Ancient Antioch and Dura-Europos (in Syria) were characterized by religious diversity. Stunning mosaics, frescoes, and other archaeological evidence and a rich literary tradition help us to understand life in the cities. In this seminar, we join with students at Yale University to learn about the social and religious history and cultural heritage of these cities. Yale students travel to Princeton, and Princeton students travel to New Haven, to learn about the collections that each of our universities has. We engage in new research into historical reconstructions of Antioch and Dura.

This course provides a broad introduction to major themes in and recent literature exploring the history of religion in modern American culture. Topics may include religion, politics, and law; empire, migration, and immigration; religious diversity; race and ethnicity; gender and sexuality; theological conflicts and transformations.

This is a practical course in philosophical methods intended principally for students who are doing philosophical work outside of the Philosophy Department. We examine both the theory and practice of various: key modes of philosophical argumentation, key non-argumentative philosophical 'moves', and key competing philosophical genres/styles (all while keeping an eye on the different aims that philosophical work can have). We do this mainly by engaging with a range of case-studies - analyzing their mechanics, discussing the theory behind them, and actively experimenting with the various arguments, moves, and genres, ourselves.

This seminar explores the relationship between legal categories, especially categories of legal disability, and social and economic life in Medieval Muslim societies. We begin with "Being a Child" and conclude with "Being Dead." Readings include primary sources such as legal texts, chronicles, legal documents, coins and epigraphy. Classes in the Numismatics Collection and the Arabic manuscript collection at Firestone included.

This course explores how European thought since 1492 began to construe, theorize, and theologize about who and what were the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, namely as "Indians." In turn, this course also explores how the encounter with Indigenous peoples of the Americas precipitated modern, comparative, and critical understandings of "religion." Finally, this course examines how the study of key concepts deemed to be definitive of Indigenous religions (e.g., animism, totemism, shamanism, etc.) has played a unique role in modern theories of religion.

Presentation and critical discussion of research in progress by participants, dealing with the study of religion in any field within the humanities and social sciences. Note: REL 517 (fall) and REL 517 (spring) constitute this year-long workshop. In order to receive credit, students must take the course both semesters.

A weekly, year-long workshop focused on current student and faculty research in religion and critical thought, designed primarily for graduate students working on dissertations and general examination essays on the philosophy of religion, religious ethics, and the role of religion in politics. Note: REL 518 (fall) and REL 519 (spring) constitute this year-long workshop. In order to receive credit and/or a grade, students must take the course both semesters.

A weekly, year-long workshop focused on the current research of visiting presenters, current students, and faculty in American religious history. Designed primarily for Ph.D. students in the field, but is open as well to undergraduate concentrators with a strong background in the study of American religion and culture. Note: REL 523 (fall) and REL 524 (spring) constitute this year-long workshop. In order to receive credit and/or a grade, students must take the course both semesters.

A weekly, year-long workshop providing students in the Religions of Late Antiquity with the opportunity to present their current research for discussion. Note: REL 525 (fall) and REL 526 (spring) constitute this year-long workshop. In order to receive credit and/or a grade, students must take the course both semesters.

A weekly year-long Religion workshop focusing on the research and writing of graduate students, faculty, and visitors in Islamic Studies. This workshop provides a forum for presentation of works in progress: drafts of dissertation chapters, dissertation proposals, seminar papers, conference papers, articles and book chapters. All Islamic Studies graduate students are encouraged to participate as presenters and as commentators. The workshop fosters collegiality and professional development. Note: REL 529 (fall) and REL 530 (spring) constitute this year-long workshop. Students must take the course both semesters to receive credit/grade.

Critical examination of enduring and recent scholarship on popular religion, ethnography, modern (20th century) religion, and modernity in China. Designed for graduate students preparing for general examinations or research in Chinese religion.

This seminar provides an intensive introduction to Japanese Religions past and present and examine key issues in scholarship. It is designed for those planning to take general exams, teach, or simply acquire a background in this field. Topics may include interactions of Buddhism with local religious culture; the emergence of Shinto; lay and monastic Buddhist practice; doctrinal issues; modern transformations of Buddhism; and religion-state relations. Readings are chiefly in English, supplemented by Japanese for those with sufficient language skills. Some topics may be chosen to accommodate participant research interests.

This course examines classical Indian philosophical and narrative sources to interrogate Buddhist approaches to karmic causality. Main topics are: problems of personal continuity; typologies of causes, conditions and results; agency and responsibility; confession and repentance; dedication of merit; and the path to liberation as a causal system. In addition, students are asked to evaluate constructive scholarship that applies Buddhist karmic approaches to current concerns, including the instructor's work in progress.

This seminar focuses on Islamic thought and society during the 17th and the 18th centuries. Our key concerns are two: to understand what Islam, and Islamic thought, looked like in the late medieval and the early modern world; and to think about how we should try to approach the study of Islam in that world. A good deal of our focus is on South Asia, though we also read about other regions, including Iran and the Arab Middle East. The required readings are in English. For those interested, some weeks might have supplementary readings in Arabic as well.

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