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.