by his followers, and as record-
ed by the writers of the New Testament.
Attention is given to traditions of virgin
birth, crucifixion, resurrection, and divinity.
and to Jesus’ contemporary importance. Area 3
RS 209 Paul: Life and LettersW,S 3C 0.5
The career and thought of a pioneer of Christian religion as seen in his writings, with attention to issues such as spirit, grace and law, freedom and slavery, Christ and church, women and men.
Area 3
RS 214 BuddhismW 3C 0.5
An introduction to the unifying beliefs and philosophical presuppositions of the Buddhist world-view, and an overview of the diverse forms of Buddhism in South and South-East Asia, Tibet, China and Japan.
Area 1
RS 216 IslamF 3C 0.5
An introduction to the Islamic faith and practice, with a review of the development, achievements and impact of the Muslim community from Muhammad the Prophet to the present day.
Area i
RS 217 JudaismW 3C 0.5
An introduction to the religious tradition of the Jews, in terms of beliefs, practices, ideals and institutions from the beginning to the present time.
Area 1
RS 221 Sects, Cults and New Religious MovementsW 3C 0.5
An analysis of minority religions considered deviant by the dominant society such as the Amish, Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses with special consideration of the recent new religious movements including Unification (Moonies), Scientology and Krishna consciousness. Cross-listed as SOC 263 Area 5
RS 230 History of ChristianityF,W 3C 0.5
The development of Christianity in its Roman Catholic. Eastern Orthodox and Protestant traditions from the time of Christ to the present.
Cross-listed as HIST 235
Area 2
RS 231 History of Christian ThoughtF 3C 0.5
An analysis of the major theological developments in the Christian traditions from the apostolic era to the present.
Area 4
RS 236 Human Sexuality and Christian MoralityF,W 2C,1D 0.5
An investigation of the moral implications of an evolving sexual consciousness in the Christian tradition.
Prereq: Second year standing or consent of instructor
Area 4
RS 256 Current Ethical IssuesF,W 3C 0.5
An examination of specific current individ-_ ual and social problems such as human sexuality, social justice, urban decay, and human rights, in the light of Christian moral consciousness.
Area 4
RS 261 Women and the Great ReligionsW 3C 0.5
Through a review of the teachings of the great religious traditions about women, this course aims to arrive at a global view of the situation of women ‘in the world of religion’. On the basis of the evidence gathered, it will attempt an estimation of the role of religion as an intimate and important influence on human development.
Area 5
RS 266 Film and the Quest for Meaning 1F 2C,1D 0.5
An exploration of spiritual themes and issues in the cinema. An assessment of film's special characteristics as an art form capable of addressing the human quest for a significant existence. Emphasis upon the films of Ingmar Bergman.
Cross-listed as FINE 252
Area §
RS 267 Film and the Quest for Meaning 2W 2C,1D 0.5
A consideration of selected themes — death, evil, guilt, fate, alienation, courage, love, redemption — in the films of several of today's leading directors. Emphasis upon a variety of directors from divergent cultural backgrounds.
Cross-listed as FINE 253
Area 5
RS 269 The Religious Art of IndiaW 3C 0.5
An approach to understanding the myths, symbols and spirituality of Indian religion through a study of representative art, architecture and folk literature of Hinduism, Jainism, and Indian Buddhism. Cross-listed as FINE 218A Area 5
RS 270 Psychology of ReligionF 3C 0.5
A study of theories of the psychological nature of religious experience, the sources of religious belief and the religious significance of psychological phenomena. Topics include faith, doubt, evangelism, conversion, faith healing, mysticism, drugs and religious experience, tonguesspeaking.
Area 5
RS 271 Personality and ReligionW 3C 0.5
A study of the psychology of personality in its relationship between personality and religious thought, experience and behaviour.
Area 5
RS 272 Sacred Places From Mecca to Benares, Stonehenge toW 8C 0.5
Chartres — a consideration of sacred cities, shrines, rivers, mountains, worship centres and other places which have inspired the spiritual imagination of individuals and communities within various religious traditions.
Area S
RS 291 A-D Studies In the History of Religion Consult Department for offerings 1993-94.
RS 293A Religious Experience of the YoungF 3C 0.5
A multi-faceted examination of the religious development of the pre-adult, including such considerations as the moral, psychological, philosophical, sociological, sacramental and spiritual aspects.
Area §
Course Descriptions Religious Studies
RS 294 Religion in the Canadian ContextJ 1.0
This course will consist of a multidisciplinary examination of some of the rich and complex factors that constitute the Canadian religious mosaic — social, historical, artistic, and political — with the intention of working toward a uniquely Canadian theology or religious vision.
RS 298 Directed Reading in Special Subjects
RS 304 Modern Study of JesusW 3C 0.5
An examination of recent approaches to the study of Jesus of Nazareth to determine his significance for the beginnings of the Christian Church and for modern humankind.
Prereq: RS 100F or consent of instructor
Area 3
RS 305A Intermediate New Testament Greek Readings in the New Testament, in the Septuagint, Papyri and the ApostolicF 3C 0.5
Fathers. Advanced grammar and syntax arising from the readings. Prereq: RS 106 or consent of instructor Area 3
RS 305B Intermediate New Testament Greek Readings in the New Testament, in the Septuagint, Papyri and the ApostolicW 3C 0.5
Fathers. Advanced grammar and syntax arising from the readings. Prereq: RS 106 or consent of instructor Area 3
RS 306A Intermediate Biblical HebrewF 3C 0.5
Reading and grammatical analysis of selected prose and poetic portions of the Hebrew Bible.
Cross-listed as R&C 206
Taught at WLU
RS 306B Intermediate Biblical HebrewW 300.5
Continuation of RS 306A. Cross-listed as R&C 256 Taught at WLU
RS 307A A-D
Selected Topics in Biblical Studies Special topics will be offered in the Winter, 1993-94. Consult Department.
16:131
RS 308 Old Testament ThemesF 3C 0.5
An analysis and discussion of selected
ethical, ritual, sociological and theological issues recurrent in Hebrew Scriptures, with attention to their historical meanings and contemporary relevance.
Area 3
RS 313 Tradition and Change in Modern IndiaW 3S 0.5
This course will examine, in the context of modem Indian history, intellectual and social issues in which a dialectic of change and continuity is revealed: e.g., Hindu nationalism and universalism, caste, untouchability, and the role of women. Prereq: RS 100A, or RS 213, or RS 269/FINE 218A, or consent of instructor Area 1
RS 321 The History and Culture of the Orthodox ChurchW 3C 0.5
The purpose of the course is to introduce the student to the religious tradition of Eastern Christianity. Topics will include the origins of the Christian Church, the Byzantine Empire, Orthodoxy behind the Iron Curtain, the liturgy, the icon, the calebration of life and the place of Orthodoxy in the world today.
Area 2
RS 322 Radical ReformationW 3C 0.5
A study of Anabaptism and its place in the history of the Christian Church and of the Reformation period.
Prereq: Second-year standing
Area 2
Cross-listed as HIST 348
RS 325 Medieval Church HistoryW 3C 0.5
An exploration of the development of the Church from 604 to 1449. Topics will include leadership struggles in church and state, crusades, heresy and inquisition, the westem schism and the conciliar period. Cross-listed as HIST 304 Area 2
RS 327 Evangelical and Anabaptist ChristianityF 3C 0.5
An historical and theological analysis of contemporary Christianity shaped by the Anabaptist/Baptist, Reformed, and Wesleyan tradition, with special focus on such issues as Biblical authority, the church, salvation, and ethics.
Area 4
RS 331A The Church In the Modern WorldW 3C 0.5
A study of the recent transformation of the
Roman Catholic Church through the
events, movements, personalities, and
historical realities of the past fifty years. Area 2
RS 334 Islamic Theology, Philosophy and MysticismW 3C 0.5
A survey of the development of Islamic theology and philosophy from the beginning of sectarianism to the dawn of the 20th century, and with a study of the contribution of the mystics (sufis) to Islamic thought. The course will introduce for study various texts from representative figures and schools of thought.
Prereq: RS 100A or 216, or consent of instructor
Area 4
RS 351 Religious Perspectives on the Environmental CrisisW SC 0.5
An examination of religious perspectives on the environmental crisis, including an analysis of what the various religious traditions have taught about caring for the created universe. Special attention will be given to the views of the native peoples of Canada on responsibility for the creation, and to religious resources for developing an ethical stance on environmental issues and a respect for nature. - Prereq: RS 100A, or RS 100B, or consent of instructor Area 4
RS 353 The Bible and PeaceW 3C 0.5
An examination of the unity and diversity of biblical views of peace with attention to their relevance for the various dimensions of the contemporary quest for peace. Prereg: RS 100E or 100F or consent of instructor Area 4
RS 369A Study-Travel Seminar in Religion Consult Department for offerings 1993-94-F
RS 369E Understanding the Middle EastS 1.0
This course introduces students to the complex problems of living together in the Middle East. It combines old and new by dealing with points of special historical interest and contemporary interactions between Jews, Christians and Muslims. Lectures abroad will be given by specialists in their areas. . Prereq: RS 1008 or equivalent, or consent of instructor Area?
Course Descriptions Religious Studies
RS 370 Dreams in Religious ExperienceF 3C 0.5
The course examines the place of dreams in religious experience from ancient to modern times. Present day advances in understanding dream symbols will be explored, as well as the possibility of incorporating the use of dreams in one's personal religious growth and development. Prereg: RS 271 or consent of instructor Area 5
RS 371 Religion and Suicidal BehaviourW 3C 0.5
A study of self-destructive behaviour and its relation to relevant religious concepts. The range of experience from iliness to suicide will be explored and related to the concepts of guilt, hope and meaning in the Christian faith. Prereg: RS 271 or consent of instructor Area §
RS 382 Theology of MarriageW 3C 0.5
A study of the development of the theology of marriage in the Christian tradition.
Prereq: RS 236/256 or 281/282 or consent of instructor
Area 4
RS 384 Christian Hymnody3C 0.5
The origins and development of the Christian hymn (including contemporary hymn styles) considered as ‘heological, poetic, musical, cultural and spiritual expression, and the use of hymns ina variety of worship settings.
Prereq: MUSIC 100 or consent of instructor
Cross-listed as MUSIC 363
Area §
RS 390A Studies in Religion-D 0.5
See Department for offerings 1993-94.
RS 398A Directed Reading in Special Subjects-D FWS 0.5
RS 400A Special Topics in Religious Studies-H
Special topics will be offered in 1993-94. Consult Department.
RS 490A Honours SeminarF,W 0.5
A course of study and research designed to provide the student with guidance and supervision towards completing an Honours research assignment.
Prereq: Fourth-year standing and consent of the Undergraduate Officer
RS 490B Honours SeminarF,W 0.5
A continuation of the above.
Every student in the Honours RS Program is required to take RS 490A and 490B.
RS 590 Directed Research in Special Subjects for Graduate Students-597 FW R 0.5
RS 598 Directed Reading in Special Subjects for Graduate Students-599 W,S R 0.5
RS 208 The Parables of Jesus
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 213 Hinduism
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 229 The Cult of Mary
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 257 Approaches to Peacemaking
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 263 Justice, Peace and Development
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 268A Religious Perspectives in Contemporary Literature
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 268B Religious Perspectives in Contemporary Canadian Literature
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 270 Psychology of Religion
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 274 Religious Approaches to Personal Crises
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 281 Theology of Worship and Sacrament
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 282 New Perspectives in Sacramental Theology
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 290B The Just Society
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 290C Gospel and Liberation
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 292B Women in the Church
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 302 The Gospel of John
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 309 Unity and Diversity in the New Testament
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 310 The Sacred Book of Islam
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 311 Hindu Scriptures
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 315 The Narrative Expression of Canadian Native Religions
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 316 Canadian Native Religious Traditions
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 318 Islam and Christianity
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 329 Mothers of the Church
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 335 Modem Christian Thought
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 336 Contemporary Theology
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 339 Luther and Calvin: Reformation in Theological Outline
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 354 War and Peace in Christian Theology
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 355 Interreligious Encounter and Dialogue
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 356 Bioethics and Religious Values
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 360 Religion and the Arts
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 373 Folk Religion: Custom, Belief and Ritual
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 383 Shapers of the Roman Catholic Tradition
Not offered in 1993–94.
RS 450A Study Term Abroad Russian
Not offered in 1993–94.