Courses
Please view the Â鶹¹û¶³ Course Catalog for the latest course offerings.
Summer Session 1 (June 1 - July 11, 2026) Course Offerings
- REL 136 A: Seeing and Believing: Women, Religion, and Film
Online Asynchronous, Denton-Borhaug (M3) (PTK: Global Connections) (Tag: Intercultural and Linguistic Competencies) - WGSS 136 A: Seeing and Believing: Women, Religion, and Film
Online Asynchronous, Denton-Borhaug (M3) (PTK: Global Connections) (Tag: Intercultural and Linguistic Competencies)
100-Level Courses
REL 136 A / WGSS 136 A: Seeing and Believing: Women, Religion, and Film
Students explore how films appropriate religion in the service of the cultural production of images of women and women's lives; and investigate the ways the creation and viewing of film might share similarities with the construction and practice of religion. (M3) (PTK: Global Connections) (Tag: Intercultural and Linguistic Competencies) Denton-Borhaug
Fall 2026 Term Course Offerings
- REL 110 A: What is Religion
Tue, Thu 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM, Radine (M4) (PTK: Global Connections) (TAG: Equity and Inclusion) - REL 112 A: Hebrew Bible / Old Testament
Tue, Thu 1:15 PM - 2:30 PM, Radine (M3) (PTK: Humanistic Inquiry) (TAG: Ethical Deliberation) (TAG: Critical Reading) - REL 132 A: Asian American Experiences
Tue, Thu 1:15 PM - 2:30 PM, Cheung (PTK: Social Systems) (TAG: Ethical Deliberation) (TAG: Equity and Inclusion) - REL 136 A: Women, Religion, Film
Online Asynchronous, Denton-Borhaug (M3) (PTK: Global Connections) (TAG: Intercultural and Linguistic Competencies) - REL 161 A: Thinking Â鶹¹û¶³ God
Mon, Wed 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM, Naraghi (PTK: Humanistic Inquiry) - REL 165 A: Introduction to Peace & Justice Studies
Mon, Wed 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM, Denton-Borhaug (M3) (PTK: Social Systems) (TAG: Ethical Deliberation) - REL 227 A: Ancient Near Eastern Religion
Tue, Thu 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM, Radine (PTK: Humanistic Inquiry) (TAG: Intercultural and Linguistic Competencies) (TAG: Critical Reading) - REL 250 A: Environmental Ethics
Mon, Wed 1:15 PM - 2:30 PM, Naraghi (U2) - REL 263 A: Civil Rights & Moral Life
Mon, Wed 9:15 AM - 10:30 AM, Denton-Borhaug, Mayer (TAG: Ethical Deliberation) - HUMS 111 A: Humanities Fellowship Seminar I
Tue, Thu 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM, Cheung (PTK: Humanistic Inquiry)
100-Level Courses
REL 110 A: What is Religion
Students will attempt to arrive at their own "thick descriptions" regarding the nature, meaning, and phenomenon of religion(s) and religious experience. Introduction to psychological, theological, sociological, and anthropological methods in exploring the ways religion functions in the lives of individuals as well as in the construction, maintenance, and daily life of societies. Engagement in cross-cultural comparison and contrast. (M4) (PTK: Global Connections) (TAG: Equity and Inclusion) Radine
REL 112 A: Hebrew Bible / Old Testament
This course will tackle the question of how the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament was written and what its original meanings were, using the tools of historical criticism, archaeology, and religious history. The diverse religious perspectives withing the text will be explored. Knowledge of the Hebrew language is not expected. (M3) (PTK: Humanistic Inquiry) (TAG: Ethical Deliberation) (Critical Reading) Radine
REL 132 A: Asian American Experience
Asian American history is American history. Why, then, does the history of Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans continue to be underrepresented across the curriculum? This course engages with the religious experiences of APA or AAPI populations in order to understand Asian American history in the United States. We will begin by asking how to understand APA identities and the history of immigration and exclusion-including how Buddhist identities of Japanese Americans were used to argue against their identity as Americans. Then, we turn to APA experiences of healing and medicine against the backdrop of xenophobic metaphors for disease and contagion and how that fueled anti-Asian violence and sentiment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, we examine the hypersexualization of Asian/American women in the media and how this contributed to the narratives around the March 2021 Atlanta-area shootings. Prerequisites: None (PTK: Social Systems) (TAG: Ethical Deliberation) (TAG: Equity and Inclusion) Cheung
REL 136 A: Seeing and Believing: Women, Religion, and Film
Students explore how films appropriate religion in the service of the cultural production of images of women and women's lives; and investigate the ways the creation and viewing of film might share similarities with the construction and practice of religion. (M3) (PTK: Global Connections) (Tag: Intercultural and Linguistic Competencies) Denton-Borhaug
REL 161 A: Thinking Â鶹¹û¶³ God
This introductory course invites students to explore the concept of God and related philosophical and theological issues across various religious traditions. Through the lens of one or more great religious thinkers-such as Aquinas in Christianity, Ibn Sina (Avicenna) in Islam, Shankara in Hinduism, or Maimonides in Judaism-students will examine how different traditions have conceptualized the divine, addressing questions such as: What is the nature of God? How can humans understand or relate to the divine? What are the implications of belief in God for ethics, human purpose, and the meaning of life? This course may be repeated as long as the topics differ. (PTK: Humanistic Inquiry) Naraghi
REL 165 A: Introduction to Peace & Justice Studies
Students will study, and find and create spaces in which to think and see more freely in order to identify and analyze (in)justice in our lives, communities, and world. We also will use the contemplative practices of memoir (drawing from the Moravian tradition of Lebenslaufe) and walking as resources for critical thinking. A majority of the course will involve students developing individual responses to (in)justice ("interventions") through various projects that reflect students' own passion and design, including academic, artistic, political, religious, social, service-oriented, and personal responses. Students submit a portfolio comprising their best work from the semester to demonstrate that they have met the learning goals of the course, and include their memoir. (M3) (PTK: Social Systems) (TAG: Ethical Deliberation) Denton-Borhaug
REL 227 A: Ancient Near Eastern Religion
A study of the religions of the Ancient Near East, this course will explore the myths and rituals of the peoples of Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Syria-Palestine, and Egypt before the Roman era. Foundational to western civilization in general, these religions also form the cultural context and background for the sacred scriptures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. (PTK: Humanistic Inquiry) (TAG: Intercultural and Linguistic Competencies) (TAG: Critical Reading) Radine
REL 250 A: Environmental Ethics
An overview of the ethical, metaphysical, cultural, and political issues involved in understanding humankind's complex relationship with the natural world and with other-than-human animals. Examines positions and philosophies of radical environmentalists, environmental ethicists, animal-rights advocates, and political ecologists. (U2) Naraghi
REL 263 A: Civil Rights & Moral Life
Many forces and ideas shaped the civil rights movement. Through both a historical and a theological / philosophical lens, students will examine those forces and ideas and will consider how the power and depth of the movement continues to challenge us with its continued relevance today. The course includes in-close examinations of key events in the movement, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Nashville sit-ins, in order to view the movement from the vantage of people involved in the movement. (TAG: Ethical Deliberation) Denton-Borhaug, Mayer
Humanities Fellowship Course
HUMS 111 A: Humanities Fellowship Seminar I
The Humanities Fellowship Seminar serves as the welcoming gateway experience for each year's cohort of Humanities Fellows, supporting and developing the talents and interests of incoming Fellows, who have committed to making study and experience in the engaged humanities central to their Â鶹¹û¶³ experience and to their vocational pursuits. The Seminar combines learning in both a content area from interdisciplinary humanities (as designed by the instructor) and in development of application/skills for humanities-focused vocations that are engaged in social justice efforts. Prerequisites: Students must be recipients of the Moravian Humanities Fellowship (PTK: Humanistic Inquiry) Cheung
Spring 2026 Term Course Offerings
- REL 116 A: Paul & Early Church
Tue, Thu 1:30 PM - 2:40 PM, Radine (M3) - REL 123 A: Religions of India: Hinduism and Buddhism (Paired with MILE 101B: Traditions of India)
Tue, Thu 10:30 AM - 11:40 AM, Cheung, Asti (M5) - REL 253 Philosophy of Religion
Mon, Wed 12:00 PM - 1:10 PM, Naraghi (U2) - REL 254: Jewish Philosophy
Tue, Thu 3:00 PM - 4:10 PM, Radine (M3) - REL 260: Moral Injury: A Public Health Crisis
Monday 12:00 PM - 2:40 PM, Denton-Borhaug (U2) - REL 264: Science and Theology
Mon, Wed 10:30 AM - 11:40 AM, Naraghi (U1) (PTK: Scientific Process) - REL 269 A: Sex and Karma
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 10:10 AM Online Synchronous, Cheung (PTK: Social Systems) (TAGS: Intercultural and Linguistic Competencies) - HUMS 112: Humanities Fellows Seminar II: Murder, Mourning, and Memory
Tue, Thu 1:30 PM - 2:40 PM, Cheung (M2) - IDIS 165: Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies (Paired with MILE 101 C: Nature Writing)
Mon, Wed 9:00 AM - 10:10 AM, Denton-Borhaug, McClelland (M3) (PTK: Social Systems) (Tag: Ethical Deliberation) - THEO 639 A: Hebrew Exegesis
Tue, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM Online Synchronous, Radine
100-Level Courses
REL 116 A: Paul & Early Church
Movement of earliest Palestinian Christianity into the Hellenistic world, studied through a focus on the Book of Acts and on the life and letters of the Apostle Paul. Historical methods for study of the Bible as a whole. (M3) Radine
REL 123 A: Religions of India: Hinduism and Buddhism.
An introduction to the basic beliefs and practices of Hinduism and Indian Buddhism through the study of primary sources. Secondary sources will be used to examine popular Hinduism and contemporary South Asian Buddhism. (M5) (PTK: Global Connections) (Tags: Critical Reading; Intercultural and Linguistic Competencies) Cheung, Asti
200-Level Courses
REL 253: Philosophy of Religion
The nature of religion and beliefs concerned with existence, nature, and knowledge of God, with alternative positions to theism. (U2) Naraghi
REL 254: Jewish Philosophy
An introduction to philosophy within Judaism, a field that asks the question: is a religion based faith and tradition also rational and logical? Specific topics addressed will be: Can or should God's existence be proven? Is God's power infinite or limited? What should we make of the biblical descriptions of God being human-like? Does God perform miracles? Does God care about the small details of our lives? How can people become close to God? What is the role of the Jewish people in the world? Why is the Jewish religion distinctive among religions? No background in Judaism is needed for this course; sufficient background information will be provided. Prerequisite: None. (M3) Radine
REL 260: Moral Injury: A Public Health Crisis
Moral Injury has been defined as "the inevitable outcome of moral engagement with the reality of war and killing," (Antal and Winings: 2015) and as "the result of participation in the moral distortion of the world created by war" (Denton-Borhaug: 2021). In this course participants will explore and analyze moral injury through multidisciplinary methods including public "whole" health, spiritual, philosophical and theological frameworks, the arts and humanities, as well as through diverse social and physical scientific paradigms/methods. Our aim will be to illuminate increased understanding of the individual experience of moral injury; analyze the relationship between moral injury and U.S. War-culture; and engage in reflective moral deliberation regarding what the phenomenon of moral injury requires of us as individuals, citizens, people with religious (or no-religious) identities, and members of diverse moral communities. (U2) Denton-Borhaug
REL 264: Science and Theology
Is it (im)possible to hold religious beliefs and convictions and simultaneously to be a modern person of science? This course will examine the interface between science and theology from a variety of perspectives. We will explore key questions and supposed conflicts between science and religion, emphasizing the interaction between the two, how science impacts religion and vice versa. A capstone paper, a Credo, will ask the student to reflect on how one's understanding of scientific theories affects his/her beliefs about certain key religious ideas such as Creation or human nature. Prerequisites: Junior or Senior class standing. (U1) (PTK: Scientific Process) Naraghi
REL 269 A: Sex and Karma
How did the most popular Buddhist deity of worship transform from male (Avalokite?vara in India) to female (¹ÛÒô or Guanyin/Kannon/Gwan-eum in East Asia)? Does being born female indicate bad karma? How do goddesses and prostitutes use sex to help others? What are Buddhist and Hindu views on masturbation, sexual pleasure, homosexuality, gender fluidity, and queerness? This course investigates these questions through Asian religious images, narratives, and films. Prerequisites: Junior and Senior class standing. (PTK: Social Systems) (TAGS: Intercultural and Linguistic Competencies) Cheung
Humanities Fellowship Course
HUMS 112: Humanities Fellows Seminar II
The Humanities Fellowship Professional Development seminar augments and supports Humanities Fellows' community building and learning experiences in the classroom by providing dedicated time, attention, preparation, and practice for the more "extracurricular," non-academic components of the expectations, both individual and collaborative, of the Fellowship (e.g. interwoven academic and vocational planning, extramural service learning experiences, community networking, etc.) Prerequisites: Completion or concurrent registration in Humanities Fellowship Seminar I or II; recipient of Humanities Fellowship. (M2) Cheung
Interdisciplinary Course
IDIS 165: Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies
In this course students will be encouraged to identify and analyze (in)justice in our own lives, communities and world. In addition to course readings, we will use the contemplative practices of memoir and walking as resources for critical thinking. A majority of the course will involve students developing responses to (in)justice through various projects that reflect students' own passion and design, including academic, artistic, political, social, service-oriented, and personal responses. (M3) (PTK: Social Systems) (Tag: Ethical Deliberation) First-year Student Paired Course: MILE 101 C. Denton-Borhaug, McClelland
Seminary Course
THEO 639 A: Hebrew Exegesis
This course provides an introduction to textual criticism and exegetical method while studying selected portions of the Hebrew Bible (in Hebrew). We will build upon the grammar learned in SEBK 910. (Before the end of the drop/add period, students may elect to take this course Pass/No Pass by notifying the instructor in writing.) Prerequisite: SEBK 910. Radine