Religious Studies

Degrees and Certificates

The mission of the Religious Studies Department is to provide students with the opportunity to explore the universal dimensions of faith and religion and to study the Catholic Faith as a relevant world view within contemporary society. At the same time, students of other faiths and traditions are welcomed and encouraged to participate in an atmosphere of courtesy and respect for the traditions they represent.

This corresponds to the overall mission of the College : “to address the needs of students by providing a full complement of academic experiences along with a unique development and support system that brings students to their highest potential and fosters a love for learning, self-knowledge, and service to others and to God in the Felician/Franciscan tradition” and integrates the teachings of the Catholic Church with the lived experience of the people.

It is the goal of the Religious Studies Department that those who experience its courses will be able to:

  • understand and articulate the religious beliefs, practices, and value systems of the Catholic tradition within an interfaith framework;
  • utilize the insights of theological and relevant scientific and humanistic disciplines in address-ing religious issues and investigating the beliefs and practices of other religions of the world;
  • to critique contemporary moral and ethical positions in order to make educated moral and ethical decisions rooted in our Catholic Franciscan values.

Students interested in Religious Studies may opt for a Religious Studies Focus within the Humanities Interdisciplinary Studies Major. (See Humanities Program)

All students must have completed ENG 002 with a grade of “C” or better, or passed the Basic Skills English Test before enrolling in Religious Studies courses.

100 and 200 level Religious Studies courses are open to all students. ALL 300 and 400 level courses are open to Juniors or Seniors who have completed their 100/200 level requirement and 60 credits, or to those students who have prior permission from the instructor.

Classes

RELS 101: Basic Themes in Christianity

Credits 3

This course is an overview of the doctrines, rituals and traditions of the Catholic Church. It will focus on the evolution of the Catholic Church’s biblical, patristic, historical, liturgical, and theological heritage. (For students enrolled in ENG 001 or 002 only.)

RELS 102: Jewish Sacred Texts

Credits 3

This course is an introduction to the study of the Hebrew Scriptures as a record of God’s dealings with the people of Israel. Through the study of historical, literary, and theological elements of the biblical text, students will enrich their understanding of individual books and the way in which the First Testament came to be written. The course combines the latest scholarship with sensitivity to religious issues.

RELS 103: Christian Sacred Texts

Credits 3

This course is an introduction to the study of the Christian Scriptures. It will familiarize the student with the general content of the Second Testament. It traces the origin of these writings in the early Christian community and shows the relevance of the Good News for our own times.

RELS 104: Christianity and the Big Questions

Credits 3

Making use of a wide variety of selections from theologians and spiritual writers, students will be introduced to major themes in theology. These themes will include Revelation and Faith, the existence and experience of God, conversion, the Trinity, the meaning and message of Jesus, the role of the Church, fundamentals of Christian ethics and the Christian view of suffering and death. (Not open to students who have taken RELS 101.)

RELS 105: Why Be Good? Religion and Morality

Credits 3

This course deals with fundamental principles of Christian moral teaching as developed from Scripture, the tradition of the Church, and human experience. It explores selected moral issues, such as formation of conscience, personal freedom and law, suicide, euthanasia, and abortion.

RELS 204: Christian Sacraments: Signs for Our Times

Credits 3
This course will investigate in what context Jesus began, and his followers continue, to celebrate rituals called sacraments. Included will be the origin, historical developments and underlying theologies of each of the seven sacraments.

RELS 205: Varieties of Religious Experience

Credits 3
This course is an exploration of how people first came to believe in a supernatural power and the different ways in which groups have expressed this belief throughout history. The symbols and rituals associated with primitive forms of religion will be contrasted with those of more developed systems. Whenever applicable, comparisons will be made to Roman Catholicism. Also included will be an analysis of how religion affects one’s life, an overview of how science has attacked traditional religion and how religion has responded, and a study of the resemblance between popular “religious” beliefs (e.g., astrology and fortunetelling) and archaic religions.

RELS 210: Religion, Spirituality, and the Occupational Therapist

Credits 3

Occupational Therapy is a healthcare profession which has at its core the dignity and destiny of the human person in light of illness and suffering. This course focuses on the role of the occupational therapist as a healer, listener, spiritual companion, and instrument of God's healing.  Topics include: a Catholic understanding of personhood, suffering, sickness, and the Christian understanding of death.

RELS 301: Religions of the World

Credits 3

The aim of this course is to learn about the religious diversity of the world and to develop attitudes of understanding and respect for the beliefs and practices of others. Special attention will be given to the relationship between Roman Catholicism and the other major world religions.

RELS 302: Christian Marriage in a Contemporary World

Credits 3
This course will explore the Roman Catholic vision of marriage as a journey of two equal partners. Included will be the Christian view of mutuality, spousal responsibilities, marital love and sexuality, the evolution of sacramental marriage through the ages.

RELS 303: Religion and Psychology

Credits 3
This course explains the religious dimensions of life as essential components of psychological health. Topics will include human, religious, moral, and spiritual development, images of God, religious experience, and theological assumptions about key life issues.

RELS 305: The Holocaust: History and Theology

Credits 3
This course is designed to investigate the Nazi era and the Holocaust as prime examples of racial prejudice. The history is viewed from a variety of perspectives with an emphasis on theological implications. Questions considered will include how religious ideas produced justification for and complicity with Nazi policies, how religion helped some victims cope, and the impact of postHolocaust theology on Jewish and Christian religious understanding and tradition.

RELS 306: Oppression, Liberation, and Theology

Credits 3

This course critically examines areas of personal life, relationships and social conditions that cause alienation, egocentrism, violence and oppression. Themes include the importance of meaningful communication, the responsible exercise of freedom, the social and political dimensions of faith, nonviolent alternatives to conflict and global perspectives on current issues.

RELS 307: Jesus: Journey Toward a Multi-Cultural and Artistic Vision

Credits 3
This course is an up to date scriptural investigation of the Jesus of History and the Christ of Faith. It will examine the Jewish socioreligious background of the Jesus Tradition and the development of different understandings of the Christ as expressed in Catholic tradition.

RELS 308: Franciscanism: History and Tradition

Credits 3

This course will examine the life, times, and values of Francis and Clare of Assisi. It will explore the historical expression of Franciscan values as well as their usefulness in interpreting and challenging contemporary society.

RELS 310: Moral and Spiritual Dimensions of Healthcare

Credits 3
Viewing healthcare as a means of sharing in the healing work of God, students will explore the dignity and destiny of the human person in light of illness and suffering. This will include the meaning of “person,” concerns for justice in the medical profession, obligations to the poor, material and formal cooperation regarding medical procedures, issues at the beginning and end of life, the role of conscience and the place of natural law. The dignity of the health profession in Catholic teaching, the spiritual aids available to those who are ill and the Christian understanding of sickness, suffering and death will be explored. This course is required for all Healthcare majors.

RELS 316: Spirituality, Meditation and Mysticism

Credits 3
This is an exploration of the themes of prayer, reflection and meditation in the life of a Christian. Drawing on Scripture as well as practices of both Eastern and Western traditions, students are introduced to various forms of prayer.

RELS 396: Religion in the United States: Stories of Faith, Diversity and Community

Credits 3
This course explores the broad landscape of religion in America, focusing on the diverse religious traditions that make up the tapestry of religious life in the United States. While special attention will be paid to the narrative of the Catholic Church in the United States, contributions made by the diverse religious traditions to the social, cultural and religious dimensions of life in the United States will also be examined. Topics include: religious and cultural diversity, pluralism, fundamentalism, ecumenism, education, interreligious dialogue and current issues in American religion. This course is conducted as a seminar.

RELS 400: The Franciscan Vision: Self, Service, and Society

Credits 3
Relying on the American heritage of concern for the rights and dignity of the individual, coupled with the Franciscan belief in the transcendent value and communal understanding of the person, this course fosters a sense of service informed by these traditions. This course also aims to deepen civic responsibility and an understanding of the Franciscan tradition while empowering students through direct involvement with a wide array of persons. Students meet in a seminar setting to share their respective off-campus service experiences in light of assigned readings and keep journals reflecting upon their service work in dialogue with course content. Each student will serve a minimum of 20 hours in approved direct service over the course of the semester.

RELS 401: Death, Dying, and Religion

Credits 3
This course is an investigation into various aspects of the process and reality of human death including such major ones as the psychology of dying and bereavement; types of death; cultural attitudes toward death, especially as manifested in funeral customs of various societies; concepts and evidence for an afterlife; etc. There shall be a focus on how these aspects relate to and are understood within the major religious traditions of both East and West, with special attention to the Roman Catholic tradition.

RELS 402: Planet Auschwitz

Credits 3
During the Shoa, human beings were faced with moral dilemmas for which no one could prepare. The decisions forced upon them required immediate action and often impossible choices. Using case studies, primary sources, Responsa Literature, diaries and film, this course examines the actions of victims, perpetrators, rescuers, and bystanders in the context of the Nazi persecution.

RELS 403: God: Mystery and Problem

Credits 3
Making use of both classical and contemporary theology this course looks at the question of the existence of God, the Trinitarian understanding of God, issues of God and suffering (theodicy) and the doctrine of God in light of religious pluralism. It will explore the themes of theism and atheism, the history and relevance of the doctrine of the Trinity, the attempts to “justify” God in light of evil and suffering and the recent dialogues between Christianity and other religious traditions on the understanding of God.

RELS 404: A Walk with Francis and Friends

Credits 3
This course invites students to journey with St. Francis of Assisi and some of the men and women who chose to join him on the Franciscan journey. Course participants will engage in a conversation with St. Francis of Assisi by examining own his writings and those of his biographers. Students will be introduced to other Franciscan women and men whose lives have given shape to the Gospel vision of peace and justice that St. Francis had for all of creation. As a Study Abroad course, students will be given the option of participating in the AFCU Pilgrimage for College and University Students at the conclusion of the fall semester.

RELS 405: God, Suffering, and Evil

Credits 3
This course is an exploration of the theological problem raised by the experience of evil. It will consider the question of how an omnipotent and just God can allow suffering to exist in the world. Beginning with the experience of human suffering, the course will examine how the biblical traditions deal with the suffering of the innocent. Consideration will be given to contemporary problems of war, genocide, and social injustice.

RELS 408: Genocide: Past, Present, and Future

Credits 3
The course examines the definition of genocide in its religious, legal and historical understanding. It will also investigate the nature of genocide including its origins, history, causes, global dimensions, and the ways in which religious beliefs influence attitudes and understandings.

RELS 410: Seminar in Religious Studies or Ministry

Credits 3
This course is for Religious Studies majors who have completed all other requirements. The student will pursue individual research based on a chosen area of ministerial or theological interest. The presentation of a research paper is required at the end of the semester.

RELS 420: Independent Study

Credits 3
This course is designed for upper-division Religious Studies majors who wish to pursue an area related to their theological or ministerial focus. (spring and fall as needed)

RELS 452: Internship in Religious Studies

Credits 3
This course offers religious studies majors the opportunity to work in the field of religious studies for a minimum of 120 hours during the semester. Students must complete all paperwork to register for the Internship at least one semester before; students will meet with the Career Center and complete the application that will be sent to their advisor and site supervisor. This application will then be filed in the Career Center. Students must register for the class with the Registrar as well. They will be required to write a paper that is relevant to the Internship and maintain a journal that reflects their experience; the site supervisor will complete an evaluation form on their performance. This is a Pass/Fail course.