Religion 204 - BLASPHEMY

Commonly associated with pre-modern societies, the term “blasphemy” has taken on new life in today’s global and technologically-connected world. This course examines the notion of blasphemy—its meanings, the invisible boundaries it invokes in some of the world’s major religious traditions and the different ways of seeing it often signifies—and the contemporary public uses of this term. Based on case studies, it explores the challenges the term poses and the nature of the emotional responses it often triggers. The course considers the implications of the charge of blasphemy in light of such issues as religion and secularism, religious tolerance and intolerance, ethics and civility, religion and human rights. Religious, philosophical, literary and legal texts, as well as media accounts, images and film. Enrollment limit of 20. (E)