How have museums catalyzed innovations in religious practice? How have the needs of religion influenced or determined museum practice? With the goal of moving beyond a theoretical discussion, this class aims to generate a critical discussion useful to understanding the place of the museum in a contemporary global environment increasingly marked by religious innovation, expansion and conflict. Accordingly, while readings will draw from a wide variety of religious and museum practices, the syllabus will focus mainly on the world religious movements (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism) and the key issues they frame for museum studies.