USC School of Religion Spring 2016 GE Course Offerings

REL-114
The Mediterranean: A Religious History

REL-125
Introduction to Christianity

REL-134
Introduction to Buddhism

60075 GE-B Humanistic Inquiry/Cat V GE (pre 2015)

2:00 3:20 PM Tues, Thurs @ SGM 124

60042 GE-B Humanistic Inquiry/Cat I GE (pre 2015)

12:30 1:50PM Tues, Thurs @ MRF 340

60030 GE-B Humanistic Inquiry/Cat II GE (pre 2015)

11:00 AM 12:20 PM Tues, Thurs @ SGM 101

Jessica Marglin/Cavan Concannon

Kevin Scull

Rongdao Lai

Beaches; diets; debt default; refugeestoday the

Mediterranean conjures images as diverse as the
hedonistic excesses of drunk tourists, the promises of
eternal youth, and the tragedy of forced migration. But the
Mediterranean is more than fads and headlines; the Great
Sea, as it is often called, was cradle to many of the cultures
that have shaped our modern world. Indeed, one could
argue that all three Abrahamic faithsJudaism,
Christianity, and Islamwere forged in the crucible of
the Mediterranean basin. This course will examine the
history of the Mediterranean as a meeting point of
religions, cultures, markets, languages, and ideas.

The course will explore the evolution of worlds

largest religion. Beginning with its roots in
Judaism and the Roman Empire, students will
examine many important figures and moments
including Jesus of Nazareth, how the Bible was
assembled, Constantine, the Crusades, and the
Reformation. Will also examine Christian
thought at various point in history concerning
important modern issues such as race, gender,
violence, and sexuality.

Buddhism addresses questions basic to the human

experience: namely, why do we suffer, and how are
we to find meaning and solace in the midst of our
suffering? This course will introduce students to the
thought and practice of various Buddhist traditions.
Students will have the opportunity to master the
basic teachings and concepts that link Buddhist
traditions across time and space while, at the same
time, exploring the diverse ways that different
cultures and societies have adopted, interpreted, and
contributed to the Buddhist tradition.

Carrie D. and C.J. Walker Tuition Merit Awards and Travel Grants available for religion majors/minors.
For more information, e-mail swartz@usc.edu or wootton@usc.edu

USC School of Religion Spring 2016 GE Course Offerings

REL-317
The Bible in Its Ancient Context

60059 GE-B Humanistic Inquiry

2:00 3:20 PM Mon, Wed @ THH 209

Bruce Zuckerman

REL-326
The Historical Jesus

60080 GE-B Humanistic Inquiry/Cat V GE (pre

2015)
9:30 10:50 AM Tues, Thurs @ SGM 101

REL-376
Religion and Human Rights

60092R GE-C Social Analysis

11:002:20PM Tues, Thurs @ WPH 203

Lyn Boyd-Judson

Cavan Concannon
We explore ancient Near Eastern myths especially those from Mesopotamia and
Canaan - in order to reveal the ancient
cultural and literary contexts out of which
the Bible, now the single best-selling
book ever and a foundation for faiths
globally, first emerged.
We often think of the Bible as the
Foundation of Judaism and Christianity.
But what was the foundation of the
Foundation?

The overlay of religion and human rights colors almost every

aspect of our collective human experience, influencing our gender
Who is the Historical Jesus? How do we know roles, cultures, worldviews, and political systems.
what we know about the founder of Christianity?
What was the world in which Jesus lived like? Is Conflict between and within religions bleeds into our
there a difference between the Jesus of history understandings of love and hate, justice and terror, the particular
and the Jesus of the Bible? Are there texts outside and the universal.
of the Bible that can tell us about Jesus? How
have scholars in seminaries and universities over This new course will forge useful frameworks for interpreting the
the past two hundred years found ways to dig complexity of competing moral ideas in our global political reality.
through the sources and the evidence that
survives about this hugely influential figure? In
this class we will explore these questions,
looking at how we know what we know about
Jesus while also exploring his continuing
impact on modern pop culture.