Religious Studies Curriculum

At Gettysburg College, the Religious Studies curriculum offers students the chance to examine the world’s diverse faith traditions while asking deeper questions about meaning, culture, and society. Through courses that span multiple regions and approaches, students gain both a broad foundation and opportunities for focused, advanced study.

Curriculum

The Religious Studies curriculum at Gettysburg College invites students to explore global religious traditions while developing critical thinking, cross-cultural understanding, and openness to diverse perspectives. The major requires ten courses, including introductory and intermediate-level classes, at least two advanced courses at the 300 level or above, and a senior capstone. The minor consists of six courses, with requirements at both the 200 and 300 levels, and allows students to integrate one course from outside the department. Both pathways encourage broad engagement with religions across different regions and cultures, preparing students to connect scholarly study with contemporary issues.

First Year Advising and Registration

Explore religious and spiritual traditions around the world and across time. Our approaches are non-sectarian, and they are grounded in the historical, analytical, and cross-cultural perspectives of the academic study of religion. Our courses explore a wide variety of religious and spiritual expression from all parts of the world, from ancient texts to modern religious controversies. We offer survey courses in Christianity, religions of the Americas, Islamic traditions, South Asian traditions, and East Asian traditions, and we also offer courses organized around particular themes. In our classes, we examine many different kinds of sources: religious and philosophical texts, historical documents, autobiographies, poetry, fiction, theoretical studies, ethnographic materials, material and visual objects, the archeological record, and so on. In our courses, students engage in descriptive analysis, interpretation, and inter-culture awareness as they encounter different ways of perceiving the world. Students develop skills in close textual analysis, discussion, presentation, and writing.

REL 101, Introduction to Religion, introduces students to the academic study of religion and explores religious and spiritual traditions from around the globe from a comparative perspective. It is not a prerequisite for our 200-level courses. First-year students should note that most of our 200-level courses are open to first-year students. All courses in the department fulfill the Humanities requirement, and many others fulfill the Global Understanding or Conceptualizing Diversity requirements.

For summer advising help, contact Megan Adamson Sijapat at msijapat@gettysburg.edu. For complete information, please consult the First Year Advising and Registration Guide.

Major

Ten courses are required for the major. At least two courses must be at the 200-level; at least two courses must be at the 300-level or above. Beginning with the class of 2020, majors must take REL 260: Theories of Religion (ideally prior to taking the senior capstone), which trains students in the theories and methods of the academic study of religion. This counts as one of the 200-level courses. In addition to the two required 300-level or above courses, beginning with the class of 2019 majors must take REL 400: Capstone Experience in Religious Studies in their senior year.

Majors and minors are encouraged to take Religion 101 early in their careers, though it is not a requirement for the major. Students are encouraged to take courses that examine varying religious traditions and religion in varying regions and contexts.

Minor

Six courses are required for the minor. At least one must be at the 200 level, and at least one must be at the 300 level or above. One of the six may be taken outside the department, but may not be in the student's major. Minors are encouraged to take REL 260: Theories of Religion.

Up to two courses from outside the department may be counted toward a major or minor upon permission of the department chair and on a case-by-case basis.

Courses

Below is a list of courses offered in Religious Studies. Not all courses shown here will be offered every semester.

Jump to level: 100 • 200 • 300 • 400

Critical survey of various religious groups and phenomena in the United States. This course will examine the traditional religions whose adherents played significant roles in founding the United States, while also paying attention to the religious traditions of the historically enslaved, colonized, and otherwise oppressed. Special attention will be paid to alternative religious movements and to those religious groups whose members seek greater visibility, freedom, or influence upon the religious character of the United States today.
Examines the role of the body in religion cross-culturally. Examines the role of religious practices and discourses in creating, regulating, and conceptualizing the human body across religious cultures and societies. Explores how bodies serve as both agents and objects of religious practice, and the body as a site through which everyday life and politics are negotiated. Looks at dietary laws and practices, sartorial practices, healing traditions, body modifications, fasting and asceticism, death rituals, marriage and reproduction, depictions of the body in art and myth, and rites of passage. Explores gender and sexuality as part of the complexity that is the body and embodiment in varying cultural contexts. Draws on case studies for Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Indigenous traditions, and alternative religions.

Study of leading thinkers in the Islamic philosophical tradition. Covers topics such causality and free will, reason and revelation, imagination, metaphysics, epistemology, and divine unity. Special emphasis is on such figures as Al Ghazali, Ibn Arabi, Suhrawardi, Jalal ad din Rumi, Mulla Sadra, and Ibn Sina and thinkers of the eighth to fifteenth century. PHIL 206 and REL 206 are cross-listed.
The story of the life of the Buddha became a pattern for later Buddhist practitioners to emulate in their own lives. Hence, life stories are a particularly important type of literature in the Buddhist tradition. This course explores spiritual autobiographies and biographies written by and about men and women of the Buddhist tradition. Readings include materials from many different geographic regions of the world and survey sources from the earliest periods of Buddhist history to modern times. Writings are selected from Buddhist practitioners from all walks of life: monks and nuns, mountain hermits and hermitesses, social activists, pilgrims, and court ladies. No prior knowledge of the Buddhist tradition is necessary.
Have you ever heard of Confucius or read Laozi’s Daodejing? Do you know Mencius’s argument for the goodness of human nature, or the philosophical import of Chinese dragons relying on clouds to fly? Warring States Philosophy lies at the foundation of many Asian cultures, and the questions we’ll explore have a striking contemporary relevance. In this class, you’ll learn to do philosophy from a different worldview and to think starting from different assumptions (e.g., relations as opposed to individual substances), using new concepts (e.g., dao), and adopting alternative philosophical formats (e.g., dialogue, parable). Additionally, the course features a strong experiential learning component, allowing you to put into practice the views of these philosophers in real-world contexts. PHIL 216 and REL 216 are cross-listed.
Critical examination of the relationship between religion and colonialism. The use of religion by some peoples as a colonizing tool is considered alongside the use of religion by other peoples as a tool that facilitates freedom from colonialism. Case studies of colonialism and indigenous resistance against colonialism are drawn from the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Theoretical constructions of religion, colonialism, and postcolonialism are considered, as well.
Examination of the religious traditions of black Americans from 'slave religion' to the present. Course focuses on the religious beliefs of African Americans and the ways those beliefs have been used to develop strategies to achieve freedom and justice. Subjects covered include the influence of African religion, African American religious nationalism, Pentecostalism, spirituals and gospel music, and the Civil Rights movement. Offered in alternate years.
In this course on the phenomenon of religious organization and faith in the civil rights movement, students will analytically consider resources from within black American life (faith, preaching, musical production), resources from America writ large (popular culture, socio-economic growth, and intellectual development) as well as other various forms of support from the religious institutions of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, black nationalism, agnosticism, and atheism. Students will further analyze issues of religion and American regionalism (both U.S. South and North); of religion and social formation (such as urban, rural, small-town migrations) of religion and racial/cultural identity (concepts of assimilation and middle-class expansion) as well as the religion and the realities of socio-economic poverty and urban rioting. Finally, implications for and considerations of gender and sexuality, human rights, and property concerns as well as the role of media, global awareness and nonprofit organizational growth (including fundraising efforts) are also discussed.
An introduction to the religious traditions of the Native American peoples. This course considers various Native American "ways of life" as fundamentally religious. Ethnographic case studies and contemporary issues are focused upon to reveal the religious importance of land, language, and community to otherwise diverse Native American peoples. Special attention is paid to the ongoing struggle these same peoples face for religious freedom in a country where religion is often thought of as a matter of individual belief rather than communal practice.
Critical examination of the relationship between ethics, religion, and society. Offers critical approach to the association of religion with the development of values, ethics, and social responsibility. Course relies upon theories offered by key thinkers in the study of religion and ethics to reveal religious phenomena in the contemporary world as having tremendous impact upon social structures. REL 227 and PP 227 are cross-listed.
Survey of the Hindu religious tradition from its origins in the Vedic period to the present. Gives attention to Hindu social formations and cultural expressions through an examination of core texts and practices. Focuses on central themes of sacrifice, liberation, devotion, and action, and examines ritual practices, gods and goddesses, temples, pilgrimage, and contemporary guru movements.
An introduction to religious traditions of India, Tibet and Nepal and the cultures and societies of these religions, particularly Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. Explores changes in these religions brought on by globalization and modernity, and examines primary texts, histories, practices, beliefs, and founding figures. Approaches the worldviews and claims of these religions in various reflective, critical ways.
Introduction to the major texts of classical Chinese thought. Survey, in English translation, of the most important thinkers of the Confucian, Taoist, Legalist, and Mohist schools of the fifth to the third centuries B.C.E. These writings have shaped the thinking of over a fourth of the world's population, and we will consider their impact in modern Asia in such areas as education, human rights, and gender issues.
Introduction to the philosophical and religious aspects of traditional Chinese healing practices. Course surveys such topics as the composition of the human body and its relationship with the larger cosmos, the diagnosis of ailments caused by material and spiritual pathogens, the medical and ritual treatment of conditions, and preventative practices such as meditation and exercise. Emphasis is on pre-modern traditions, but some attention is given to their modern applications.
This course explores the beliefs, ritual practices, and material culture of Shinto and Buddhism in Japan as well as those of Shugendo, “new religions", myth, folklore, Yokai, and urban legends. It examines how the Shinto- and Buddhism-derived beliefs, practices, and stories are shown in visual media (anime, films, manga, video games). Students learn to critically interpret how these media representations are perceived by the targeted audience in Japan and across the world. AS 253 and REL 253 are cross-listed.
What does religious studies study? Can a religion best be understood from within, or are outsiders better positioned to understand the human phenomenon of religion? In this course students will study the most influential theories of religion and learn the different historical, philosophical, sociological, phenomenological, anthropological, and textual methods that shape the academic discipline of Religious Studies. Beginning with 20th century thinkers this course examines classic and contemporary theories about religion and ways of studying it, including influences such as postcolonial studies and feminist studies, and including critiques of the very idea of “religion” as a universal concept.
Course explores major Buddhist scriptures in English translation. Readings include texts from the time of the Buddha (500 BCE) to approximately 1000CE and include selections from South and North Asian traditions. Emphasis is on the scriptures' religious and philosophical content, but consideration is also given to the ritual use of texts. Prerequisite: prior course in Buddhism or permission of the instructor.
This course asks the question “what are the relationships between religion and the environment?” To answer this the course will examine a few key themes: ways in which the environment have been fundamental in shaping religions, ways in which religious thought and traditions have shaped modern conceptions of the environment, and new ways in which religions have approached the environment concerning climate change. Special attention will be paid to Native American relationships with the environment.
This course surveys the historical development of Christian thought and practice from ancient times to the present day. Based on original sources, this course will delve into the distinctive creedal, worship, and prayer traditions - the vision and beliefs-- of the Christian faith. The differences between the Eastern Orthodox and the Western (Roman) Catholic Churches will be explored as well as the relationship of Catholicism to Protestantism. A field trip to visit various Christian sites (the National Cathedral, the Shrine of Immaculate Conception, and St. Sophia Orthodox Church) in Washington, DC, is planned.
A course examining great Christians, practices and institutions in the Middle Ages. The class explores different aspects of medieval religion, with a particular emphasis given to Italy and its saints, popular religious beliefs, and significant institutions in the Middle Ages. Topics include the rise of monasticism, the Carolingian Renaissance, the Crusades in the Holy Land, conceptions of sanctity, heresy, sacred music, superstition, pilgrimage, Marian devotion, and religious responses to the devastating Black Death.
A critical exploration of queer theology in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. This class will explore the ways that queer theory and theology have questioned and shaped religious traditions in the modern period. Topics will include the ways LGBTQ individuals have addressed and interpreted religious traditions and the ways queer readings of traditions have influenced new directions in theology.
Survey of the mystical tradition in Islam known as Sufism, from its origins in medieval Iraq to its role in contemporary Islamic societies. Course focuses on how the Sufi pursuit of unity with, or annihilation in, God relates to the core monotheistic beliefs of Islam. Sufi theories and practices are studies through primary source materials and special attention will be paid to issues of orthodoxy, heresy, and anti-social behavior in the history of Sufism.

The story of the life of the Buddha became a pattern for later Buddhist practitioners to emulate in their own lives. Hence, life stories are a particularly important type of literature in the Buddhist tradition. This course explores spiritual autobiographies and biographies written by and about men and women of the Buddhist tradition. Readings include materials from many different geographic regions of the world and survey sources from the earliest periods of Buddhist history to modern times. Writings are selected from Buddhist practitioners from all walks of life: monks and nuns, mountain hermits and hermitesses, social activists, pilgrims, and court ladies. No prior knowledge of the Buddhist tradition is necessary.
Critical examination of the relationship between religion and colonialism. The use of religion by some peoples as a colonizing tool is considered alongside the use of religion by other peoples as a tool that facilitates freedom from colonialism. Case studies of colonialism and indigenous resistance against colonialism are drawn from the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Theoretical constructions of religion, colonialism, and postcolonialism are considered, as well.
Critical examination of the relationship between ethics, religion, and society. Offers critical approach to the association of religion with the development of values, ethics, and social responsibility. Course relies upon theories offered by key thinkers in the study of religion and ethics to reveal religious phenomena in the contemporary world as having tremendous impact upon social structures. REL 327 and PP 327 are cross-listed.
Introduction to the major texts of classical Chinese thought. Survey, in English translation, of the most important thinkers of the Confucian, Taoist, Legalist, and Mohist schools of the fifth to the third centuries B.C.E. These writings have shaped the thinking of over a fourth of the world's population, and we will consider their impact in modern Asia in such areas as education, human rights, and gender issues.
Introduction to the philosophical and religious aspects of traditional Chinese healing practices. Course surveys such topics as the composition of the human body and its relationship with the larger cosmos, the diagnosis of ailments caused by material and spiritual pathogens, the medical and ritual treatment of conditions, and preventative practices such as meditation and exercise. Emphasis is on pre-modern traditions, but some attention is given to their modern applications.
A seminar on the construction of sexuality and gender in early Christianity. Given the radical nature of early Christianity, this seminar will explore the way that early Christian traditions influenced and reshaped ideas of sexuality in the Late Antique Mediterranean. The seminar will address multiple varieties of early Christianity and their teachings on gender, sex, the body, and the family.
Examines Islam in its diverse forms within South Asia-a region that is home to more Muslims than any other region of the world. The course explores various individual and collective expressions of Muslim belief and practice (Sunni, Shi`i, and Sufi) from our earliest records to the present day. Attention will be given to the historical development of Islam in the region, religio-political movements, popular ritual and devotion, and Islamic mysticism through the study of religious and historical texts, biographies, visual art, and novels. Prerequisite: REL 270 or HIST 208 or permission of the instructor.
What do the world’s religions say about violence and non-violence? This course examines how varying religions define, understand, participate in, promote, or condemn violence. When is violence justified, according to different religions, and when is it not? When and how is religion a force for peace? Do some religions actively promote violence? Do others actively promote non-violence? Do some do both? This seminar explores these and other questions by examining the theologies. histories, scriptures, practices, philosophies, and symbols from world religions regarding violence and peace. Students will also learn theories and explanatory models applied by scholars of religion to answer the questions above. Particular emphasis is given to thinkers and activists in the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and North America. REL 362 and PP 362 are cross-listed.
This course asks the question “what are the relationships between religion and the environment?” To answer this the course will examine a few key themes: ways in which the environment have been fundamental in shaping religions, ways in which religious thought and traditions have shaped modern conceptions of the environment, and new ways in which religions have approached the environment concerning climate change. Special attention will be paid to Native American relationships with the environment.

Intensive culminating research experience for Religious Studies majors. Seminar is designed around particular topics or areas or debate, which provide unifying themes for students' research projects. Course guides students as they develop their understanding of the study of religion and of religious studies theories, methods, debates, and key issues of inquiry. Requirement for the major. Prerequisite: Declaration of the religious studies major or minor and completion of three 200-level courses. Should be take in the senior year. Beginning with class of 2020, Religious Studies 260 will be a prerequisite.