REL 3345: Religions of the World

REL 3345: Religions of the World Fall 2008 TR Syllabus

I. Blake W. Burleson, Ph.D. Scott Rushing Senior Lecturer in Religion Graduate Assistant Office: Burleson 100 e-mail: [email protected] Office Hours: M 2:00-5:00 T 2:00-5:00 W 2:00-3:30 R 2:00-5:00 F 2:30-4:30 Office Phone: 710-3940 (Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Arts & Sciences) Home Phone: 756-5950 E-Mail: [email protected]

II. Course Description: A general survey of eight classical religions of the world, including Judaism and Islam from the Prophetic traditions, Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism from the Mystical traditions, and Confucianism and Taoism from the Wisdom Traditions.

III. Course Goals: 1. To study religion as (1) the cumulative tradition of a people and (2) the personal faith of individuals. 2. To explore universal patterns of belief, behavior, and spirituality in the world’s religions. (Therefore, the student may find similarities between his or her religion and the religion of others.) 3. To understand that each religion, however, is unique and cannot be “demystified” or reduced to common universal elements. (Therefore, the student may discover the uniqueness of his own religion and her own personal faith.) 4. To understand some of the ways that religious pluralism has been understood.

IV. Course Objectives: 1. Recognize pivotal historical events and seminal belief systems of the major religions of the world. 2. Demonstrate comprehension of key religious concepts discussed in class. 3. Identify similarities and differences between the various religions of the world. 4. Develop the ability to “bracket” one’s own religious beliefs in order to empathize with, and, therefore, understand more fully other religious perspectives.

V. Textbooks:

Eastman, Roger. (Editor) The Ways of Religion: An Introduction to the Major Traditions. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.

Hopfe, Lewis M. and Mark R. Woodward. Religions of the World. 10th Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001.

VI. Novels (purchase only one of your choice):

Endo, Shsaku. Silence.

Kane, Hamidou. Ambiguous Adventure.

Wiesel, Elie. Night. VI. Grading Scale

A 100-90.0 B+ 89.9-88.0 B 87.9-80.0 C+ 79.9-78.0 C 77.9-70.0 D 69.9-60.0 F 59.9-0

VI. Course Requirements:

1. Exams (70%): There will be 3 exams based on class lectures and text (Hopfe and Woodward’s Religions of the World). Exams will be multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the blank, and essay. Make-up exams, for students with verifiable excuses, will be given. 2. Chapter Quizzes (15%): There will be 6 chapter quizzes given during the semester. These quizzes are based on your readings from the text (Hopfe and Woodward’s Religions of the World). Make-ups for chapter quizzes are given during the regularly scheduled final exam. Students who leave class for any reason after taking a quiz will be given a zero and cannot make up that quiz. 3. Participation and Discussion (5%): Students will receive a grade based on their participation (which includes class attendance) and their discussion of the articles in Eastman’s The Ways of Religion. Students will be assigned one article in which they will assist the professor in the discussion on that day. (See attached guidelines.) 4. Book Report (10%): The student will select one of the novels listed above and turn in a 3 to 4 page report. (See attached guidelines.)

VII. Class Attendance & Participation The University has a formal policy governing maximum absences. You may not miss more than 25% of the scheduled classes and pass the course. The maximum allowable absences in a MW or TR course is 7. Roll is taken at the beginning of class; students who are tardy should report to the instructor at the end of the hour to remove the absence. It is the student’s responsibility to report this information. Students who miss part of a class are considered absent for the entire class. (There are no partial absences.)

Students are expected to prepare by studying the assigned reading for that day.

VIII. Honor Code The University has a strict Honor Code which all students are expected to follow. Students are obligated to report Honor Code violations to your professor or to the Office of Academic Integrity. The website for this office is http://www.baylor.edu/honorcode/ TR Tentative Schedule

Part I: Introduction to the Study of World Religions The Prophetic Traditions

8/26 Introduction to the Course 8/28 Introduction to the Study of World Religions Hopfe & Woodward pp. 1-12.

9/02 Introduction to the Study of World Religions Discussion: Eastman, pp. 1-11. 9/04 Judaism: A Historical Sketch CHAPTER QUIZ 1: Hopfe & Woodward, pp. 233-263.

9/09 Judaism: A Historical Sketch Discussion: Eastman, pp. 313-318 9/11 Judaism: A Historical Sketch Discussion: Eastman, pp. 318-326

9/16 Judaism: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis Discussion: Eastman, pp. 286-300. 9/18 Judaism: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis Discussion: Eastman, pp. 326-335

9/23 Islam: A Historical Sketch CHAPTER QUIZ 2: Hopfe & Woodward, pp. 320-347. 9/25 Islam: A Historical Sketch Discussion: Eastman, pp. 422-428

9/30 Islam: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis Discussion: Eastman, pp. 428-435. 10/02 Islam: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis Discussion: Eastman, pp. 435-445.

10/07 Guest Speaker: “Life of Prayer, Devotion, and Ethics”

10/09 EXAM I

Part II: The Mystical Traditions

10/14 Hinduism: A Historical Sketch CHAPTER QUIZ 3: Hopfe & Woodward, pp. 70-103. FILM: 330 million gods 10/16 Hinduism: A Historical Sketch Discussion: Eastman, pp. 12-22.

10/21 Hinduism: A Historical Sketch Discussion: Eastman, pp. 65-74. 10/23 Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis Discussion: Eastman, pp. 27-39.

10/28 Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis Discussion: Eastman, pp. 59-64. 10/30 Jainism: History, Beliefs, Praxis CHAPTER QUIZ 4: Hopfe & Woodward, 112-119.

11/04 Buddhism: A Historical Sketch CHAPTER QUIZ 5: Hopfe & Woodward, pp. 123-144. 11/06 Buddhism: A Historical Sketch Discussion: Eastman, pp. 133-139

11/11 Buddhism: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis Discussion: Eastman, pp. 76-90. 11/13 Buddhism: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis Discussion: Eastman, pp. 122-129.

11/18 EXAM II

Part III: The Wisdom Traditions Religious Pluralism

11/20 Chinese Religion: A Historical Sketch CHAPTER QUIZ 6: Hopfe & Woodward, pp. 164-188.

11/25 Confucianism and Taoism: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis Discussion: TBA 11/27 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

12/02 Confucianism and Taoism: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis Discussion: TBA 12/04 Issues of Religious Pluralism Discussion: Eastman, pp. 528-535. BOOKS REPORTS DUE

12/11 EXAM III Thursday, December 11 @ 2:00 PM