REL 364 - Religion in the U.S. - Mexico Borderlands

This conference enables students to explore the varieties of religiosity currently active and historically present at the U.S.-Mexico border. Foci include indigenous religions and especially Latine religion in the region, including various forms of Christianity (mainline and popular religions). While our focus will be on religiosity in the borderlands post-1848, the course begins with an introduction to Mesoamerican religion, before contextualizing the history of the Spanish mission system, the war for Mexican independence, and the Mexican American War, in order to understand the development and performance of religion in these borderlands. By focusing on its complex religious history, this conference provides the opportunity to study key themes in the academic study of religion: race, migration, community, resistance, and belonging in a colonized space.

Unit(s): 1
Group Distribution Requirement(s): Distribution Group II
Prerequisite(s): HUM 110
Instructional Method: Conference
Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)
Group Distribution Learning Outcome(s):

Evaluate data and/or sources.
Analyze institutions, formations, languages, structures, or processes, whether social, political, religious, economic, cultural, intellectual or other.
Think in sophisticated ways about causation, social and/or historical change, human cognition, or the relationship between individuals and society, or engage with social, political, religious or economic theory in other areas.