RELG 2300

I loved this class, there was a bit of reading but it was pretty much all interesting and if you do the reading the class isn't very hard. Lectures are interesting and you get to think about why you believe certain things

LOTS of reading for this class - all articles in two volumes of course packets. One midterm and one final are the only exams, and two 4 page papers. Topics covered very interesting and Matthewes is a great lecturer.

Matthewes has a good repuation and i've been disappointed with the class. He goes on incredibly random tangents all the time and will waste half the class talking about nothing, and while this is sometimes entertaining it does not help you to do well on tests. There's a lot of reading, and there are random in-class quizzes to make sure you've done it. Also he claims the class will look at christianity, judaism, and islam, but we really only looked at islam i think on two topics all semester. I think given the interesting topics of the class (lying, homosexuality, capital punishment, warfare, etc) Matthewes managed to make it more boring than necessary forcing you to try to learn 5 or so author's different viewpoints on each subject instead of a big overall concept for what each religion values. Papers were graded hard and I had the worst TA I've ever had. This class is overrated, i was amazed to see the Cav Daily saying how highly reccomended it was; it was okay but i would not necessarily reccomend it either. Maybe it depends what you're looking to get out of the class.

Very interesting and humorous lectures that will keep you entertained. Stay on top of the reading; it is dense but you have to do it. Only two short papers due regarding the readings. Be sure to know what author said what and be able to explain how the major traditions view certain problems/ethics, as well as major concepts....all of which he includes in his lectures. Go to class, or you might miss a pop quiz.

This class is really worthwhile.