Is religion a phenomenon linked with the daytime and its illumination, or can we point to religious practices and beliefs intertwined with darkness and nighttime? If night is both a natural phenomenon and a set of cultural meanings, what does night mean in different religious formations? Is nightlife a feature of secular modernity, or can we find examples grounded in religious traditions? How do different religions understand darkness, sleep, the stars? How is a midnight mass (for example) distinct from one that take place in the light of day? How have the meanings and experiences of nighttime changed from antiquity to the Enlightenment (when electricity began to dispel the night), or to our present moment, when darkness has nearly been banished? Ranging far and wide among eras and societies while maintaining our focus on the night, the course will construct a history of night in its religious dimensions. Our moonlight journey will follow a number of keywords: Creation, Darkness, Secrets, Sleep, Dreams, Sex, Visions, Prayer, Stars, and Gatherings. It will also include an experiential element, to take place after nightfall. Restricted to first-year students. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.