Studies in Religions (471-0-21)

Topic

Religion & Capitalism

Instructors

James Stuart Bielo

Meeting Info

Crowe 4-130 Rel Studies Sem Rm: Wed 2:00PM - 5:00PM

Overview of class

This course will engage historical and ethnographic sources that examine the diverse entanglements between religion and capitalism across cultural contexts. Our organizing question is this: how have religious expressions and capitalist systems mutually formed one another? We will consider cases such as Islamic banking; the commodification of religious materiality; theologies of financial prosperity in multiple traditions; ties between neoliberalism and religious change; and anti-capitalist movements grounded in religious frameworks. Students will conduct original research that explores a question they design in collaboration with the professor and course colleagues.

Teaching Method

Class Materials (Required)

Protestant Ethic and the spirit of capitalism: 0140439218
Consuming Religion: 022648209X
When Death Falls Apart: 0226829014
Exchange Ideologies: 1501768301
Card-Carrying Christians: 0520380029
Beyond Debt: 022655208X
Church of stop shopping: 1479817732
Capitalist Humanitarianism: 1478019204