Religion


Undergraduate Advisor: 416-287-7184  Email: religion-undergrad-advisor@utsc.utoronto.ca

The Minor in Religion is suspended to new enrolments. Students who are already enrolled in the Program should consult the 2012-13 Calendar.

The Department of Historical and Cultural Studies continues to offer courses in a variety of programs that address major questions in the study of religion. It also offers introductory courses in the history and practice of world religions.

Religion Courses

RLGA01H3 - World Religions I

An introduction to major religious traditions of the world. This course emphasizes the history, beliefs, practices and writings of Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto.

Exclusion: (HUMB04H3)
Breadth Requirements: History, Philosophy and Cultural Studies

RLGA02H3 - World Religions II

An introduction to major religious traditions of the world. This course emphasizes the history, beliefs, practices and writings of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Exclusion: (HUMB03H3)
Breadth Requirements: History, Philosophy and Cultural Studies

RLGB02H3 - Living Religions: Rituals and Experiences

Critical comparative study of the major Indian religious traditions.

Breadth Requirements: History, Philosophy and Cultural Studies

RLGB10H3 - Introduction to the Study of Religion

An introduction to the academic study of religion, with special attention to method and theory.

Breadth Requirements: History, Philosophy and Cultural Studies

RLGC05H3 - The Qur'an in Interpretive and Historical Context

An exploration of the origins, content, interpretation, and significance of the Qur'an, with a particular emphasis on its relationship to the scriptural tradition of the Abrahamic faiths. No knowledge of Arabic is required.

Prerequisite: RLGA02H3 or (RLGB01H3) or (HUMB03H3)
Exclusion: RLG351H, NMC285H, (HUMC17H3)
Breadth Requirements: History, Philosophy and Cultural Studies

RLGC06H3 - Saints and Mystics in Buddhism

Comparative study of the Madhyamaka and Yogacara traditions, and doctrines such as emptiness (sunyata), Buddha-nature (tathagatagarbha), cognitive-representation only (vijnaptimatrata), the three natures (trisvabhava).

Prerequisite: RLGA01H3 or (HUMB04H3)
Exclusion: EAS368Y
Breadth Requirements: History, Philosophy and Cultural Studies

RLGC07H3 - Topics in Buddhist Philosophy: Buddhist Ethics

Buddhism is a response to what is fundamentally an ethical problem - the perennial problem of the best kind of life for us to lead. Gotama was driven to seek the solution to this problem and the associated ethical issues it raises. This course discusses the aspects of sila, ethics and psychology, nirvana; ethics in Mahayana; Buddhism, utilitarianism, and Aristotle.

Prerequisite: RLGA01H3 or (HUMB04H3) or (PHLB42H3)
Exclusion: NEW214Y, (PHLC40H3)
Breadth Requirements: History, Philosophy and Cultural Studies

RLGC09H3 - Islam in Asia

The course examines the development of Islam in the contexts of Asian religions and cultures, and the portrayal of the Muslim world in Asian popular culture.

Prerequisite: RLGA01H3 or (HUMB04H3)
Recommended Preparation: RLGC05H3
Breadth Requirements: History, Philosophy and Cultural Studies

RLGC10H3 - Hinduism in South Asia and the Diaspora

An examination of Hinduism in its contemporary diasporic and transnational modes in South Asia. Attention is also paid to the development of Hinduism in the context of colonialism.

Prerequisite: RLGA01H3 or (HUMB04H3)
Recommended Preparation: RLGB02H3
Breadth Requirements: History, Philosophy and Cultural Studies

RLGC13H3 - Religious Diversity in Speech and Text

Philosophical, anthropological, historical, and linguistic discussions about language use in a variety of religious contexts. The course examines the function of language through an analysis of its use in both oral and written form.

Prerequisite: Any 5 full credits, including RLGA01H3 or RLGA02H3 or RLGB10H3
Breadth Requirements: History, Philosophy and Cultural Studies

RLGC14H3 - Religion and Globalization: Continuities and Transformations

The course cultivates an appreciation of the global perspective of religions in the contemporary world and how religious frameworks of interpretation interact with modern social and political realities. It provides a viewpoint of religion through ideas and issues related to globalization, syncretism, and modernity.

Prerequisite: Any 5 full credits, including RLGA01H3 or RLGA02H3 or RLGB10H3
Breadth Requirements: Social and Behavioural Sciences

RLGC40H3 - Selected Topics in the Study of Religion I

Intensive study of selected topics discussed in RLGA01H3 (World Religions I) that will vary with each offering of the course.

Prerequisite: 2.0 full credits in RLG and permission of the instructor
Exclusion: (HUMC44H3)
Breadth Requirements: History, Philosophy and Cultural Studies

RLGC41H3 - Selected Topics in the Study of Religion II

Intensive study of selected topics discussed in RLGA02H3 (World Religions II) that will vary with each offering of the course.

Prerequisite: 2.0 full credits in RLG and permission of the instructor
Exclusion: (HUMC43H3)
Breadth Requirements: History, Philosophy and Cultural Studies

RLGD01H3 - Supervised Readings in the Study of Religion

A student-initiated research project to be approved by the Department and supervised by one of the faculty members.

Prerequisite: 2.0 full credits in RLG at the C-level and permission of the instructor

RLGD02H3 - Seminar in Religion

A seminar in which students have the opportunity, under the supervision of a member of the Religion faculty, to develop and present independent research projects focused around a set of texts, topics, and/or problems relevant to the study of religion.

Prerequisite: RLGB10H3 and 2 C-level courses in Religion
Enrolment Limits: 15

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