Religious Studies Department

This course develops four competencies of a successful global citizen: what you need to know to interact with a client/customer/patient/neighbour who is of a different religion; what you need to know when travelling; what you need to know to do graduate studies; and what followers of this religion need to know. We study Indigenous religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, and alternative religions. Credit will be granted for only one of RELS 103, RELS 110, RELS 111, or RELS 112. Three credits. Offered every year.

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The aim of this course is to familiarize student with the basic structural features of classical Greek. In addition to grammar and vocabulary, the class will read simple texts from classical Greek philosophy and literature as well as from the New Testament. Credit will be granted for only one of RELS 113, CLAS 120 or CLAS198 (2023-2024). Cross-listed as CLAS 121. Three credits. Offered 2026-2027.

The aim of this course is to familiarize student with the basic structural features of classical Greek. In addition to grammar and vocabulary, the class will read simple texts from classical Greek philosophy and literature as well as from the New Testament. Credit will be granted for only one of RELS 114, CLAS 120 or CLAS 199 (2022-2023). Cross-listed as CLAS 122. Prerequisite: RELS 113 or CLAS 121. Three credits. Offered 2026-2027.

This course is designed to provide the foundations for promoting ethical competence among health care professionals as informed by diverse religious and cultural traditions. Students will be introduced to the ethical principles and values underlying debates brought about by advancements in medical technologies. Special emphasis will be placed on the whole person care demonstrated by exemplary health care providers in health care settings. Three credits. Offered every year.

This course examines the impact of the Bible on film, and introduces major biblical themes in films with, and films without, explicit religious content. Students will learn how biblical knowledge can enrich our understanding of modern culture and important human issues, such as creation, redemption, election, messiah-ship, charisma, and tradition. Three credits. Offered 2026-2027.

This course is an introduction to the use of supernatural imagery and themes in current tales of superheroes. How are supernatural beings and forces incorporated into the stories? How do superheroes function as divine beings? In which ways are the messages presented by DC and Marvel derived from those of world religions? In which ways do they serve as substitutes for religion? Credit will be granted for only one of RELS 216 or RELS 298 (2020-2022). Three credits. Offered every year.

Much contemporary fantasy draws upon ancient and medieval myths about beasts and monsters of various sorts. In this course, we will consider the religious origins of the fantastic, and how it continues to resonate in our contemporary world. Credit will be granted for only one of RELS 222, RELS 292(2018-19) or RELS 298(2017-18). Three credits. Offered every year.

A study of cults in the context of 20th-century North American society, beginning with defining cults in relation to sects and churches. Topics include neo-paganism; Hare Krishna; the theosophical tradition; the Unification Church; tragic endings to cults such as the Branch Davidians and Heaven’s Gate; why people join cults; and the religio-cultural significance of cults today. Three credits. Offered every year.

This course covers narrative and artistic depictions of Greco-Roman Gods, demi-gods, and heroes, both in Hellenistic and early Roman periods, and in their contemporary reception in fiction and film. We will also cover how myths and grand narratives function in the service of and in tension with power, politics, gender, ritual, and culture. Cross-listed with CLAS 241.Three credits. Offered every year.

This course introduces students to the emergence of the Islamic tradition with the aim of understanding a) its place in the Near Eastern religious and geo-political context; b) its reception by contemporaries, especially Christians of the 7th-9th centuries; and c) the teachings of its seminal texts, especially the Qur’an. Particular attention is given to those sections of the Qur’an that reflect the Jewish and Christian theological environment within which the text emerged. Credit will be granted for only one of RELS 254 or RELS 370. Three credits. Not offered 2026-2027.

This course focuses on a popular genre of texts called “apocalypse,” produced in the early development of Judaism and Christianity. Apocalypses deal with the end of the world. We explore the development of the worldview called apocalypticism and the ancient literature associated with it, from both inside and outside the Bible. Students compare what they’ve learned about ancient apocalypses to contemporary apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic ideas, from zombies to climate change. Three credits. Offered every year.

An examination of the impact of religion on politics and politics on religion. Students will consider the relationship between religion and politics in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. Case studies will demonstrate interactions between the state and Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and other religions. Credit will be granted for only one of RELS 336, RELS 295, or PSCI 295. Cross-listed as PSCI 336. Three credits.

Students gain an understanding of the diversity of Islam and Muslims in Canada. The course examines how Muslims negotiate their religious identities in Canadian civic society. Students engage critically with different theoretical models shaping conceptions of identity and consider their relevance to public policy debates. The course uses Muslim and non-Muslim authors representing diverse points of view that have an impact on questions of immigration, multiculturalism, and religious pluralism. Cross-listed as SOCI 374. Three credits. Offered 2026-2027 (online format).

The topic for 2026-2027 is Digital Methods for Ancient Manuscripts. A practical course on digital methods for processing historical documents. Skills covered include cataloguing, transcription, textual criticism, linguistic markup, translation, annotation, and presentation. Cross-listed as ENGL 398. Three credits.

Each student works under the supervision of a chosen professor who guides the selection of a thesis topic, use of resources, methodological component, quality of analysis and execution, and literary calibre of the student’s work. Required for all honours students. Six credits.