For many people in the overdeveloped West, it boggles the mind that religious belief or ideology continue to play a major role in society. Why? Because the bias in the West is that scientific thinking has mostly replaced religious thought, so the main reason people still engage in religion is simply cultural memory, historical affiliation, or familial duty. This is a Western bias that has been proven false for the last century as the world has seen the rise of various global fundamentalisms and a resurgence of religious nationalism and religion in general in many parts of the world, including in the West. In this class, we will explore some general topics on the relationship between religion and politics on a global scale, and we will examine a handful of case studies or “hot spots” from the last century or so (including the current one) to help us understand the longstanding interaction and relationship between these two root aspects of human community.

Thursdays | 6 weeks, October 15 - November 19 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
In person and simulcast