HIST 324 - Modern Japanese Religion

4 credit(s)
This course explores both religion in Japan and Japanese religions outside of Japan from the 19th century to the present. Major themes include: debate over what religion means in the Japanese context; state suppression and control of religion, including issues of religious freedom; religion’s involvement in nationalism, imperialism, and colonialism; Japanese religions outside of Japan, through diasporic communities, missionary work, and Western discoveries of Japanese religions; the intersection of religion with other social categories such as gender, race, social class, language, and naitonality; religion in Japanese politics; religion and violence; religious activism; religion in Japanese diplomacy and soft power; and religion in Japanese popular culture. This course also introduces students to the more advanced tools of a historian, including utilizing primary and secondary sources in paper-writing, historiography, and research skills.
Core Requirement(s): Historical Context; International and Diverse Perspectives
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above (60 or more completed credits) or completion of one HIST course