Religion and the Modern World
This is a secular, academic course open to students of any and all worldviews.
This course will introduce students to academic, cultural studies methods for studying the complex role of religion in global affairs. Religion remains a powerful force in our modern world, but a nuanced understanding of that influence requires rigorous frameworks of analysis. Non-devotional, cultural studies methods offer a way into exploring religious traditions’ internal diversity, change over time, and intersections with cultural, political, and local contexts.
This course is not organized around a typical World Religions framework. Rather, we will look at case studies (Northern Ireland, Israel/Palestine, Nigeria, the Protestant Reformation, etc.) to better understand the complexity of how religion actually functions in context, and how this understanding can provide deeper insights about current affairs. Course materials draw on scholarship and materials from Harvard University, where the course instructor worked with faculty to develop teaching resources for high school educators throughout the United States.
Prerequisites: Students must be prepared to respect the beliefs of students from all faith traditions, including those of atheists/non-believers. The class focuses on the role of religion in the world; students do not need to disclose personal religious beliefs unless they choose to.
Instructor: Anna Mudd
DETAILS:
Suggested age range: 13+
Outside work: Students will complete 1 to 3 hours of weekly asynchronous course content outside of class, including short readings and videos. Discussion boards provide opportunities for students to respond to course content, ask questions, and test understanding. Course work assessment, for those who elect to take the course for a grade, is based on the total number of discussion boards completed, as well as a final integration project.
When & where: Wednesdays on Zoom from 2:00-3:00 Eastern Time, Jan. 6 - Mar. 24, 2027.
Fee: $300 ungraded/$350 graded; this includes a non-refundable registration fee of $10. We offer discounts for groups, siblings, and students who enroll in multiple classes. (Discount information.) Payment plans available. Fees waived for families with financial need. (Waivers and payment plan information.) Questions about how classes work? Read our course FAQ.