Department of Religious Studies

REL 100.001

Introduction to Religious Studies

T, R | 9:30-10:45 AM

NL 1011

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As a general introduction to the academic study of religion, REL 100 examines the ways in which the term “religion” is identified and used to organize social worlds. The course surveys a broad number of important debates in the history of Religious Studies, such as the definition of religion, theories on the origins of religion, the comparison of religions, and religion’s psychological, sociological, and political functions. The course emphasizes general critical thinking skills essential throughout the human sciences and, as such, is an ideal introduction to the study of religion in a public university. *carries Humanities Core (HU) designation.

K. Merinda Simmons

• Office hours: 

  By appointment

• (205) 348-5271
• merinda.simmons@ua.edu

Ciara Eichhorst, GTA

Erica Bennett, GTA