New Religious Studies Courses Offered - Winter 2012 Semester

RELS 3111: Vishnu and Krishna the Dark Lord: Popular Hindu Religion

Dr. Christopher Austin
Winter 2012 Mon. 11:35am-2:25pm

This course focuses on one of the Hindu tradition's most beloved divinities, the god Vishnu. For over 2000 years, Vishnu and his manifestations such as Rama and Krishna ("The Dark Lord") have dominated India's most popular mythic and storytelling traditions, and have been the object of ceaseless celebration and worship in every region of India. We will explore the literary, theological, mythic and cultic traditions of Vishnu, particularly in his manifestation as Krishna. As we do so, an emphasis will be placed on understanding the similarities and differences between the worship of Vishnu, Rama and Krisha in diverse regions of India today such as Mathura, Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

RELS 4018: Christian Theology in Islamic Lands: John of Damascus

Dr. Alexander Treiger
Winter 2012 Wed. 11:35am-2:25pm

John of Damascus (d. 749) is one of the greatest Christian theologians of the Patristic age. He was a Greek-educated Christian Arab, who was employed in the Muslim administration in Damascus, but later resigned his post and became a monk in the famous Monastery of Mar Saba near Jerusalem. This class is based on a careful reading of John of Damascus' theological works: "On the Orthodox Faith" (an influential systematic exposition of Christian theology), three treatises in defence of the icons, and "Against the Heresies", a polemical work which includes a section devoted to Islam.

Interested in registering for these classes?
Go to:
http://www.registrar.dal.ca/regguide/register/index.html

THE PROGRAMME IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES is administered by the Department of Classics. For all our enthusiasts, B.A. degree programmes are now available, including Major, Double Major, Combined Honours, and Concentration options. Students seeking advice for any of these programmes should email Dr. Christopher Austin: christopher.austin@dal.ca