C053-003 Introduction to World Religions
MWF 12:40 PM – 1:30 PM
Barton Hall Classroom 201
Office telephone: (215) 204-7973
Email: [email protected]
Office location: Anderson Hall, 6th floor, Room Nr. 645
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10:45–11:30 AM, or by appointment
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 achieves an empathetic understanding of others and of religion’s role in their lives. Any study of religious and cultural traditions has as an aim an understanding of the basic assumptions and practices of different peoples. In this course you will be introduced to the major religious and philosophical traditions of the world. We will focus upon the traditions’ key historical developments and contemporary forms. Among other traditions the course will examine Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The course is oriented to those who have little or no prior knowledge of the world’s religious traditions. The ultimate aim of the course is neither to glorify nor to critique any of the religious traditions but rather to allow the student to see how adherents within these traditions view themselves. Goals for students enrolled in this course are 1) to think both empathetically and critically about the religious traditions; 2) to gain knowledge of the histories and cultures of these traditions; and 3) to develop the ability to interpret (religious) texts and other cultural phenomena (such as rituals, myths, architecture) that have religious presuppositions or implications. All of this, in conjunction with the reading and writing assignments for this course, will help you to develop your critical and analytical skills.
(1) Fisher, Mary P., Living Religions, 5th edition, Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2002 (available at Temple University Bookstore).
(2) Source Material: Sacred Texts of the World’s Religions (available on reserve as hard-copy at Paley Library Circulation Desk or as PDF-files on Blackboard).
(3) Additional readings will be made available through Blackboard.
This course will use the communication tools on Blackboard as well as readings and documents located there. To use Blackboard you only need to have a Temple email account. You should update your Blackboard profile so that you will be able to receive relevant emails. Grades will be posted on Blackboard as well as some helpful Internet links. Among others you will find a link to the companion website to our textbook (www.prenhall.com/fisher). You would do well to acquaint yourselves with this web-page and use it as a frequent point of entry and exploration around many of the issues we will be discussing as well as in preparation for the exams.
Grading
You do not need to major in religion to take this class. However, I do expect you to work hard, and to contribute to class discussions. If you are not comfortable with the expectations for reading and writing in this class you should consider dropping the course. While I will lecture for part of the class almost every day, it will be conducted much more on a seminar model of examining your reactions to the reading material. The readings are engaging and heavy. If you have not done the readings, it will simply be impossible for you to participate in the discussion. While we will suffer from that, the main damage will be done to your own learning, and your participation grade. This equally applies to the amount of writing expected of you.
The Final Grade will be calculated as follows:
(1) Attendance and Participation (10%)
(2) Ten Weekly Journal Entries (10%)
(3) Pop Quizzes (10%)
(4) Four Interpretative Reflections (20%)
(5) Midterm Exam (15%)
(6) Site Visit Observation and Analysis (20%)
(7) Final Exam (15%)
(1) Attendance and Class Participation
Attendance is required as it forms a PREREQUISITE for all of your work in class. 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. As it is also part of the final grade there will be ample opportunity for it 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, and in-class writing. Reading assignments for each week are due at the beginning of each week unless noted otherwise. I expect you to keep up with all readings and assignments and to get the notes for missed class sessions from your peers. I encourage you to ask questions and suggest topics for discussion in class. I will call on you often and ask about the content of assigned readings.
(2) Weekly Journal Entries (WJE)
As part of your written work in this course you will write weekly journal entries (WJE). These are due in class along with the reading assignments from the textbook at the beginning of each week (i.e., Monday). You must turn in a total of ten (10) WJE. I will NOT accept any late papers. In your journal you will respond to the weekly readings from our textbook (Fisher). The entries consist of two components: (1) two discussion questions on the readings assigned for that week. (2) one page (around 300 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) Pop Quizzes
Pop quizzes will occur frequently to encourage diligence in reading. The pop quizzes will cover the material in the reading assignments. They will primarily consist of multiple-choice, matching, and short answer questions. In preparation you may find it helpful to make use of our textbook’s companion website (www.prenhall.com/fisher). The website contains a number of sample test reinforcing the important terms and concepts in each section. There will be NO make-up quizzes if you missed class.
(4) Interpretative Reflections (IR)
Additionally I will ask you to write four (4) interpretative reflections (IR) on sacred texts from the traditions we are studying. You can choose from six possible texts. The due dates for each of the papers are indicated on the course schedule. Late assignments will NOT be graded. Your reflections should be about two (2) pages long (roughly 600 words). In these writings you will be asked to synthesize your own reflections, the readings, and class discussions. You are required to apply what you learn from our readings and discussions on the religion to the interpretation of a scriptural source from that particular tradition. In your paper you must treat the sources as a scholar of world religions. This means: I am not interested in your personal opinion, your like or dislike, of the source’s content or the religion in general. More specifically you should reflect on such questions as: Why is it an important text within the tradition? Which aspects of the text are characteristic of the tradition studied? What does the text explain? I want you to relate what you are learning about the tradition to your reading and interpretation of the sacred texts. The theories and concepts provided in the textbook will help you to understand the source. You, however, may also encounter that the source introduces ideas that the textbook does not emphasize.
In your writing I will look for increasing use of terminology relevant to the academic study of religion, exploration of religious concepts, questioning that extends beyond class discussion, and courageous attempts on your part to answer questions that arise from your interaction with the material. The criteria for grading the assignments are: a) level of effort (appropriate length and degree you interact with the material); b) appropriate and relevant use of terms, concepts, examples; c) coherent argument and clear presentation of points.
(5) Midterm
You will write the midterm exam during the first class session after the spring break (Monday, March 13). Before the spring break I will hand out a list of essay questions in which you are asked to show your ability to synthesize the information from the semester’s first half. You should use the spring break to study for these questions. On the date of the midterm I will ask you to answer two (2) questions from a small selection of the study questions from the list.
(6) Site visit observation and analysis
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! At a later point I will make available guidelines for your visit and the report on a separate handout.
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).
Note: I will hand out guidelines for your visit and report later on in the semester.
(7) Final Exam
The final exam will be given in the exam week (Wednesday, May 12). It will be a cumulative, in-class exam consisting of essay questions. You are required to synthesize the material covered over the course of the whole semester.
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
• Classes must be attended on time. If you have a valid excuse, you must bring it to me for evaluation.
• Assignments must be finished on time. I will NOT accept any late assignments. I also do NOT accept papers sent to me by email. You must bring a hard copy of each assignment to class.
• 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.
• Pagers and cell phones must be turned off prior to entering the class.
• Students with disabilities should see me prior to the first exam in order to develop appropriate protocols that will facilitate a stronger learning experience.
• Finally, 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. For any of the above-mentioned behavior you will fail the class at first offense regardless of whatever additional disciplinary measures the University applies.
Class Schedule
Jan 21, 23 Introductory Meetings
Introductions and class business
Jan 26, 28, 30 The Religious Response
Textbook: Fisher 16-42.
Source: “Forest Journey” from The Epic of Gilgamesh
Feb 2, 4, 6 Hinduism
Textbook: Fisher 79-110
Source: Selections from the Bhagavad-Gita (28-33) [IR due Fri]
Feb 9, 11, 13 Hinduism (cont.)
Textbook: Fisher 111-127
Additional Text: A. Rambachan on Women in Hinduism (Bb)
Feb 16, 18, 20 Buddhism
Textbook: Fisher 141-167
Source: Mahayana Buddhism (selections from 50-64) [IR due Fri]
Feb 23, 25, 27 Buddhism (cont.)
Textbook: Fisher 167-186
Additional text: E. Mullen on Buddhism and/in the West (Bb)
Mar 1, 3, 5 Taoism and Confucianism
Textbook: Fisher 187-215
Source: Selections from Annalects and Tao-te Ching [IR due Wed]
Midterm Exam: Monday, March 15
Spring Break: Mon Mar 8 – Sun Mar 14
Mar 15, 17, 19 Midterm Exam: Monday, March 15 AND Judaism
Textbook: Fisher 231-251
Source: Selections from the Talmud (90-93) [IR due Fri]
Mar 22, 24, 26 Judaism (cont.)
Textbook: Fisher 252-284
Additional Texts: Selections from Elie Wiesel’s Night (Bb) AND Holocaust, Israel, and Contemporary Jewry (Bb)
Mar 29, 31, Apr 2 Christianity
Textbook: Fisher 286-324
Source: Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed [IR due Wed]
Apr 5, 7, 9 Christianity (cont.)
Textbook: Fisher 310-358
Additional Text: The Gap between the Scholar and the Pew (Bb)
Apr 12, 14, 16 Islam
Textbook: Fisher 359-381
Source: Selections from the Qur’an [IR due Wed]
Apr 19, 21, 23 Islam (cont.)
Textbook: Fisher: 381-411
Additional Text: J. Esposito on Violence and Terrorism (Bb)
DUE DATE for site-visit report Friday, April 23
Apr 26, 28, 30 Religion in the Twenty-First Century
Textbook: Fisher 464-480
Additional Text: Livingston or other
May 3, 5 Last days of Class
Review and Feedback
Final Exam: Wednesday, May 12