Religion: Radical Ecologies: Rel/Sci

Exploration of themes involving religion and the natural environment. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: Three hours of Religion or Environmental Studies. Cross-listed with: ENVS 2270.

Pre reqs: 3 hours in Religion or ENVS PACE students with permission and override Crosslisted with ENVS 2270 A Combined Enrollment: 40

The purpose of this course is to explore the ways in which our conceptions of nature and our ecological relationships are intimately connected to our religious histories, beliefs, and motivations. This course will ask students to work through challenging texts by philosophers, anthropologists, and cultural theorists who examine the very question of nature, explore its limits, and seek to find new ways of understanding the intimate and ambiguous divide between the human, nature, and the divine. Complementing our philosophical exploration of the question of nature, students will read selections from classic American literature, articles from scientific journals, history, poetry, and ethnography in order to explore the vast diversity of ecological perspectives, and to critically analyze these ecological perspectives from within a broader understanding of their history, cultural context, and radical applications. This course will ask you to think critically and creatively as you tackle central debates, problems, and theoretical texts.

Participation, Journal Assignments, Essay Midterm, Essay Final.