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.

How did Islamic law shape social interactions and social categories in Medieval Muslim societies? The `ulama' were part of their own social/economic contexts. They engaged in commerce, owned property, bought, sold, and manumitted slaves, married and divorced and had children by wives and female slaves. How much influence did the elite `ulama', the jurists who shaped Islamic law, have on the social and economic practices of both elites and of ordinary Muslims and non-Muslims? We make use of documents, legal texts, and some narrative sources. Students also work in Rare Books and Special Collections.

This course explores the relationship or dissonance between various legal categories or discourses and social practice in Medieval Muslim societies. Topics covered include: crime and punishment, gender, childhood, slavery, disease, and death. Readings include primary texts, documents and inscriptions, in Arabic and in translation. We also make use of the resources of Rare Books and Special Collections.

This seminar explores the diverse ways in which sex and gender were and are constructed in Muslim societies. Topics include: gender binary, masculinities and femininities, same sex love, intersexed people, eunuchs, cross dressers, and gender reassignment. Readings in translation will be included, as well as primary texts in Arabic for students who are studying Arabic.

This seminar explores the diverse ways in which sex and gender were and are constructed in Muslim societies. Topics include: gender binary, masculinities and femininities, same sex love, intersexed people, eunuchs, cross dressers, and gender reassignment. Readings in translation will be included, as well as primary texts in Arabic for students who are studying Arabic.

This course provides a broad introduction to major themes in and literature exploring African American religious history. We consider the stakes of defining African American religions, both historically and in scholarship; the role of African American religions in politics, economics, education, and culture; transnational engagements in African American religious history; religious diversity; and gender and sexuality in African American religions.

In this course we engage questions of approach, method, periodization, and scope in the study of religion in America through the Civil War. Texts consist of secondary literature with both classic and contemporary importance to the field, along with brief primary sources selected and presented by students.

This course provides a broad introduction to major themes in and recent literature exploring the history of American religions in the twentieth century.

This course provides a broad introduction to major themes in and recent literature exploring the history of American religions in the twentieth century.

Much of recent Jewish and Christian thought has focused on arguments defending the respective particularity of the Jewish and Christian traditions. With special attention to debates about God's people, the problem of election, the relation between religious and national identities, and the significance of the Apostle Paul, this seminar examines the historical and theological contexts of these arguments as well as their philosophical, ethical, and political implications.

This course on the Family in the Roman and Late Antique World represents an in-depth introduction to the Roman family 100 BC to 700 AD with special attention to the political, economic, social, and cultural impact of Christianity both on ideology and reality of Roman family life.

The seminar examines Kant's main writings in practical philosophy. The goal is to understand Kant's ethical thought generally, but in this edition we pay particular attention to his account of moral motivation, practical belief, and moral argument.

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This course is part of a 2-semester sequence co-taught with Gideon Rosen which aims to provide a graduate-level overview of contemporary analytic ontology. Rosen leads the spring semester course "Almost Everything Concerning the Abstract Part of Reality." After taking both courses, a graduate student may expect to have a level understanding of analytic ontology which would provide the basis for original further research in the area.

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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.

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.

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.

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.