REL 208 - Religions of Japan

Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR (students beginning prior to Fall 2024): Meets general academic requirement HU and DE.
This course is an exploration of religious life in Japan through a variety of its appearances, from the earliest historical evidence in the Neolithic Period to the present, observing Shinto, Buddhist, Confucian, Daoist, and indigenous Japanese influences. What makes something ‘religious’, even when the actors involved claim not to believe in god(s) or even reject a particular religious identity? How can our understanding of Japanese history and culture be clarified by analyzing communities or practices as religious? And how can our understanding of ‘religion’ be clarified by exploring Japanese examples?