Magic, Religion, and Witchcraft

The purpose of this course is to explore in a cross-cultural context the nature of religion and the relationships of individuals and societies to supernatural forces and persons. The course will examine general patterns of religious behavior throughout the world, delineate different theories of religion and see how they apply in various cultures. By the end of the course, the student should be able to identify several definitions and theories of religion and to discuss their merits with regard to specific cases.