At beginning of the twentieth century, many sociologists had predicted that religion would gradually wane in importance as our world became increasingly scientific, rational and technological.  And yet today, at the dawn of the twenty-first century, it would seem that exactly the opposite has happened: new religious movements have proliferated wildly throughout the world in the last hundred years and have become intimately tied to larger political and cultural forces of globalization.

This course will examine a series of new religious movements that have emerged within the last 150 years , placing them within the larger contexts of globalization and transnationalism.  These will include: The Native American Church, the Nation of Islam, Bahai, the Raelians, neo-Hindu Gurus like Sathya Sai Baba, Japanese new religions and various forms of religious terrorism (al Qaeda, Aum Shinrikyo, and Christian Identity).  Why do religious movements so often become linked to political violence and terrorism?

In addition to lecture, discussion and films, the class will involve several field trips to new religious groups in the Columbus area.  Students will be required to write several short papers, two field observation papers and give one in-class group presentation.

Prerequisites: none.