UCOR Section Descriptions

Course Description

The purpose of this class is to introduce students to the multi-faceted world of the Hebrew Bible. In addition to reading and analyzing significant portions of the biblical text, students will become aware of and engage with important issues in the study of the Bible: the application of various methodologies (historical-critical, literary, theological, and gender-sensitive lenses); the existence of various types of literature within the Bible (narrative, poetry, law); the role of the Hebrew Bible in interfaith dialogue; and the significance of the study of "Scripture".

Course Description

"She is a tree of life for those who hold fast to her." According to Jewish liturgy, the Torah is the center of Jewish life. This view is easily supported by the history of Judaism, which includes extensive commentary on the Torah, producing libraries full of interpretive works. In each age, Jewish people have turned back to the Torah to make sense of their experiences. In this class, we will read major portions of the Torah, and engage in ongoing exegesis (drawing meaning out of the text), learning about the application of various methodologies (historical-critical, literary, theological, and gender-sensitive lenses).

Course Description

Exploration of key issues, as well as appropriate methods, in Christian-Buddhist interchange and reflection. This course will study Buddhist and Christian traditions in terms of their sacred texts, doctrines and beliefs, rituals, ethics, and spiritual practices. Students will be acquainted with the philosophical and theological approaches, as well as to the more socio-cultural approach in the field of religious studies. Special attention will be given to the historical encounter of Jesuit missionary works in Asia as case-study of Christian-Buddhist dialogue.

Course Description

What is spirituality's role in a society that is becoming more and more global and technological? Our generation is not the first to be haunted by this question. Prior generations of spiritual thinkers in Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have been influenced by the question's promises and paradoxes. In fact, the promises and paradoxes of globalism and technology have created two literary genres, one modern (Science Fiction) and one ancient (Apocalypticism). In this course, we will analyze ancient apocalyptic texts, examine their influence on science fiction, and explore how they inform us about embracing spirituality within a global and technological context.

Course Description

This course introduces students to Islam as a historical religion and a lived tradition. Core readings include passages from the Muslim scripture, the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, and the classics of Islamic law, theology, and mysticism. The course also introduces students to the key texts of modern Islamic studies, especially those that contextualize Islam in relation to other Near Eastern religious traditions. Class readings also address numerous aspects of contemporary Islam, from gender struggles to the American-Muslim experience.

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to the Qur'an, considering the Qur'an as a basis for the theological and ethical teachings for Muslims, as well as a source of literary inspiration. We will study the Qur'an in terms of its main features and themes, covering classical interpretive traditions and contemporary academic approaches, as well as the relationship between the content of the Qur'an and many practical and existential elements of Muslim life.

Course Description

Students in this course will explore the way gender is constructed (and deconstructed) in the texts of Hebrew Bible. By analyzing large portions of the text, students will gain understanding of gender assumptions that still play a role in our lives today, as well as the profound distinctions between our contemporary society and the historical and social context of the Bible. In addition, students will gain language and skills for analyzing gender and identity in multiple contexts.

Course Description

This course equips students with the intellectual tools needed to approach the questions of value most commonly encountered in the provision of health care and in medical research. Students who take this course will gain familiarity with the diverse religious and methodological tools most commonly employed for the purpose of addressing debated bioethical issues. A variety of bioethical topics and cases are given special attention and considered in light of global systems and perspectives.

Course Description

This course analyzes the complex relationship between Islam, racialization, and resistance from a global historical perspective, using a combination of historical, textual, cultural, and sociological approaches. Key questions discussed in the course include: What role did Black Muslims play in the early history of Islam? When and how did race emerge as an important category of difference among Muslims? What is the relationship between racialization projects, modernization, slavery, colonialism, and nationalism? How are domestic forms of racism linked to global history? How is the history of slavery in the Americas related to the history of Islam in the Americas? In which way can Islam serve as a conduit for liberation among Black Americans? What Islamic theological resources can be employed to religiously frame movements of resistance to institutionalized racism?

Course Description

Students in this course will explore the way gender is constructed (and deconstructed) in the texts of Hebrew Bible. By analyzing large portions of the text, students will gain understanding of gender assumptions that still play a role in our lives today, as well as the profound distinctions between our contemporary society and the historical and social context of the Bible. In addition, students will gain language and skills for analyzing gender and identity in multiple contexts.