Religion 200 - Colloquium: What is Religion?
Colq: What is Religion?
Fall
2025
01
4.00
Andy Rotman
W 1:20 PM - 2:35 PM; M 1:40 PM - 2:55 PM
Smith College
REL-200-01-202601
Seelye 105
arotman@smith.edu
What is religion really? Is it an explanation of the world, a vehicle for reaching divinity, or a system for social connection? Is it a by-product of human evolution, a reflection of economic practices, or a category created by colonialism? Is it somehow all of the above? And how does “religion” and its intersections with race, class, gender and politics inform one's place in the world? This course explores these questions by reading classic and contemporary scholars, drawing from disciplines such as anthropology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, American studies and gender studies, and investigating what religion means and does for Smith students. Enrollment limited to 18.