RELG 1320, Fall 2005 Prof. Clayton Crockett
2610 MWF 8:00 a.m., HAR 130 ClaytonC@uca.edu
2612 MWF10:00 a.m., HAR 127 Office Hours: MWF 9-10:00,
2622 MWF 2:00 p.m., HAR 127 12-1:00pm; Tu 9-11am; Office: Harrin 128 Th 11:30-1:30pm
Office Phone: 450-5506
World
Religions
Course Description: World Religions is an introductory cross-cultural survey of the major religious traditions of the world with emphasis on Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. This course seeks to introduce students to the study of religion as an academic discipline through examination of the major religious traditions of the world, as well as some of the important theoretical distinctions and problems involved in thinking about one’s own and other religions.
World Religions fulfills three hours of the General Education World Cultural Traditions requirement.
A. Knowledge-based Objectives: This course
fulfills three hours of the World Cultural Traditions General Education
requirement by (a) introducing students to the histories and core teachings,
values, practices, and social structures of the major Western and non-Western
world religions, and (b) providing the opportunity for students to develop an
understanding of the diversity within and among these traditions, as well as of
the conceptual connections across religious traditions.
B. Skills-based
Objectives: This course meets the skills-based objectives of the General
Education Program through class discussions and critical writing
assignments. These assignments help
students to develop their capacity to think and write critically about the
teachings, values, practices, and social structures of the major world
religions and how these relate to wider cultural and social constructs.
C. Values-based Objectives: This course meets
the values-based objectives of the General Education Program by exposing
students to the diversity within and among the major world religions, as well
as the difficulty of claiming exclusivity for one’s own point of view. This provides students with the opportunity
to develop a greater understanding not only of religious traditions that differ
from their own, but also of their own traditions, and of the differences and
connections between the two.
Required Texts (available for purchase):
Huston Smith, The World’s Religions
The Song of God:
Bhagavad-Gita
Leila Ahmed, A Border Passage
Course Requirements: Class attendance is required. Attendance will be taken, and 10% of the final grade will consist of a combination of attendance and participation in class discussions. In the case of excessive absences, after five absences students will receive a zero for their attendance grade; after ten absences a student will automatically fail the course.
Four essay tests will be given, one each on Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. Each test will count 20% of the final grade.
Students will turn in three 2-3-page typed double-spaced papers, summarizing each of the three books we are reading in addition to the main textbook. The main point of these papers is to make sure that you have read the book, and to stimulate questions and class discussion. Each paper is due on the date assigned on the syllabus for class discussion, and late papers will not be accepted without prior permission of the instructor. Each paper is worth 3.3% of the final grade.
There is no cumulative final exam for this course, but the fourth exam, covering Islam, will be given during the period scheduled for final exams.
Attendance: 100 points
4 tests (200 points each): 800 points
3 papers (33 points each + 1 free point): 100 points
Total points: 1000
Grade scale:
900-1000 = A
800-899 = B
700-799 = C
600-699 = D
below 600 = F
An A grade represents excellent work, and is given for work that goes beyond the expected in terms of critical thinking and creative insights. Students should not expect to earn an A for simply completing assignments.
A B grade represents good, above-average work that demonstrates solid understanding of the material. A B is a good grade.
A C grade represents average or adequate work that fulfills the assignment and shows basic understanding of the material but does not go beyond a basic understanding or demonstrate a creative, insightful application of it.
A D grade represents unsatisfactory but passing work. It shows some understanding, but does not reflect a thorough or complete understanding of the material.
An F grade represents failing work, and is not of sufficient quality to pass the class.
Extra Credit
Each student may earn a total of 10 extra credit points to be added to his or her final point total. The extra credit assignment is to visit and observe a religious service of any church or religion that is not your own church or religious tradition, if you have one. Alternatively, students may attend any academic lecture that deals explicitly with religion. The assignment is then to write up a brief summary of what you experienced, and a brief reflection on that experience, which may be personal or more connected with the ideas of the course or both. The extra credit paper should be between 1 and 2 pages, typed double-spaced, and may be turned in at any point during the semester, but no later than the last day of class.
Each student is expected to do his or her own work. Any form of academic dishonesty or plagiarism may result in anything from an "F" for the particular assignment, to an "F" for the course, to expulsion from the university (see Student Handbook).
Note to students: if you copy material from the internet, you must cite it as a source in your papers. If you do not, you will receive a zero on that assignment in the best-case scenario. Keep in mind that it is much easier for professors to recognize plagiarized work than you might think; I have access to most of the same resources, search engines and paper databases that you do.
The
Students are responsible to familiarize themselves with the policies listed in the Student Handbook. Special attention should be given to the Sexual Harassment and Academic Policies.
F. 8/26 Introduction to the Course, Syllabus.
M. 8/29 What is Religion?
W. 8/31 Points of Departure: The World’s Wisdom Traditions. Read Smith, Chapter I, pp.1-11.
F. 9/1 Indigenous or Primal Religions. Read Smith, Chapter IX, pp.365-383.
M. 9/5 No Class:
Labor Day
W. 9/7 Introduction to Hinduism: What do you Want? Read Smith, Chapter II, pp.12-81.
F. 9/9 Vedic Religion
M. 9/12 Karma and Reincarnation.
W. 9/14 The Way of Knowledge: Jnana Yoga.
F. 9/16 The Way of Love: Bhakti Yoga.
M. 9/19 The Way of Action: Karma Yoga.
Read The Song of God: Bhagavad-Gita.
W. 9/21 Class Discussion of the Bhagavad-Gita.
*2-3 page summary of Bhagavad-Gita due.
F. 9/23 The Way of the Body.
M. 9/26 Hinduism Today.
W. 9/28 Test on Hinduism.
F. 9/30 Introduction to Buddhism: The Buddha. Read Smith, Chapter III, pp.82-153.
M. 10/3 The Four Noble Truths.
W. 10/5 Theravada Buddhism.
F. 10/7 Introduction to Mahayana Buddhism.
M. 10/10 Zen Buddhism.
W. 10/12 Nichiren Buddhism and Soka Gakkai.
F. 10/14 Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism.
M. 10/17 Buddhism Today: Turning the Wheel.
W. 10/19 Test on Buddhism.
F. 10/21 No Class: Fall Break.
M. 10/24 Introduction to Christianity. The New Testament.
Read Smith, Chapter VIII, pp.317-364.
W. 10/26 Heresy and Orthodoxy.
F. 10/28 The Middle Ages: Greek Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism.
M. 10/31 Christian Mysticism
Read The Dark Night of the Soul.
W. 11/2 Class Discussion of Dark Night of the Soul.
2-3 page summary of Dark Night of the Soul due.
F. 11/4 The Protestant Reformation.
M. 11/7 The Wars of Religion and European Enlightenment.
W. 11/9 Christianity today: Secularity and Fundamentalism.
F. 11/11 Biblical Scholarship:
PBS Video, From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians.
M. 11/14 Test on Christianity.
W. 11/16 Introduction to Islam: The Prophet Muhammad.
Read Smith, Chapter VI, pp.221-270.
F. 11/18 The Five Pillars.
M. 11/21 – F. 11/25
No Class: Thanksgiving
M. 11/28 Caliphs, Sharia, Sunni and Shi’i.
W. 11/30 The Qur’an.
F. 12/2 Islamic Mysticism: Sufism.
M. 12/5 Islam today: Struggles with modernity.
Read A Border Passage.
W. 12/7 Class Discussion of A Border Passage. Conclusions.
2-3 page summary of A Border Passage due.
Final Examination
Schedule/ Test on Islam:
Section 2610: Monday, December 12, 8-10:00am.
Section 2612: Wednesday, December 14, 8-10:00am.
Section 2622: Friday, December 16, 10-12:00 noon.