RELS 205 Holy Sh*t!: Engaging the Materiality of Religion

What makes a thing, a place or a person sacred? This course focuses on the tangible elements of religion: the relics, buildings, blood and guts that inspire belief and community. After a theoretical grounding, we will engage with case studies from throughout time and across place to explore the significance of materiality in religion and questions of authenticity, replication and commodification. Beyond regular class meetings, this course will feature additional activities (free for enrolled students!), including four field trips and two workshops, to enrich our engagement with material religion as it is interacted with in everyday life.  

Registration is by instructor permission only. Students interested in this course must email Professor Holmes-Tagchungdarpa (tagchung@oxy.edu), expressing their interest and explaining how the course relates to their intellectual interests and/or would contribute to their academic program. Students who email by the end of advising week will be given preference.