Religion and Society: the Critique of Development
Religion and Culture · 3 hrs Lecture
No prerequisites listed, you can take this course without prior coursework.
Where REL-2511 counts
Counts toward 5 more as one option among several, not as a course you must take:
Read from the departments' own calendar pages, where 50 of 208 programs are only partly machine-readable, so treat these as a minimum rather than the full list. Confirm with an academic advisor.
Description
The course will examine the rise of a secular, capitalist, technological world order in Western Europe and North America, and its impact upon the rest of the world. The contribution of Christianity to this new world order, together with its increasing marginalization, will be noted. The responses of the affected cultures and religions, in particular their critique of Western imperialism and its visions of development, and their alternative proposals, will be examined. The role of religion as a factor which inhibits or encourages social change, in different contexts, will be a main theme.
Restrictions
Students may not hold credit for this course and REL-2512.
From the 2026-27 undergraduate calendar. Always verify details on WebAdvisor or with an academic advisor before registering.