Cults & Alt Religions
SLN #: 32178Course Prefix: LAW-737
Course Section: 001
Credit Hours: 2
Instructor(s): Demaine
Course Books: View List of Books
Course Description:
This seminar provides students an opportunity to study laws and policies governing cults and alternative religions. While the definition of a “cult” will be a topic of initial study in the seminar, it may be conceived of loosely as a group with a charismatic leader whose members are persuaded to relinquish their self-identities and material possessions in furtherance of the group’s goals. In addition to analyzing the definition of a “cult,” the first part of the seminar will be devoted to discussing the various types of cults, studying particular cults, and learning about cultic activities. The remainder of the seminar will cover domestic and foreign legal and policy issues generated by cults, including the legal rights of cultic organizations, anti-cult organizations, cult members, and cult members’ families. To the degree that religious movements falling outside the mainstream, conventional religions are conceptually similar to cults or treated similarly under the law, they also will be covered.
Students may take the seminar for two or three credits. Students who select the three-credit option will register for a one-credit independent study with Professor Demaine and write 25 additional pages during the semester.
Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 2
Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
Written Assignment: Weekly
Graduation Writing Requirement: Yes*
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: Yes*
Skills Requirement: No
Simulation Course: No
Note: Only one of the above listed requirements can be fulfilled with this course.
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: No
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Limited Enrollment Number: 15
Final Exam Given: No
Mid Term Or Other Exam: No
Paper Or In-Class Presentation: Yes
Participation Points: Yes
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies
Additional Attendance Policy: Yes
* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.