New Course Examines Pluralistic Nature of Religion in Japan
The School of Religion is offer a second new undergraduate course this fall. Prof. Lori Meeks has created REL 332: Religions of Japan. This course will look at the complexities many Japanese people face in discovering their religious identity. In contemporary Japan it is often said that individuals are "born Shinto, marry Christian, and die Buddhist." This saying reflects the pluralistic nature of religious identity in Japan, where most individuals claim association with multiple religious traditions.
New Course Unveils Women's Role in Islamic Society
The School of Religion is offering a new undergraduate course this fall: REL 316: Women and the Islamic Tradition. Prof. Megan Reid, who has been conducting research overseas for the past year, has developed a new course on the role of women in Islamic society.
This exciting new course will look at the social and legal status of women in Islamic society. Students will participate in their learning by conducting their own research projects and group presentations on a topic of their choice. They will discuss and question how women are portrayed in Islam and study references to women in the foundational texts of Islam, the Qur'an and the hadith. Using a variety of literature from the Islamic world, the course will examine the social roles established both for Muslim women and by them, and the ways in which those roles have been maintained and/or transformed over time. A basic premise of the course is that there is a difference between theory and practice, and thus students will assess how historical evidence of women's lives in pre-modern Islamic societies relates to the theoretical literature written by their male contemporaries.
USC Archaeology Students Recognized
Undergraduate students from the USC Archaeology Research Center participated in this year's Undergraduate Symposium for Scholarly and Creative Work, held on April 15, 2009. Students from all fields of study had the opportunity to exhibit their significant research and share examples of their creativity with the university community.
Students presented their work to a number of judges, and an awards ceremony followed. We are pleased to announce that two of the winners were from the Archaeology Research Center. Jennifer Crawford ('10 Archaeology, Photography) took first place in the Humanities category for her project, "Bringing the Past to Life: Recreating an Ancient Egyptian Gilding Technique." Her prize is $1,000. Jacob Bongers ('11 Archaeology) received an honorable mention in the Humanities category for his project, "Illuminating Culture Clash: Material Smashing in Northern Chile." Bongers also recently received a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship for his work.
Campany's Book Presents New View of Medieval Chinese Ascetics
Robert Campany, director of the School of Religion and professor of religion, has a new book on the shelves titled, Making Transcendents: Ascetics and Social Memory in Early Medieval China. This looks at early Chinese Daoism and the quest for transcendence that shaped it. Many people sought to become deathless, godlike beings with supernormal powers (xian). These people have traditionally been portrayed as secretive and hermit-like, but Campany explores a new and very different view of xian-seekers in late classical and early medieval China. He suggests transcendence was not necessarily a withdrawal from society, but rather a choice to take a religious role within society that simply involved a contrasting lifestyle to other societal roles.
Upcoming Events
Fall 2009 Upper Division Courses
Courses offered in many aspects of religious studies.learn more
