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Course Description: This
course explores the various religious perspectives and ways of thinking
about religious themes and religious experience.
General Course Purpose:
The
purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the general terminology,
the recurring themes, and issues common to the religious outlook; to examine
basic ideas common to all religions and to look carefully at the religious
experience itself from a variety of perspectives.
Entry Level Competencies:
basic
reading and writing skills
Course Objectives: During
this course, the student will:
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Define and discuss relevant
religious terminology, such as "religion", "mystery", "the holy", "theism",
"atheism", "pantheism", "monotheism", "ultimate reality", "myth", "symbol",
"revealed truth", "ritual", etc.
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Explore basic themes of religion,
such as the nature of the holy, the sacred and the profane, the nature
of religious experience, the place of evil in the world, etc.
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Examine the use of religious
language.
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Explore questions about religion
raised from within religious commitments, such as the adequacy of religious
symbolism, or the role of religious institutions in the religious life,
etc.
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Explore questions about religion
raised from those outside religious affiliations, such as the role of class
in religious oppression, the social functions of religious institutions,
the Freudian notion that belief in God is the result of infantile wish-fulfillment,
the place of religion in a modern scientific world and other similar criticisms.
Major Topics to be Covered:
Critical attention will be
given to the following problems:
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What is the nature of ultimate
reality? Is there more than we can see? What is the nature of our ultimate
concern?
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What is the nature of the human
being, as seen from the religious vision of humanity as created by something
other than itself?
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What is the nature of our obligations
incurred within a religious context? How must we behave toward the rest
of humankind, and the rest of the environment which we inhabit?
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What does religion say about
the difficult issues of human life -- death, suffering, guilt, chance,
evil?
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What role does myth, symbol,
ritual play in human life?
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What is the role of reason in
religion?
Textbooks:
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Cunningham, The Sacred Quest: Invitation to the Study of Religion (Penguin ISBN: 0-13-020994-5)
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Lyden, John, Enduring Issues in Religion (Opposing
Viewpoints series)
Supplies needed:
3X5 index cards and highlighter
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Student Responsibilities:
Classroom Behavior:
Disruptive behavior in the classroom that detracts from the teaching-learning
process will not be tolerated, and disruptive students will be asked to leave
the class.
Special needs: If
you have a documented special need and require special accommodations,
please feel free to discuss the situation with the instructor.
Emergency evacuation procedures:
Please take note of the closest fire exit to the classroom.
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A framed emergency evacuation plan on one
of the walls of each of the classrooms. This describes the procedures that
must be followed and diagrams the evacuation routes that are to be used in
case of emergency.
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All occupants must immediately evacuate
the building when the fire alarm bells/lights are activated unless the
Building Warden has advised that the system is undergoing a scheduled test.
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Occupants will exit the building using
posted evacuation routes or the nearest safe exit.
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Elevators will not be used during
emergency evacuation.
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Upon exiting, occupants are to continue
moving until they are at least 300 feet from the building.
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The instructor will assist handicapped
persons with mobility disabilities.
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You should take your coats, books, purses,
and other personal belongings with you as there is no assurance that you
will be allowed to return.
Attendance policy:
Absence will impact negatively on the quality of your work - you will miss
discussions, videos and opportunities to contribute to group work.
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Attendance is taken at every class
session.
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You are allowed to miss no more than
10% of the class sessions without penalty.
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Each additional week of absence will
subtract 2.5% (.1) from your final grade.
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Perfect attendance will bring a borderline
grade up.
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In addition, habitual lateness or early
departure will also affect your grade (you are "late" if you
arrive to class after the day’s lesson has begun). If you do come to class
late make sure the instructor has checked off your name.
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In event of an absence, you may keep up
with the class by checking the course website. Assignments, lecture notes,
most handouts and other information pertaining to this course can all be
found there.
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If you anticipate having a problem
maintaining regular attendance, please discuss the issue with the instructor .
Under certain circumstances, exceptions and alternative arrangements for
completion of course work may be made.
Late papers: Since
all assignments are available on the instructor’s website and many can be
submitted via e-mail, there is no excuse for handing in assignments late.
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"Late" is defined as "not
received prior to the next class session after the work was
due."
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Late submissions (due to absence or
otherwise) will be downgraded one letter grade for each week late.
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But, "better late than never" so
work due on days you are absent should be handed in ASAP.
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To avoid the penalty for late submissions ,
it is recommended that you e-mail your work to the instructor or have
someone drop off any work due in the Humanities office ASAP rather than wait
until the next class session (be sure the instructor’s name appears on
your work so it gets into her mailbox).
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If you think you may have missed any
assignments it is recommended that you e-mail the instructor to be kept up
to date, check the course syllabus or website. It is your responsibility
to ask for any assignments you may have missed.
Withdraw or fail:
Failure to attend class regularly and/or to submit completed assignments may
result in a grade of "F".
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You can avoid failure by officially
withdrawing from the course.
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Last day to withdraw is Tuesday, Oct. 29 .
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If you miss the three weeks of class prior
to this date the instructor will automatically withdraw you from the
course unless you consult with the instructor (through e-mail,
phone or otherwise) regarding your problem and intentions.
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After this date you will need a reason for
withdrawing.
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If you fail to communicate with the
instructor regarding continued absence and fail to withdraw yourself
through the registrar’s office, you will receive a grade of "F"
for the course.
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Under certain circumstances grades of
"Incomplete" may be given with the understanding that work will be
completed by a specified time. You will have to consult with the instructor
to receive an "incomplete."
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Grading and Evaluation:
- Final grades will be calculated using the grade point
system: A = 4 points, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0
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The grade value for each assignment will
be multiplied by the percentage toward the final grade of the assignment
(example: a "B" on a research paper worth 15% toward the final
grade would be 3x15%=.45 points).
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Final grade point range: 3.5 - 4.0 = A,
2.5 - 3.5 = B, 1.5 - 2.5 = C, .5 - 1.5 = D, below .5 = F
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Remember: excess absence can significantly
lower your earned grade point average.
The following assignments will be
weighted as indicated (see class schedule for due
dates):
(ADF students: go to ADF course information & assignments)
(The Sacred Quest) (10%): for each chapter in The Sacred Quest
you are to compose two (2) questions. One thought provoking question for
discussion and a second question for clarification on something you did not
understand from the reading (e.g. a concept or term that was not clearly
explained or a discussion that confused you). You are to write one question
on each side of a 3X5 index card, highlight the question for clarification,
include your name on the card and, when applicable, please indicate the page
number that your questions relate to. Cards should be handed in at the first
class session in which we will be discussing that chapter. Your reading
for each chapter should be completed prior to any class discussion on
that chapter. (Extra credit* may be earned by responding to any of the
"thought experiments" in the text).
"Show & Tell" (5%): share with the class
any current event items of interest related to religion (e.g., newspaper or
magazine articles, TV or radio programs, upcoming events, etc.). A sharing on four
separate occasions is expected. Extra Credit* may be earned by any additional
sharing (regular sharing will bring up a borderline grade or make up for
excess absences).
Group project (10%): working in small groups, you will
create a game based on a specific religion (see assignment
sheet for details).
Outer exploration (35%): you are to explore the variety
of religions through field research and other forms of independent
investigation. (see assignment sheet
for more details). Specific aspects of this assignment are broken down as
follows:
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a preliminary "Religious
Scavenger Hunt" assignment (5%) (details to be announced)
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"Encounters & Dialogue": at least two
(2) visits to local places of worship you are unfamiliar
with (one representative of Western religion
and one representative of Eastern religion)
(10% [5 % each]).
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Research into the specific religion you will base your
group project game on (5%)
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use of any other sources of information by which to
learn about as many different religions as you can OR additional
field visits and discussions (15%) (see assignment
sheet for details).
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Inner exploration (15%): You are to develop your own
personal faith perspective/philosophy of religion through the process of
ongoing reflection on issues raised and discussed in this class (see assignment
sheet for more details). Three specific aspects of this project will
include:
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a "Spiritual Autobiography" (5%)
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at least one personal meeting with the instructor
(ungraded but will detract from your grade on this assignment if not done)
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A 1500 word personal "dissertation"
submitted at the end of the semester (10%)
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Preparation for & Participation in group discussions
(25%): For each chapter in Enduring Issues (5% per chapter) you will
participate in small group discussion in class. In preparation for each
discussion you should do three things (in addition to reading the chapter to
be discussed):
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identify one viewpoint which comes closest to your own
position (be prepared to defend this position in group discussion). In
writing, briefly identify the viewpoint you agree with (one sentence
statement).
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identify one viewpoint you disagree with (explain why
you disagree and be prepared to ask questions in group discussion to
challenge the position). In writing, briefly identify the viewpoint
you disagree with and list the kinds of questions you would ask or points
you would make to challenge that viewpoint.
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identify one viewpoint which made its case in such a
way as to give you cause to pause and seriously consider the possibility
of what the writer is suggesting (i.e., a viewpoint you had not previously
considered). In writing, discuss your thoughts on this [500 words].
Following group discussion, in class, you will add
reflections on the discussion to what you’ve prepared in advance, in
writing, and hand this in for grading. (if you are absent for these
discussions you will only receive half credit for written preparation -
see class schedule for discussion dates).
* No more than 10% of your grade may be made up with extra
credit (it is recommended that you do extra credit to make up for any excess
absences).
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