Humanities Arts Cultural Stu 0219 - Neo-Paganism & New Religions

In America and around the world, new forms of religion are constantly developing to address changing spiritual needs and social conditions. New Religious Movements (NRMs) are often viewed with suspicion and labeled as "cults," but their proliferation demonstrates a widespread yearning for alternative forms of religion and spirituality. We will examine a variety of NRMs in their cultural and social contexts, from the Hare Krishna (ISKCON) movement that began in the 1960s to the Japanese group Aum Shinrikyo that unleashed nerve gas on the Tokyo subway in the 1990s to the Afro-Caribbean Sante Ria religious movement whose use of animal sacrifice was debated before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1993. The course will also explore Neo-Pagan religious movements such as Asatru, Druidry and Wicca that derive from European folklore and mythology. Students will pursue research projects on NRMs of their choice, utilizing a range of theoretical models and methodological approaches.

Independent Work Multiple Cultural Perspectives Writing and Research In this course, students are expected to spend 7 hours weekly outside of class time on preparation and work.