REL 276 - Sunni and Shi’ite Islam

Commonalities and differences between Sunni and Shi’ite interpretations of Islam. Topics include the origins of the Sunni-Shi’ite split; Sunni and Shi’ite theologies, views of history and of political history, respective legal traditions, polemical literatures, popular forms of piety and spirituality; and recent political developments and ecumenical efforts.

Students entering 2012: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies the Religion distribution requirement.