Class Descriptions: Request for information
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CAESAR to students preparing for registration.
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General class information
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1. Campus (please choose): __X_Evanston
2. Term (please choose): ___Fall
___Chicago
_X__Winter
___Qatar
___Spring
___Other:
___Summer
3. Year: 2016
4. Subject: REL
5. Catalog Nbr: 471-21
6. Class Section:
7. Class Title: Theology and the Study of Religion
Instructor information
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Notes:
 Instructor information will be available to the general public online (please do not provide
information you are not willing to have publicly displayed).
 Instructor information remains as-is until updated (you may want to have office hour information
updated every term).
 Instructor information will be applied to all classes an instructor teaches (that is, it will not and
cannot vary per class).
 If more than one instructor belongs on the class, please fill out numbers 1-6 below for each.
1. Names of class instructor(s): Christine Helmer
2. Telephone: 847-491-2616
3. Instructor Campus Address: Crowe 4-179
4. Instructor Office Hours: Th 4-6:30 pm
5. URL:
6. Instructor Biography:
Class description template 10/2009
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tructor information
Class Description
Instructor information
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website (if this information exists in the “Instructor Information” area, above).
___ Check here to include the instructor biography in the online description (if bio has been
entered above)
Overview of class
Generally describe the class here. Include assignment and project information, if desired.
Rel 471-21: Theology and the Study of Religion
What can theology contribute to the modern study of religion? In this seminar we read closely
foundational texts in the study of religion from theological, historical, and philosophical perspectives.
Many of these texts were written by trained theologians (Schleiermacher, Troeltsch, Otto) who were
intellectually excited about explorations and studies of non-Christian religions, and many saw new
possibilities for interpreting Hebrew and Christian scriptures in light of historical and archaeological
evidence in a broader world context (e.g. the Bible-Babel controversy in Berlin in 1902). We will study
the concepts of religion and the realities of religion as they are invoked and defined in primary texts;
investigate the theological assumptions and claims made as they shape an understanding of religion;
and study the Kantian and neo-Kantian philosophical conceptual framework that determines the
modern study of religion. By looking at the history of the study of religion from theological and
philosophical perspectives, we aim to better appreciate the mutual indebtedness among these
disciplines. This course will also give graduate students in religious studies the necessary foundations
in theological, philosophical, and historical topics required for the theory and methods exam.
Registration Requirements
What does a student need to do (e.g., get a permission number) or be (e.g., a Junior) in order to
register for this class?
Upper level undergraduate student with knowledge of the study of religion or philosophy. Graduate
students in religion, theology, history, German or philosophy.
Learning Objectives
What will the student be expected to know by the end of the class?
Students will be able to 1) outline the argument in major texts in the history of the study of religion
(which are also major texts in the history of the modern west); 2) construct relations between the
concept of religion, history, sociology, and theology; 3) survey contemporary texts in the study of
religion and see how these texts have inherited the legacy from early 20th century German thought.
Teaching Method
Choose from the list how the class will be taught. Mondays 1-3pm
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
You may use the box to the right of the method for additional information (e.g., next to Lecture
you might add "Three 50-minute lectures weekly.")

If your teaching method is not listed you may use the “Other” area below as needed.
Include?
(e.g.) X
Evaluation Method
Lecture
Additional information (if desired)
Three 50-minute lectures weekly
Case studies
Class participation
Demonstrations
Discussion
Discussion section
Fieldtrips
Fieldwork
Films / videos
Group work
Guest speakers
Independent study
Lab
Lecture
Listening exercises
Observation
Online work
Presentations
Student presentations
Problem sets
Readings
Research project
Seminar
Once a week
Simulation / role-play
Writing assignments
3 short papers and final research paper
Other (see below)
Other (if your teaching method is not listed, choose “Other” above and enter further description
here):
Evaluation Method
Choose from the list what criteria will be used for grading.
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
You may use the area to the right of the method for additional information (e.g., next to
Exam, final you might add "20% of final grade.")

If your evaluation method is not listed you may use the “Other” area below as needed.
Include?
(e.g.) X
Evaluation Method
Additional information (if desired)
Exam, final
20% of final grade
Attendance
Mandatory
Attire
Case studies
Class participation
Demonstrations
Discussion section
Exam, final
Exam, mid-term
Exams
Field trips
Field work
Films / videos
Group project
Group work
Homework
Lab
Listening exercises
Online work
Paper, final
40%
Paper, mid-term
15% each (total 45%)
Papers
Peer assessment
Presentations
15%
Problem sets
Project, final
Quizzes
Readings
Research project
Simulation / role-play
Writing assignments
Other (see below)
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Other (if your evaluation method is not listed, choose “Other” above and enter further description
here): Letter grade only
Class Materials (Required)
Specify any materials required to participate in this class (e.g., books, course packs, dictionaries,
computer or film equipment, clickers, dance attire).
Please include ISBN numbers for books.
Friedrich Schleiermacher, On Religion, trans. Crouter, Cambridge (978-0-521-47975-2)
Rudolf Otto, The Idea of the Holy, Oxford (9780195002102)
Ernest Troeltsch, The Absoluteness of Christianity, Westminster (9780664230166)
Ludwig Feuerbach, The Lectures on the Essence of Religion, Prometheus (9781591022138)
Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Oxford (9780199747252)
Karl Holl, What Did Luther understand by Religion? (out of print: buy from used book sellers)
Karl Barth, The Revelation of God as the Sublimation of Religion, Bloomsbury academic
(9781780938042)
Hard copies of texts required, no e-formats.
Class Materials (Suggested)
Specify any materials suggested (but not required) for this class.
Suzanne L. Marchand, German Orientalism in the Age of Empire, Cambridge (978-0-521-51849-9)
Class Notes
What else would you like the student to know about this class?
If students want to read texts or portions of texts in German, that would be wonderful!
- Include any restrictions upon registration here.
- Please note: No instructor bio or teaching philosophy statements should be entered here. If those
are desired, please edit the instructor information above and check the "Include Instructor Bio" box.
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