Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Examination of classic and contemporary work in social scientific study of religion. Analysis of definition of religion, role of religion in modern life, and role of categories like Islam in contemporary U.S. politics. Focus on complicated question of what it means to say someone or something is religious: does that mean they are moral, believe in God, or are part of community of believers? Students gain better sense of how to think and talk about religion. P/NP or letter grading.