Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

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RELI0344A-S15

Tantra: Sex, Death, & Madness

Tantric Visions of Sex, Death, and Madness
Using the esoteric realms of Tantric religion in India as our framework, we will explore how unconventional and secretive rituals shape religious experience and identity, and how our understandings of religious life may be challenged by such categories as madness, mysticism, and the supernatural. Readings will focus on Hindu hagiography, Tantric ritual texts, Buddhist narratives, and a range of secondary literature addressing gender, power, sex, and the subaltern. We will also learn how nontraditional religious practices allow for a diversity of meaningful religious expression, thereby fostering in us an enriched vision of religiosity while inviting us to examine the role of esotericism in our own lives. 3 hrs. lect./disc.
Course Reference Number (CRN):
22494
Subject Code:
RELI
Course Number:
0344
Section Identifier:
A

Course

RELI 0344

All Sections in Spring 2015

Spring 2015

RELI0344A-S15 Lecture (Pierce)