Classic Theories of Religion

Undergraduate

Where does religion come from? Why does it hold such power in human life? Why does it persist? This course explores how foundational modern thinkers grappled with these questions and laid the groundwork for the academic study of religion. Focusing on classical theories and formative debates, we examine how religion has been defined as a social, psychological, political, economic, cultural, and symbolic phenomenon. Students gain essential conceptual frameworks and analytical tools that continue to shape the field today. Through critical reading, seminar discussion, and reflective analysis, the course invites students to develop their own perspectives on one of the most enduring and complex dimensions of human experience.