Course Syllabus for PHI 276-707: Knowledge and Reality: Psychology

COURSE SYLLABUS FOR PHL 1013-01: COMPARATIVE RELIGION Spring 2017 MWF 9:00-9:50 A331 Instructor: Jason A. Beyer E-mail: [email protected] Office: A309 Phone: 224-0583 Homepage: www2.ivcc.edu/jbeyer Office hours: MWF 10-11, 1-2; TR 11-12:15; R 6-6:30 pm; other office hours by appointment

Texts Roger Schmidt et al, Patterns of Religion, 3rd ed. There will also be some required reading material on reserve at the library Robert E. Van Voorst, editor; Anthology of World Scriptures, 9th ed.; recommended

Course Description This course examines and compares the various major religions around the world, including ancient religions of the Near East, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Shinto, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, with an emphasis on finding the common themes to all religions. This course counts toward I.V.C.C.’s Global Appreciation requirement, as well as the Global Studies Emphasis. If you are interested in learning more about the Global Studies Emphasis, please contact Amanda Cook-Fesperman at [email protected] or visit the International Education website at http://www.ivcc.edu/internationaleducation.aspx?id=7456.

Course Objectives The primary objective of the course is to gain a basic understanding of several of the world’s major religious traditions, with an eye toward recognizing the similarities and differences among them. This will involve: (1) understanding the fundamental concepts and ideas of these traditions, (2) understanding each tradition’s picture of humanity and humanity’s role and ultimate destiny, (3) recognizing the importance of historical events in the shaping of these traditions, (4) recognizing interconnections and lines of influence between traditions, (5) recognizing some of the most significant challenges each tradition faces in the contemporary world. In addition, since this is being taught from the perspective of philosophy, a secondary goal of the course will be to gain a better appreciation of the different ways to understand the significance of both the similarities and differences between these traditions in our search for religious truth.

Course Requirements The final grade will be based on two main requirements: the in-class mini-exams and the evaluation papers. There will be up to 5 or 6 reading quizzes, containing one short answer question about something from the reading material. These will not be announced in advance (but will be given at the beginning of new topics), and cannot be made up unless I know in advance that you will not be in class. The average of these will constitute 10% of your final grade. The remaining 90% of the final grade will be based on a series of up to 6 to 8 evaluation papers, which will mainly ask you to explain, compare and contrast elements of different religious traditions. You will be expected to use the appropriate vocabulary from the relevant traditions (each chapter has a vocabulary list at the end). Some will ask you to develop your own approaches to understanding the nature of religion and religious diversity. Each assignment should be around 3-4 pages total in length. Most of the assignments will allow you to choose between different possible topic questions. The assignments will be handed out at the end of each section, and will be due one week from the day they are assigned. Late work will be penalized one grade for each class period past the due date, unless previous arrangements have been made with me. Work will not be accepted more than 2 weeks past its due date without my prior approval. Coursework (except for the reading quizzes) can be turned in as a joint project if you so choose. Keep in mind, however, that everyone whose work it is will receive the same grade, regardless of the strength of individual contributions. Attendance is required. If you have more than 5 absences, you may have your final grade lowered by one letter grade. If you have more than 10 absences, you may be withdrawn from the course. Anyone who has not attended since the first week or has less than half of the assigned coursework completed by the time I need to do the mid-term verification form may be withdrawn from the course. If

1 you need to withdraw for any other reason, please see me. Keep in mind that withdrawing from a course can affect any financial aid you receive.

Grading All assignments will receive a traditional letter grade; each grade will be treated as its numerical equivalent (A=4.0, A-=3.67, B+=3.33, B=3.0, etc.). Your final grade will be given on the following scale (note that IVCC does not allow + or – on final grades): 3.51-4.00=A; 2.67-3.50=B; 1.67-2.66=C; 1.00-1.66=D; below 1.00=F.

Plagiarism Statement It is expected that all work turned in will be your own. While joint work is acceptable on everything but the reading quizzes, falsely presenting joint work as your own individual work (or vice-versa) is not. It is also worth noting that while you are allowed to make use of both the text and other material in your coursework, simply lifting material word-for-word from the text or that other material does constitute plagiarism. Plagiarized material will automatically receive an F. More than one case will result in an F for the course, and will be forwarded to the V.P. of Student Services for possible disciplinary action.

Extra Credit I allow good class participation as an extra credit possibility. Students that have earned this extra credit will receive up to 5 extra credit points. I will also allow additional extra credit points for attending certain IVCC events. I will notify you of these as they come up, but typically they will be those relevant to the course objectives and material. Each EC point adds .05 to your final calculated average. For example, suppose your assignment average is 3.35, which is a B. If you have 4 EC points, this would add .2 to this, which would give you a 3.55, which is an A. In general, 4 or 5 EC points will typically make a full grade difference.

Classroom Rules I am exercising my right to ban cell phones and like technology from my classroom. Texting, cell phones ringing, and iPods playing during class are distracting and disrespectful to me and to your classmates. If you have some special need that requires you to make use of some piece of technology, please see me about it right away. I am fine with recording class sessions. You may also bring a laptop for taking notes if you wish. However, it is expected that laptops will be used in class for course purposes only. We are in college, and I and your classmates expect all of us to act like it by adhering to IVCC’s core values of responsibility, caring, honesty, fairness and respect. If I need to ask you to leave because you are disrupting class, you will be counted as absent for that day. Continued disruption will be handed over to the V.P. of Student Services for further action. Please see me if you have any special needs that have to be addressed. Also, if you need assistance due to a disability, please also see the Special Populations office in C211 or call Tina Hardy at 224-0284.

Tentative Course Outline I. The Study of Religion Readings: Schmidt et al; Ch. 1 (pp. 1-13) Recommended: Van Voorst; Ch. 1; Map 1 Tom Christenson; “Questioning Assumptions”; on reserve II. Judaism Readings: Schmidt et al; Ch. 2 (pp. 31-49), Ch. 5 (pp. 141-73, 179-82, 184-91) Abraham Joshua Heschel; “What Manner of Man is the Prophet?”; on reserve Recommended: Van Voorst; Ch. 10 (pp. 216-25, 229-39); Maps 6-7 III. Christianity Readings: Schmidt et al; Ch. 6 (pp. 193-221, 224-8) Recommended: Van Voorst; Ch. 11 (pp. 265-72, 282-92, 296-7, 305-6); Map 8 Selections from non-canonical scriptures on reserve IV. Islam Readings: Schmidt et al; Ch. 7 (pp. 241-63, 266-72, 274-6); Ch. 9 (293-9) Recommended: Van Voorst; Ch. 12 (pp. 309-20, 322, 325-33, 336-51) ; Maps 9-10

2 V. Hinduism and Jainism Readings: Schmidt et al; Ch. 10 (pp. 303-31, 333-9, 345-55); Ch. 12 (pp. 407-12); Ch. 13 (pp. 421-33) Recommended: Van Voorst; Ch. 2 (pp. 23-32, 35, 37-46, 53-63) and Ch. 4 (pp.112-22) VI. Buddhism Readings: Schmidt et al; Ch. 11 (pp. 357-79, 382-4, 395-7) Recommended: Van Voorst; Ch.3 (pp. 68-91, 103-4) and Map 2 VII. Taoism and Confucianism Readings: Schmidt et al; Ch. 14 (pp. 435-60, 465-8, 471-4), Ch. 15 (479-509) Recommended: Van Voorst; Ch. 6 (pp. 143-54, 156-60) and Ch. 7 (pp. 169-83) VIII. Religious Diversity Readings: John Hick; “Religious Pluralism and Ultimate Reality”; on reserve Dalai Lama XIV; “Compassion”; on reserve Karl Rahner; “Christianity and the Non-Christian Religions”; on reserve Alvin Plantinga; “A Defense of Religious Exclusivism”; on reserve Phil Zuckerman; “Invitation to the Sociology of Religion”; on reserve