Description:  Focusing on the relationship between belief
and "folk," "popular," and "vernacular" religion, this course
examines scholarship relating these religious phenomena to personal
experience, social situations, and cultural contexts. Students will
read, ponder, and discuss some classic works as well as more recent
developments in this field.
Requirements and Grading Policies. Each participant is asked to: (1)
Submit a series of one-page synopses setting forth (a) the main point
(s) of each week's assigned reading prior to its discussion in class,
and (b) two written questions for class discussion, These submissions
will be graded and will contribute 25% of the semester's grade.
(2) Contribute to class discussions (25%)
(3) Prepare an original research paper on a relevant topic of her
choice and, one week later, endure 30 minutes of constructive
criticism from the rest of the class (20%)
(4) Submit a revised research paper of about 20 to 30 pages (30%).