Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Instances Of Religious Roles Of The Anglo-Saxon Warrior Class, Jessica Mcgillivray

Religious Studies Student Organization Undergraduate Research Conference

Abstract unavailable.

In Your Wildest Memes: Toward A Cooperative Methodology Of Pre-Religion And Ritual, Jordan Anthony Burich

Religious Studies Student Organization Undergraduate Research Conference

At the risk of slipping into “unscientific” territory, archaeology tends to frequently avoid building theory and methodology capable of discussing the role, intent, and function of prehistoric ritual and religion, all the while vacillating between rival secular models of power and ideology within groups. This paper contends that discussion of power and ideology must invariably include hypotheses regarding ritual and religion and offers both Göbekli Tepe and Çatalhöyük as interesting case studies in that they seem to contain not only symbolic connections to each other, but also represent temporal and spatial advancement within a “pre-agriculture” and “pre-religion.” This paper attempts …

St Cuthbert's Deathbed Speech: Why Did Bede Write A Second Prose Life?, Christopher Hamilton

Religious Studies Student Organization Undergraduate Research Conference

St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne was a massively important saint in medieval Europe—his cult following flourished for over 500 years. Four different hagiographies concerning his life and miracles, and over 50 manuscripts still in existence bear witness to his popularity. The first account was written in prose by an anonymous monk of Lindisfarne at around 702 A.D.—about fifteen years after St Cuthbert’s death. The remaining three accounts were all written by the Venerable Bede: a metrical Life completed around 710, a prose Life in 721, and a miniature hagiographical account within the famous Historica Ecclesiastica, which was completed in 731. …

Public Health In The Mellah Of Merrakesh From 1879-1912, Dana Lovrek

Religious Studies Student Organization Undergraduate Research Conference

Health Outcomes in the Mellah of Merrakesh from 1879-1912, observes public health outcomes in Jewish mellahs in Morocco, how Jewish traditions prevented greater devastating impacts on the community, and local and global responses, using accounts from the journals of travelers to Morocco, records from the Alliance Israelite Universelle and from medical professionals, and secondary sources that focus on mellahs.

The first mellah was created in the 15th century during the Mirinid dynasty as a means of protection for the Jews, who played vital roles in Moroccan society and economy, from the attacks of intolerant Arabs. The mellahs, near the sultan …

The Truth In History, Samantha Wanta

Religious Studies Student Organization Undergraduate Research Conference

The search for the historical Jesus began with the modern historians: the men of the twentieth century, the scientists of the industrial revolution, and the authors of our text books. Their noble quest was to find empirical truth: pure, objective history. It has been a seemingly infinite search: each foundational fact exposes a crack in another. As students, we are often asked to “be” the modern historians: to read what they wrote and think what they thought and struggle as they struggled. But in learning about Jesus it seems that we (and our modernist forefathers) aren't exactly sure what we …

The Positive And Negative Reactions To The Jewish Question, Emily Brzezinski

Religious Studies Student Organization Undergraduate Research Conference

For the Jews, their lack of equality and social control in European countries has led to an array of movements and political stances demanding their rights as equal citizens. What is interesting is the mixture and chain reactions to different events throughout history related to the Jewish Question. There are two such responses to this issue that have marked their place in history as both positive and negative towards the Jews, while also blending the two responses to religious Zionism to make the main argument towards the greater Jewish Question. One response is the Jewish Emancipation which signifies a want …

Sacrifice: Dining With The Divine, Logan Mcdermott

Religious Studies Student Organization Undergraduate Research Conference

The title of my research paper is Humanity: Coping with Divinity. By studying several documents from Ancient Near East civilizations, including; The Epic Of Gilgamesh, The Hebrew Bible, The Odyssey, Egyptians and Babylonian documents, it appears that humanity has been using this idea of a Divine Power as a means of coping. This coping mechanism appeals to a handful of basic human needs; food, leisure, sex, answers, protection, and guidance.

Holding large worship banquets by practice of sacrifice and festivals, humanity can live vicariously with the Divine. Feasting can bring people together and help to distract them from their daily …

Purpose And Order, Travis Buechner

Religious Studies Student Organization Undergraduate Research Conference

In the study of religion there is major emphasis put on how religion works and what religion is, but less emphasis on why religion exists at all. I use the work of Emile Durkheim and several examples to explain my own ideas on why religion exists. I theorize that religion is a survival tool for human beings to find order and meaning in the complex and chaotic environment we inhabit. Durkheim also believes religion brings order and meaning to humans. I argue that as humans progress, we are able to find order and meaning without conventional religion.

Durkheim believes that …

The Art And Artifacts Associated With The Cult Of Dionysus, Alana Koontz

Religious Studies Student Organization Undergraduate Research Conference

Abstract unavailable.

The Portrayal Of Constantine In Art And Architecture, Taylor Wyman

Religious Studies Student Organization Undergraduate Research Conference

Constantine I was the first Christian emperor of the Roman Empire from 306 to 337 AD. On the eve of an important battle, Constantine was confronted with a vision of the Chi-Rho, the first two letters of Christ’s name in Greek. Confident that this was a sign from the Christian God, he had his troops bear this sign on their standards as they marched into battle. This vision and victory in battle engendered Constantine’s conversion to Christianity. Scholars have disputed over how to interpret the accounts of Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, such as whether his conversion was authentic or the …

The Crucial Role Religion Played In The Conquests Of Alexander The Great, Tomi Vandergriff

Religious Studies Student Organization Undergraduate Research Conference

Religion in the ancient world was a very important factor in every aspect of life. It was even more pronounced in the life and campaigns of Alexander the Great. He ensured that he was not only doing enough to keep the gods appeased but he sacrificed above and beyond what was normally done even by a king. The religious aspect of his life strengthened his campaigns as well as his empire and seemed to greatly aid Alexander. Alexander would have to have been very aware of the good consequences his actions in regards to his religion and religious practices would …