Focusing primarily on the 20th and 21st Centuries, explores the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) and considers how these ideas have intersected with other aspects of society, particularly religion, including recent arguments that SETI itself has developed into a religion. Examines meanings and motivations behind issues such as Percival Lowell's quest to prove the existence of canals on Mars and the development of Scientology. Only one of the following may be counted: Anthropology 324L (Topic: Sentience, Culture, and Religion: SETI), 324L (Topic 71), Religious Studies 373 (Topic: Sentience, Culture, and Religion: SETI), 373 (Topic 9), 373K. Three lecture hours a week for one semester.