The Problem of Evil
Religion and Culture · 3 hrs Seminar/Discussion
REL-3504 prerequisites
We couldn't read this course's prerequisites into a chain. The wording is under “Requisite courses” below.
Where REL-3504 counts
Counts toward 4 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
In this seminar, we explore some of the ways Christians, Jews, and Muslims have conceptualized evil and responded to the problem of evil throughout history. In order better to understand this perennial religious problem, we consider selections from ancient scriptures, philosophical explanations, theological responses to catastrophes such as the Holocaust, and the depictions of evil in North American popular culture.
Requisite courses
Any 6 credit hours in Religion & Culture or permission of the instructor [prerequisite(s)].
Restrictions
Students may not hold credit for this course and REL-4504.
Cross-listed
REL-4504(3).
From the 2026-27 undergraduate calendar. Always verify details on WebAdvisor or with an academic advisor before registering.