Through examination of several contemporary issues this course introduces students to the complex ways in which religion functions in everyday life. The course will examine the intersection of religion with several cultural and social contexts and issues, such as gender, the environment, politics, power, race, ethnicity, health, medicine, food, art, and entertainment. It will draw upon the practices, texts, communities, and institutions of several religious traditions and familiarize students with interdisciplinary, humanistic methods for studying religion.