Introduction to Religious Studies
Religion 2301
10:50-12:05am T,Th , Irby 302
http://faculty.uca.edu/~juliawin
Office hours:
SRC office, 450-3651, M, W, F 10-11am
Irby 427, 450-3634, T,Th 10:00-10:45am, T
7:00-7:30pm
juliawin@mail.uca.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The purpose of the course is to provide you with an introduction to the various
approaches used in the study of religion within the contemporary Western
university. Unlike some disciplines, there is no single method used in the study
of religion but many, each of which developed from within a distinct field with
an interest in the concept of religion. Over the course of the semester, we will
examine seven of these different but overlapping approaches, specifically those
from the fields of anthropology, sociology, psychology, theology, and
philosophy, as well as the multidisciplinary phenomenological and feminist
approaches. We will explore how each approach has defined and understood
religion, and will discuss several of the more pressing issues each perspective
has uncovered in the process of studying religion. Through primary and secondary
readings, as well as videos, guest speakers, and research projects, you will be
introduced to the breadth and some of the depth of "religious
studies."
REQUIRED TEXTS
Approaches to the Study of Religion, Edited by Peter Connolly
Imaginary Friends, Alison Lurie
The Sacred Canopy, Peter Berger
The Future of an Illusion, Sigmund Freud
Womanspirit Rising, Edited by Carol Christ & Judith Plaskow
Dynamics of Faith, Paul Tillich
Additional articles will be placed "on reserve" on the WebCT site
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance & Participation: Attendance is required and
participation in class discussions on assigned reading is a must.
As classes will often be run in seminar style, your attendance and active
participation is vital to the success of the course. More than three absences
may result in the final grade for the course being lowered a letter grade at the
professor's discretion. Absences do not excuse you from responsibility for any
material due or presented in that class session. Please contact the professor
via email to explain any absences, preferably in advance.
During the semester you will be asked to work with another student to lead a
class discussion. During the class held before your presentation, you should
provide two questions on the reading that the class will be asked to respond to
in writing. Presentations will be graded and no credit will be given for the
presentation if the questions for reflection are not provided. You should also
provide supplementary information as part of your presentation.Additional
directions will be given out in class.
Exams: Two mid-term exams and a final exam will be given as
indicated on the class schedule. If an in-class final exam is
given, all students should note that the final exam time is scheduled by the
registrar--do not plan to leave campus prior to this time, as no early or late
final exams will be given.
Term Projects: Each student will be required to submit a paper
on a topic to be decided by the student in consultation with the professor.
Students will be given a choice of approaches (sociological, theological, etc.)
from which to write the paper and will be asked to discuss their topic in class.
GRADING
The overall course grade will be determined as follows:
Exams (2 Mid-terms & Final) 20% (each)
Paper 25%
Participation/Presentation/Responses 15%
Credit for the course will not be given unless all assignments have been
completed as required.
Grading criteria: Students should note the following criteria
which will be used in assigning grades:
"C" In order to receive a grade of "C" it is expected that
students will demonstrate a general understanding of both lecture and reading
materials. This includes correct identification of factual material, and writing
comprehensible essays.
"B" In order to receive a grade of "B" students must fulfill the expectations for "C" work, and in addition be able to support their general claims with concrete examples drawn from both reading and lecture materials. These should be presented in a well-organized format.
"A" In order to receive a grade of "A" students must
fulfill the expectations for "B" work, and in addition engage in
critical and/or constructive analysis of the materials presented.
Academic honesty: Students are expected to abide by standards
of academic honesty . Plagiarized work, whether copied from textual or
electronic sources or another student, may result in failure of the assignment,
if not the course. Please see the professor or someone in the Writing Center if
you are uncertain of how to properly cite sources.
Statement on Americans with Disabilities Act
The University of Central Arkansas adheres to the requirements of the
Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need an accommodation under this Act due
to a disability, contact the Office of Disability Support Services at 450-3135.
Student Handbook
It is the student's responsibility to familiarize him/herself with the
policies listed in the 2001-2002 Student Handbook. Special attention should be
given to the Sexual Harassment and Academic Policies.
Class Schedule
Week 1 (Jan 15, 17): Introduction to Religious Studies
17: Connolly, Foreword and Introduction; WebCT, "Studying and Describing" article
Week 2 (Jan 22, 24): Anthropological Approaches
22: Connolly, 10-35
24: WebCT, Geertz article
Week 3 (Jan 29, 31): Anthropological (cont.)
29: Lurie, Ch 1-8; Connolly, 35-38
31: Lurie, Ch 9-17
Week 4 (Feb 5, 7): Sociological Approaches
5: Connolly, 193-214
7: Berger, v-51
Week 5 (Feb 12, 14): Sociological
(cont.)
12: Berger, 53-125; Connolly, 214-220
14: WebCT, Shepherd article (or see Torreyson periodicals: Sociological Inquiry, Vol.x No. x Fall 1987)
Week 6 (Feb 19, 21)
19: Exam
Psychological Approaches
21: Connolly, 135-159
Week 7 (Feb 26, 28): Psychological (cont.)
26: Freud, ix-30
28: Freud, 31-71
Week 8 (Mar 5, 7): Psychological (cont.)
5: Connolly, 159-187
Feminist Approaches
7: Connolly, 42-59; Christ, 69-73, 167-173
Week 9 (Mar 12, 14): Feminist (cont.)
Theological Approaches
12: Connolly, 59-66; Christ 149-158, 273-287
14: Connolly, 226-246
Week 10 (Mar 19, 21): Theological (cont.)
19: Tillich, 1-40
21: Tillich, 41-127
SPRING BREAK (Mar 26, 28)
Week 11 (Apr 2, 4): Theological (cont.)
2: Connolly, 247-269; WebCT, "Diversity"
4: WebCT, Sanchez article
Week 12 (Apr 9, 11)
9: Exam
Philosophical Approaches
11: Connolly, 105-128
Week 13 (Apr 16, 18): Philosophical
(cont.)
16: WebCT, "God and Evil"
18: WebCT, "Ethics"
Week 14 (Apr 23, 25): Class Projects
23: class presentation of projects
25: class presentation of projects
Week 15 (Apr30,May2): Phenomenological Approaches
30: Connolly, 73-90
2: Connolly, 90-101
Week 16 (May 7, 9): Class Projects & wrap-up
7: class presentation of projects
9: class presentation of projects; Papers Due
Final Exam: Tuesday, May 14, 11:00am-1:00pm