Course: HUMA 510. The Sacred (3)
An examination and critique of the idea that there is a “sacred.” Exploring influential concepts of the sacred, the course analyzes some representative historical efforts to institutionalize the sacred in symbols, myths, rituals and spaces that influence people’s lives and choices. Finally, the course analyzes two conflicting trends of the present day: on the one hand, efforts to recover a more authentic sacred by cutting loose from institutional religion; and, on the other hand, efforts to use institutional religion as a base for revolutionary social change.