Rel
C051-001 Introduction to Western Religions
Temple
University
Department of
Religion
Tue/Thu
Anderson
Hall Classroom 07
Instructor: Florian Pohl
Office telephone: (215) 204-7973
Email: [email protected]
Office location: Anderson Hall, 6th floor, Room Nr. 645
Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Course Description and Objectives
The study of religion is important on many levels: It aids the understanding of humans as religious beings and contributes to the broadening of our view of ways of life other than our own. Knowledge of the various religious traditions overcomes ignorance and helps one achieve an empathetic understanding of others. In this course you will familiarize yourself with the major religious and philosophical traditions of the western world and will focus upon the traditions’ key historical developments and contemporary forms. You will examine Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The course is oriented primarily to those who have little or no prior knowledge of these traditions and/or of the academic study of religion in general. The ultimate aim of the course is neither to glorify nor critique any one tradition but rather to allow you to see how people within these traditions view themselves. Therefore, the goals and objectives for you as a student enrolled in this course are 1) to think both empathetically and critically about the three western faiths, 2) to gain knowledge of the histories and cultures and their interaction, and 3) to develop the ability to interpret texts and other cultural phenomena (such as rituals, myths, architecture) that have religious presuppositions or implications. In addition, any study of religious and cultural traditions has as an aim an understanding of the basic assumptions and practices of different peoples. You will thus be encouraged to reflect critically and analytically upon the methodologies and scholarly categories within the academic field of religious studies through which you will develop as a critical thinker. Additionally, the various writing assignments in this class will enhance your skills and competence as a writer.
Readings
(1)
Required Course Textbook (available in the Temple Ontario
(2)
All additional Readings
Blackboard
This
course will involve using the communication tools on Blackboard as well as
readings and documents located there. To use Blackboard you only need to have a
Grading
The Final Grade will be calculated according to the following:
(1) class attendance and participation 20%
(2) journal entries (10 out of 14) 10%
(3) three reflection papers 15%
(4) three (3) exams 30%
(5) written report about a visit to a religious service 25%
Course Requirements
(1) Attendance and
Participation
Attendance is required and forms
part of the final grade. If you have a valid excuse for missing a class
session, please bring the excuse to me for evaluation. With a valid excuse you
are allowed to be absent from a total of three (3) class sessions. With every
additional absence your FINAL GRADE for this class will go down 5%. Class
participation is part of the learning process; it is also part of the final
grade and there will be ample opportunity for you to participate over the
course of the semester. Apart from my lectures you will be involved in
activities such as class discussion, group work with subsequent presentations,
in-class writing assignments. I encourage you to ask questions and suggest
topics for discussion in class.
(2) Weekly Journal Entries
These are due in class along with the reading assignments from the textbook at the beginning of each week (i.e., Monday). I will NOT accept any late papers. In your journal you will respond to the readings from our textbook (Oxtoby). The entries consist of two components: (1) two discussion questions on the readings assigned for that week. (2) one paragraph (around 200 words) of reflection on one or two ideas, issues, questions, or problems that came up for you in the readings assigned for that week. The journal entries are informal in the sense that they are exploratory. You do not have to arrive at some finished view or conclusion. However, they must be thoughtful. The journal entries are designed to keep you engaged with the material, to help you practice writing, to develop some ideas informally, and to have a log of your thoughts at this state in your academic development. The contents of the journal entries will be private, and there will be no penalty for “controversial” opinions. You are free to explore a variety of writing styles and voices. I am interested in your reactions to the subject matter and not in your ability to adopt another’s view.
(3) Three Exams
There will be three (3) exams over the course of the semester. Each exam will focus on one of the three religious traditions discussed in class. The exam on Judaism will take place on Tue Oct 07, the exam on Christianity on Thu Oct 30, and the exam on Islam will be held Tue Dec 09. Exam questions will be based on the required readings as well as on the lectures and activities in class.
(4) Three Reflection Papers
The reflection papers are due as indicated on the syllabus. They should be two-pages, typed, double-spaced, and contain critical reflections on your assigned readings. DO NOT summarize the readings (“Don’t tell me what the text says, tell me what you say about the text!”). Students should do their best to address thoughtful reactions, concerns, questions, and insights about the material covered in the readings. Students will need to complete a total of three (3) of these papers, one for each of the religious traditions studied.
(5) Visit to Worship
Service and Written Report
You are required to attend a public worship service or a particular religious ceremony. You may choose any temple, synagogue, church, mosque, etc. that you wish, with the rule that it must be of a faith you have never practiced. To visit and observe worship in a religious tradition other than your own can by itself be a fascinating eye-opening experience. It will give you an insight into the actual living reality of the religion. Moreover, it is also a good way to measure the textbook’s knowledge against your own personal experiences. Part of the visit will be to interview a member of the group about what you observed. After your visit you are to write a report about your observations as well as the interview. (NOTE: I do not want you to transcribe your interview for me!)
The written report must be typed and around six to eight pages long
(1,800-2,400 words, double-spaced, 12 TNR). The due date for the report is
Friday, April 23. Late papers will NOT be accepted.
Your written report should be a response to the guiding questions; please note that some of these questions are required and others are optional. Grades for this report will be based on
(1)
properly
following the assignment;
(2)
clarity and
coherence of your report’s organization;
(3)
demonstration
of reflection on what you have learned from it;
(4)
appropriate and relevant use of terms, concepts,
examples;
(5)
relevant use
of information from other sources;
(6)
originality
and creativity;
(7) level of effort (including length).
Site Visit
Guidelines
The goal of this project is to
learn about another faith tradition by seeing with your own eyes and hearing
with your own ears. The goal of your
visit is to increase understanding of the living reality of a contemporary
religious community, not an increase or change in personal faith. To prepare for the visit read the appropriate
material in the textbook. Several people can share the experience and discuss
it later as long as each of you writes a personal report. Contact the religious
congregation and ask permission to visit. A classmate from another faith may be
able to assist you in making the arrangements.
You may or may not desire to participate in
the activities performed by the members; if you have any questions about the
degree of participation, ask first. Please be sure that dress rules and other
behavior are clear. For example, taking notes or photographs may be forbidden.
In Jewish synagogues men may be asked to wear a yarmulke, the small, often knitted skullcap (Heb., kippah). Always
be respectful!
When you write your report, state where you
visited, what kind of religious event it was, and discuss your principle
impressions and observations (check catalogue of questions below). Part of the
visit requires you to interview a member of the group about what you saw. Be
sure to identify your interviewee and learn what role she or he plays in the
group. Many religious groups also offer pamphlets to visitors. You may use
these to help prepare your report, but do not plagiarize! Do NOT quote
extensively from them, or substitute their words for your own.
Checklist
Before you go:
• If you are uncertain about where to visit, check with the instructor.
• Contact the congregation and ask permission to visit.
• Read some of the history of the religion, either in our textbook or from other sources, so that you have an idea of what to expect.
• Check How to Be a Perfect Stranger for visiting tips.
• Review the list of questions you will try to answer during the visit.
During your visit:
• Behave appropriately for the setting.
• If it seems appropriate and/or you are asked, do not hesitate to identify yourself as a student who is there to observe the service for a school assignment. Just be yourself. Do not feel obliged to pretend to be someone you're not or do anything you don't want to do. You do not need to give out personal information if you do not want to.
• Observe carefully, keeping your questions in mind. Remember that even if you are personally interested in what's going on, you are there as a student in the field of religion, with specific academic aims.
•
Ask participants or leaders any questions you
have.
After your visit:
• As soon as possible after the service, make detailed notes about what you saw. Remember that your report should reflect the perspective of a researcher, rather than a more personal religious or emotional reaction.
Guiding Questions for Site Visit
Required questions are printed in bold italics. Optional questions are printed in regular Roman type. You are allowed to include other information that has not been asked below, either in describing the service or in reflecting on it.
1. Where was the service? What type of house of worship, and what type of neighborhood?
2. When did you go? What type of service was it? How long was the service?
3. What types of people attended the service?
How were they dressed? How did they behave (before, during, after the service)?
Did people speak to you?
4. What were the facilities like? Was the building large or small? How was it decorated?
5. What were the focal points in the worship room? Did the architecture make you feel a certain way? Did you see any religious messages encoded in the architecture?
6. Who led the service? What type of authority does he/she/they have in relation to members? How would you characterize the leadership style in this service?
7. What role did music play in the service? What type of music was it?
8. What kind(s) of spoken word was present in
the service, and what was notable about its content? (Sermon?
Prayers?
9. What role did texts play in the service? What
type of texts were used?
10. What was the general order of the service, and how did you know what it would be?
11.
How was the energetic flow of the service? What, if anything, was the
12. What could you learn about the religious groups other activities, and how did you learn about them? (Examples: bulletin boards, pulpit announcements, newsletter, church meetings.) Was there any way to characterize the churchs additional activities?
13. Are there things about this group that you particularly liked, based solely on your observation? What, and why?
14. Are there things about this group that you particularly disliked, based solely on your observation and interview? What, and why?
15. How did what you observed in this service relate to what scholarly sources say about this religious group? Did it seem like the same tradition portrayed in the textbook? In what ways did it differ? Was it what you expected? (You may refer to our textbook or to other sources to answer this question.)
16. What was the most surprising thing to you about this experience?
17. Do you have any new questions about this religious group as a result of this experience? Did you find anything confusing?
Extra Credit
Option:
Throughout the semester I will announce events that stand in relation to our class (such as TV programs, lecture series on campus, community events); write up a report in which you evaluate those elements that relate to our class. – You may also find similar events yourself. If you want to do an extra credit on them, however, you must clear the topic with me first.
General Remarks
- You must attend class on time. I usually establish attendance at the beginning of the class session and will count you absent if you are not in class then. Assignments must be finished on time.
- I do not accept late assignments. If you have a valid excuse, you must bring it to me for evaluation.
- The class will be conducted with an open attitude in regard to questions and comments. However, no personal remarks toward another person with the intent to degrade or judge will be tolerated.
- Students with disabilities should see me prior to the first exam in order to develop appropriate protocols that will facilitate a stronger learning experience.
- Pagers and cell phones must be turned off prior to entering the class.
- All students deserve an atmosphere of fairness, honesty, and maturity. Violations of academic honesty such as plagiarism and academic cheating are subject to disciplinary procedures as stated in the University's Statement on Academic Honesty and the Student Code of Conduct:
The penalty for academic
dishonesty can vary from a reprimand and receiving a failing grade for a
particular assignment, to a failing grade in the course, to suspension or
expulsion from the University (http://www.temple.edu/assistance/ccIIIa.html).
Class Schedule
Sep 2, 4 Introductory Meetings: The
Study of Religion
Textbook: Oxtoby, Introduction
Sep 9, 11 Symbol and Myth AND The Ancient World
Textbook: Oxtoby 11-31
Additional
Primary
Source: Selections from The Epic of Gilgamesh
Sep
16, 18 Biblical Judaism AND The Concept of Monotheism
Textbook: Oxtoby 32-71
Optional
Primary Source: Selections from Genesis 1+2: Creation
Accounts
Fri Sep 19 Field trip
to Beth Zion Israel Synagogue, 18TH & Spruce
Sep 23, 25
Textbook: Oxtoby
71-130
Primary
Source: Selections from the Talmud
Sep
30, Oct 2 Judaism and
Modernity/Zionism AND Holocaust and Theodicy
Textbook: Oxtoby 130-150
Additional
Primary
Source: Selections from The Book of Job
Optional
FIRST
EXAM (Judaism): Tuesday, October 7
Oct 7, 9 First Exam: Judaism AND
Christian Beginnings: Jesus and the Gospels
Exam (Judaism): Tuesday, October 7
Textbook: Oxtoby
201-223
Primary
Source: Selections from the New Testament
Sun Oct 12 Field trip to Mother Bethel (
Oct 14, 16 From
Sect to Church, From Christ to God AND Sacred Worship
Textbook: Oxtoby 223-233
Primary
Source: Paul…
Additional
Sun Oct 19 Field
trip to St. Malachy’s (
Oct 21, 23
Primary
Source: Monasticism
Oct 28, 30
Primary Source: Luther (95 Theses) …
Additional
SECOND EXAM
(Christianity): Tuesday, November 4
Nov 4, 6
Exam (Christianity): Tuesday, November 4
Textbook: Oxtoby 341-354
Fri Nov 7 Field trip “Bawa Mosque” (
Nov 11, 13
Textbook: Oxtoby 354-368.
Additional
Nov 18, 20
Textbook: Oxtoby 368-404
Primary
Source: Selections from al-Ghazzali
Nov 25, 27 No Classes this Week – Thanksgiving
Recess
no class; instructor at annual meeting of the
Thanksgiving
recess
Dec 2, 4 Mysticism AND Modernity:
Contemporary Trends
Textbook: Oxtoby 404-454
Primary Source: Mysticism
Dec 9, 11
Review: Tuesday, December 9
Exam (Islam): Thursday, December 11