Fall 2025 Religious Studies Courses

Electives & General Education

The Bible as Literature (RELG 201, AILT)
TR 12:00-1:15 PM
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. Other authors include Jorge Luis Borges, Franz Kafka, Leslie Jamison, Dan Pagis, and Joy Williams.

Magic & Religion in the Early Christian World (RELG 220)
TR 1:30-2:45 PM (01); 3:00–4:15 PM(02)
Stephanie Cobb

“Magic—the word evokes the mysterious and the marvelous, the forbidden and the hidden, the ancient and the arcane—deeds that it is better not to know.” Nevertheless, “Magic and Religion” probes these dark corners of the ancient Mediterranean world with two central questions in mind: What is magic? How is magic different from religion? Along the way, we’ll examine the evidence from Greek, Roman, Jewish, and Christian sources, assessing how and why people used magic. By studying a range of practices—from curses to erotic spells, from necromancy to prayer—we’ll investigate the contested boundaries between magic and religion.

Religious Studies Seminars

The Hebrew Prophets (RELG 331)
TR 10:30-11:45 AM
Rhiannon Graybill

The prophet Jeremiah described prophecy as “like a fire in my bones.” What does it mean to be a prophet in the Hebrew Bible? Why do the prophets consistently fail at prophecy? Is the prophetic tradition a resource for social justice, a collection of beautiful poetry, or a peculiar artifact of an ancient world very different from our own? This class will explore these and other questions in the context of biblical prophecy. Our topics include prophecy in the ancient Near East, prophecy as a mode of performance, the relationship between prophetic speech and actions, gender and prophecy, questions of social justice, and contemporary re-imaginings of biblical prophecy.

Dying for God (RELG 310)
W 3:00-5:45 PM
Stephanie Cobb

Why did some early Christians willingly die for God? Did all Christians believe martyrdom was the best way to demonstrate their faith? What drove Roman officials or friends and neighbors to turn against Christians in the most gruesome ways? In “Dying for God,” we’ll examine the social, political, and religious contexts of the martyrs to push beyond a simple narrative of good vs. evil. We’ll search for the logical motivations of all the actors in this historical drama to reach a more balanced understanding of early Christian martyrdom. This course is open to all students—no prerequisites!