Fall 2026 Religious Studies Courses

Electives & General Education

The Bible as Literature (RELG 201, AILT)
MW 9:00-10:15 AM (01)
Rhiannon Graybill

The Bible is among the world’s most famous works of literature. But what does it mean to read the Bible AS literature? In this class, we will treat the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) as a literary work, while also using literature from a variety of authors, time periods, and genres to read the Bible. Biblical texts will include Genesis, the Song of Songs, Job, and other biblical narrative and poetry.

Leadership Ethics: Early China (RELG 206, AILT, IFWC)
MW 12:00-1:15 PM (01); MW 1:30-2:45 PM (02)
Jane Geaney

Two questions lie at the heart of classical Chinese texts: how to live and how to lead. This course explores moral visions of life and leadership composed in China two millennia ago and still influencing China’s leaders today— from the uniquely Chinese “Non-Action” method to Chinese Virtue Ethics, Consequentialism, and Divine Command Theory. Topics include Confucian, Daoist, Legalist, and Mohist treatment of Heaven’s Mandate and the ancestral Dao, as well as Sunzi’s Art of War, and contemporary Chinese Social Justice Leadership and Transformational Leadership.

Gods of the Pharaohs (RELG 223, AIHS, IFPE)
TR 1:30-2:45 PM (01); TR 3:00-4:15 PM (02)
Stephanie Cobb

Ancient Egyptian religion – its pharaohs, pyramids, gods and rituals – has intrigued both ancient and modern people. From mummies to King Tut to burial rituals to Hollywood films, Egypt has captured our historical, social, and religious imaginations. This course examines ancient Egyptian religions and religious rituals in their geographical and chronological specificity through literature and material culture. We will study how ancient Egyptians viewed their world and how their religious beliefs helped them make sense of it. We will consider the role of ancient Egypt in popular culture as well as the modern practices of ancient Egyptian religions.

Religious Studies Seminars

Genesis (RELG 330, AILT, IFWC)
MW 10:30-11:45 AM
Rhiannon Graybill

Genesis, the first book of the Bible, remains among the most important literary, historical, and theological works ever written — at once beautiful, funny, perplexing, and challenging. In this class, we will take a deep dive into Genesis, while also exploring literary, historical, mythological, feminist, postcolonial, and other responses to the text. We will also consider the history of interpretation, with a particular interest in the reception of Genesis in literature and in popular culture.

Women in Early Christianity (RELG 347, AIHS, IFWC)
W 3:00-5:40 PM
Stephanie Cobb

The Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene may be the most famous women in Christian history, but alongside them stand countless women who were preachers and prophets, patrons and martyrs, saints and sinners. In this course we will explore these women and their roles in the early Church. Who were they? What power did they exercise and what constraints did they face? How did the church memorialize them, reimagine them, and sometimes erase them? Did Christianity offer opportunities that weren’t available to Jewish and Roman women? We will put literary texts in conversation with material culture as we ask whether these reveal more about early Christian women’s historical practices or the wishful thinking of male authors.

First Year Seminar

Witchcraft (FYS 100)
MW 3:00-4:15 PM; 4:30-5:45 PM
Douglas Winiarski