Our conceptual categories of religion and the rubrics under which we group them-"Confucianism," "Christianity," "primitive religion"-are historical constructions of knowledge and power. The term "Hinduism," for example, was coined by British clerics and colonial officials during the Raj to describe a very wide variety of beliefs and practices. Similarly, the Western fascination with "Buddhism" reflects a romanticized and very narrow vision of a particular set of East Asian traditions. Standard terminology ("heaven," "mysticism," "salvation") reflect a specific theological framework. Even the idea of "religion" itself as a sui generis category of human experience is a relatively recent and ideologically loaded invention. In this tutorial we will investigate the role of scholars, theologians, anthropologists, nationalists, journalists, seekers, and other interested parties in the construction of religious categories, and examine the ways in which their tacit assumptions have informed both elite and popular discourse. In addition to reading theoretical works (by Foucault, Said, Clifford) and intellectual histories (by Brian Harrison, Philip Almond, David Chichester, Steven Wasserstrom), we will spend time dissecting supposedly objective studies of comparative religions (by Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Voltaire, Max Muller, Madam Blavatsky, Mircea Eliade). Meeting in pairs, each student in the tutorial will write and present orally five 5- to 7-page papers every other week on the assigned readings. Students not presenting an essay have the responsibility of critiquing the work of their colleague. The tutorial will culminate in a final written exercise. This course will count as a major seminar for Religion majors. Prerequisite: Religion 101. Enrollment limit: 10.

Hour: VERTER