COURSE OFFERINGS
 Fall 2004 

R.S. 101:1 INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN RELIGIONS

Instructor: Dr. S. METSO

TR 3:10-4:30 pm Vulgamore 201 

1 Unit-CRN# 6288

Humanities Division Credit; Historical & Cultural Analysis Mode Credit for new core; Required for Religious Studies Major and Minor

DESCRIPTION:

This course will explore the religious dimension of human nature and activity by studying the three great western religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—that all claim Abraham as their ancestor. The primary focus will be on the sacred traditions and principal beliefs and practices of these three religions. The main approach will be historical, tracing the evolutions of the religions, their ideas and forms of religious expression from their beginnings until recent times, noting both common and distinctive features. In addition to the historical approach, students will be introduced to a number of other methodological perspectives: theological, philosophical, anthropological, psychological, and sociological. There is a difference between learning religion and learning about religion. This course will focus on the latter.

GOALS:

1) To gain a basic understanding of the general nature of religion and of the three major western religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

2) To obtain an appreciation of the richness and diversity as well as the similarities of religious experience and expression in various cultures and historical periods.

3) To try to understand the ways that communities construct their religious worlds through myth, ritual, symbolism, beliefs, ethics, etc., and the reason why they do so.

4) To become aware of the need for religious dialogue in our contemporary world.

TEXTBOOKS:

Oxtoby, Willard, World Religions: Western Traditions (2nd editionNY: Oxford University Press, 2002)

[ Additional material will be provided in the class]

EVALUATION:

1. Attendance and participation 20%

2. Four unit exams (incl. final exam) 50%

3. Term paper 30%

RS 101:2 Introduction to Western Religions-- CRN# 6416

Humanities Division Credit; Historical and Cultural Analysis Mode Credit for new core; Required for Religious Studies Major and Minor

J. Messana, TR 12:10-1:30, Vulg 204

DESCRIPTION: 

The focus of this class will be the traditions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Zoroastrianism.  Through the textbook, primary sources, and other materials, students will develop and understanding of the ancient as well as modern-day manifestations of the traditions covered.  By the end of the class, students will posses an understanding of the history, system, and dynamics of these four traditions.  In addition, students will have acquired a vocabulary for each tradition, which will aid in further study as well as real-life encounters. The class will also briefly look at how these religions have been recently portrayed in popular culture.

Text:
Oxtoby, W. World Religions: Western Traditions         

Evaluation:
Students will be graded on class participation, periodic quizzes to assess comprehension of readings, a test at the end of each tradition, and a final paper- the topic of which is up to the student.

RS 102:1 Introduction to Eastern Religions—CRN# 6290

Humanities Core Division Credit; Historical & Cultural Analysis Mode Credit for new core; Required for Religious Studies Major and Minor

J. Messana, TR 2:10-3:30, Vulg 304

DESCRIPTION: 

This class will seek to acquaint students with the major traditions of the East: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism & Sikhism, Taoism & Confucianism, and Shinto.  The class will focus on both historical and contemporary manifestations of these religions by using primary sources and audiovisual material in addition to the textbook. Students will become familiar with the history, system, and dynamics of the traditions and will develop tradition-specific vocabularies which will prepare them for further classes in religion, as well as multicultural encounters outside the classroom.  The class will also briefly look at how these religions have been recently portrayed in popular culture.

Text:
Oxtoby, W. World Religions: Eastern Traditions

Evaluation:      
     
Students will be graded on class participation, periodic quizzes to assess comprehension of readings, a test at the end of each tradition, and a final paper- the topic of which is up to the student.          

R.S. 121 HISTORY, LITERATURE AND RELIGION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Instructor: Dr. S. METSO

TR 8:40-10:00 Vulgamore 204

1 unit--CRN # 6413

Humanities Division Credit; Textual Analysis credit under the new core; Fulfills Biblical Studies Requirement For Religious Studies Majors

DESCRIPTION:

The Hebrew Bible (i.e. the Old Testament) is not a single book, but an anthology reflecting different authors, historical circumstances, literary genres, and theological agendas. This course is designed as an introduction to the critical study of this and related literature, and of the ancient Near Eastern cultural environment that formed its background. We will give particular attention to the social, political and religious history of ancient Israel, the development of its theological traditions, the basic forms of Hebrew literature and the principal methods to interpret it. Our main task is to understand what the writings of the Hebrew Bible may have meant in their original, historical context, but we will also consider these writings as a contemporary resource for questions of religion and values. By the end of this course, we will have read and discussed a major portion of the Hebrew Bible in English translation.

GOALS:

1. To become acquainted with the religious traditions of ancient Israel, as they are reflected in the Hebrew Bible.

2. To acquire a basic understanding of the ancient Near Eastern cultures that constitute the environment in which the Hebrew Bible developed.

3. To acquire a general understanding of the methods and results of modern biblical scholarship.

4. To practice using the techniques of linguistic and literary criticism (close reading) to interpret Hebrew Bible literature.

TEXTBOOKS:

1. Frank S. Frick, A Journey Through the Hebrew Scriptures (2nd ed.; Belmont: Wadsworth, 2002).

2. The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha (New York: Oxford University Press, 1991).

EVALUATION:

1. Attendance and participation 20%

2. Midterm exam 20%

3. Term paper 30%

4. Final exam 30%

R.S. 131.01—INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN THOUGHT

Instructor: Dr. R. MOURAD

M W F 1:10-2:00 —Vulgamore 201
1 unit-- CRN # 6292

Humanities Division Credit; Textual Analysis Credit; Fulfills theology requirement for Religious Studies Majors.

DESCRIPTION:

In this course we will examine some important literary and theological works of the Christian tradition. We will seek to understand how the authors of these works understand the divine, the world, human persons, sin, and salvation. There have been many different understandings of the nature of Christianity. We will examine some texts that have been very popular and influential and some that present unorthodox or minority views. Since this course focuses on Christian thought, rather than Christian practice, we will emphasize the skills necessary both to interpret and to evaluate the arguments and rhetoric of the authors. Our primary methods will accordingly be critical, theological, and philosophical.

TEXTS:

Augustine. Confessions.

John Bunyan. The Pilgrim's Progress.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The Brothers Karamozov (handout).

C. S. Lewis. The Screwtape Letters.

Friedrich Nietzsche. On the Genealogy of Morality (handout).

Rosemary Radford Ruether. Sexism and God-Talk: Toward a Feminist Theology, "The Kenosis

of the Father: A Feminist Midrash on the Gospel in Three Acts" (handout).

Film: "The Last Temptation of Christ."

The Creed of Nicaea (handout).

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Attend all classes

2. Read all assigned material and participate actively in class discussions

3. Three exams

EVALUATION:

Exam 1: 25%

Exam 2: 25%

Exam 3: 30%

Attendance and participation: 20%

R.S. 215 JEWISH LIFE AND THOUGHT

Instructor: Dr. S. METSO

M W 2:10-3:30 pm, Vulgamore 102

1 Unit CRN# 6293

DESCRIPTION:

In response to the question, Why should we study religion in general and Judaism in particular, Jacob Neusner, one of today’s leading Jewish scholars, offers three perspectives: 1. Religion explains particularly well the progress of humanity through the cycle of life, from birth to death. 2. Religion serves particularly well to help a defeated society endure defeat. 3. Religion, while historical, invariably thrives in and has meaning for the acutely contemporary world.

This course studies Jewish religious thought and activity in both ancient and modern times through selected biblical, rabbinic, medieval, and modern Jewish writings. It covers areas such as the cycle of the year, including the Jewish calendar, the Sabbath, and the festivals; the cycle of life, including the Jewish home and synagogue community; basic Jewish beliefs regarding God, Torah, Israel and Messiah; Jewish philosophy and mysticism; and contemporary Jewish movements. The course explores the roots of Jewish religion, and how Jewish traditions have been transformed throughout history in response to major political and religious crises.

TEXTBOOKS:

1. Norman Solomon, Judaism : A Very Short Introduction (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000).

2. Barry W. Holtz (ed.), Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1986).

3. Elie Wiesel, Night (25th anniversary ed.; Toronto: Bantam Books, c1986).

4. Chaim Potok, Chosen (New York: Fawcett Book Group, 1976).

5. Yehuda Amichai, The Selected Poetry of Yehuda Amichai (edited and transl. from Hebrew by Chana Bloch and Stephen Mitchell; newly rev. and expanded ed.; Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996).

EVALUATION:

Quizzes and participation 25%

Midterm exam 25%

Two papers (25% each) 50%

R.S. 250:1 MYSTICISM & ECSTASY

Instructor: Dr. R. MOURAD

MWF 10:10-11:00,  Vulgamore 301

1 Unit CRN # 6294

DESCRIPTION:

A number of authors, both contemporary and classical, have thought that mystical or ecstatic experiences provide evidence that supports religious belief.  The purpose of this class is to investigate this contention.  We will begin by examining and classifying reports of mystical experiences.  Next, since many of the subjects of these experiences claim that they defy description in ordinary terms, we will explore the limits and puzzles of mystical language.  Last, we will question the importance of religious experiences as evidence.  Are mystics reasonable if they base their beliefs on religious experiences?  Do their experiences provide any support for other people’s religious beliefs?

TEXTS:

R. Ellwood: Mysticism and Religion

L. Dupre: Light from Light: An Anthology of Christian Mysticism

Coursepack

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Attend all classes.

2. Read all assigned material and participate actively in class discussions.

3. Two papers (minimum 2000 words - approximately 7 - 8 typed pages).

4. One 15-minute presentation on the week's reading, summarizing what you take to be the relevant points and offering several questions for discussion. 

5. Final exam.

GRADING:

Paper 1:           25%

Paper 2:           25%

Final Exam:       25%

Presentation:     15%

Participation:     10%

R.S./AS 313.01—DEATH AND DYING IN WORLD RELIGIONS

Instructor: Dr. S. RAJ

MW 1:10-2:30—Olin 230

1 unit--CRN # 6295

Fulfills Global Studies Category Requirement; Fulfills Comparative Religion Requirement for Religious Studies Majors; Counts toward Anthropology/Sociology Major.

DESCRIPTION:

Human longing for a meaningful explanation of the mystery of death and dying is deep and universal. Through a critical analysis of textual and non-textual sources, this comparative course will examine a wide array of beliefs and rituals related to death and dying in a select number of world religions.

In addition to intellectual familiarity with cross-cultural beliefs and practices, students will be encouraged in the creative and critical enterprise of analyzing familiar religious and cultural practices surrounding death and dying.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

__Albom, Mitch. Tuesdays with Morrie

__Albom, Mitch. The Five People You Meet in Heaven

—Huntington, R. & Metcalf, P. (eds) Celebrations of Death: The Anthropology of Mortuary Ritual

—Kubler-Ross, E. On Death and Dying

—Obayashi, H. Death & Afterlife in World Religions: Perspectives of World Religions

—Coursepack

EVALUATION:

Class attendance, participation, two individual presentations, three creative projects, and a final exam.

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