REL 350: Religions of the Far East Fall, 2010 Instructor: David M. Reis Class: MWF 2:00-2:50 Classroom: Bowman 319 Office: Bowman 210B Phone: (540) 515-3768 Email: [email protected] Webpage: http://www.bridgewater.edu/~dreis Office Hours: MW 10:30-11:00; 1:00-2:00; 3:00-3:30; F 1:00-2:00 and by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION The religious traditions of the East represent some of the oldest reflections on the nature of divinity and the human condition. This course will survey the diversity of insights on these topics through an analysis of historical development and spiritual beliefs and practices of these faiths. Specific attention will be given to examining the academic study of religion and the character of Eastern religious life in contemporary America, exploring the religions of India, China, and Japan, and assessing their views on contemporary social, political, and spiritual issues. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: 1. understand the principles of the academic study of religion 2. appreciate the influence of Eastern religions in the United States 3. demonstrate knowledge of the major figures, teachings, and practices of Eastern religions 4. understand how Eastern religions approach contemporary social, political, and spiritual issues COURSE TEXTS Coward, Harold, et al., eds. Readings in Eastern Religions. 2nd ed. Waterloo, Ontario: Wilfrid Laurier Press, 2007. Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2008. LEARNING COMPONENTS 1. Readings Each week the class will examine primary (e.g. The Analects) and secondary (e.g. Fisher’s Living Religions) sources. Students must critically examine all readings prior to the particular class session. 2. Unit Quizzes There will be five unit quizzes covering the following major sections of the class: 1) Religion and American Religious Pluralism (September 13); 2) Hinduism and Jainism (October 4); 3) Buddhism and Sikhism (October 25); 4) Taoism, Confucianism, and Shinto (November 15); and 5) Contemporary Perspectives from Eastern Religions (December 10). Each quiz will be worth 30 points and will consist of both objective and essay questions. Make-up quizzes will be given only in extraordinary circumstances. 2 3. Map Quizzes There will be two map quizzes, worth 10 points each, on September 15 and October 27. The terms will be posted on Moodle in advance of each quiz. 4. Group Presentation During the final unit of the course, students will give presentations on essays that address current topics in Eastern religions. Each presentation should consist of two parts: 1) an identification of the thesis and a rehearsal of the essay’s argument, 2) a critical appraisal of the essay based upon classwork on the religious tradition, and 3) personal reflections on the essay. A class discussion will follow. Students must sign up for a presentation on Moodle by November 1. 5. Religious Center Visits Students will visit at least two religious centers in the region to experience Eastern religions as a “lived” experience. Students will submit two papers, approximately 2-3 pages each, that consist of three parts: 1) a description of the experience, including a discussion of how the experience drew upon the religion’s major concepts, and 2) a personal reflection on how the experience has contributed to your appreciation of the particular faith tradition. 6. Research Project Students will have two options for completing a research project: Option I: The first option is an individual project that will analyze one text from a specific religious tradition (see p. 7, below). These papers should consist of three parts: 1) an overview of the social and historical features of the particular religious tradition (or specific branch of the particular religious tradition), and 2) an analysis of the major religious themes found in the text, and 3) personal reflections. Option II: The second option is a group project that will consist of field research of an Eastern religious center in the region (see p. 7, below). For this project, students will identify a religious center to study, contact the center to arrange for a visit, and compose a report consisting of three parts: 1) an introduction to the major religious themes of the particular religious tradition (or specific branch of the particular religious tradition), 2) a report of the religious center following the instructions outlined in the Pluralism Project’s “Guidelines for Research,” and 3) personal reflections. Students must sign up for a project on Moodle. Each project has specific deadlines (see p. 7, below) and should be approximately 9-10 pages in length. Late submissions will be accepted only in extraordinary circumstances. 7. Participation and Attendance Because this course is heavily structured around lectures and class discussions, participation and attendance are essential. Students should notify the instructor of an absence prior to class. A seven to ten percent deduction will be assessed for each unexcused absence, and six or more unexcused absences will result in a failing grade for the class. Participation consists of positive contributions to all class activities. Effort and persistence will be rewarded accordingly. LEARNING EVALUATION Unit Quizzes 150 points (30 percent) A=500-450 Map Quizzes 20 points (4 percent) B=449-400 Group Presentation 65 points (13 percent) C=399-350 3 Religious Center Visits 50 points (10 percent) D=349-300 Research Project 100 points (20 percent) F=299-below Participation 65 points (13 percent) Attendance 50 points (10 percent) Total 500 points (100 percent) ACADEMIC SUPPORT Bridgewater College is committed to providing all students equal access to the college’s academic programs and activities. Students who have or think they may have a condition (attentional, learning, visual, hearing, physical, psychological or chronic medical) that impacts learning and for which an accommodation may be desired, are encouraged to contact the Director of Academic Support, Dr. Chip Studwell at (540) 828-5370 or [email protected]. A letter is required from the Academic Support Office, each semester, in order to receive accommodations at Bridgewater. COURSE OUTLINE I. Religion, Eastern Religions, and American Religious Pluralism WEEK 1 (9/1-3) Religion, Religions, and the Academic Study of Religion 9/1: Introduction 9/3: Religion and Religions Fisher, Living Religions, 1-31 WEEK 2 (9/6-10) Engaging “Otherness”: American Religious Pluralism 9/6: Thinking About Difference Daloz, “Beyond Tribalism” Eck, “From Diversity to Pluralism” Juergensmeyer, “Thinking Globally about Religion” 9/8: Eastern Religons in America: History and Legacy Tweed, Asian Religions in America: A Documentary History, 127-140, 163-166, 378-381, 371-377, 339-341, 349-351 9/10: American Religious Pluralism: The Contemporary Landscape Eck, A New Religious America, 1-25 Major American Religions On Common Ground (“American Landscape”; “Diversity”; “Tradition”) II. Religions of India WEEK 3 (9/13-17) Hinduism I 9/13: Introduction to India Unit I Quiz Video: India: The Empire of the Spirit [953 I397] 9/15: Philosophical Origins and Systems Fisher, Living Religions, 72-85 Coward, Readings in Eastern Religions, 3-8, 14, 20-27, 29-31, 36-38 On Common Ground (“Many and One”) Map Quiz 1 4 9/17: Religious Foundations Fisher, Living Religions, 85-96 Coward, Readings in Eastern Religions, 44-58 On Common Ground (“Ganesha”) Video: Eastern Philosophy (Pt. II) WEEK 4 (9/20-24) Hinduism II 9/20: Ways of Living Fisher, Living Religions, 97-108 Coward, Readings in Eastern Religions, 39-44, 58-68 On Common Ground (“American Hindus”; “Hindu Puja”; “Images I”; “Images II”) 9/22: Contemporary Hinduism I: Global Dimensions Fisher, Living Religions, 108-119 On Common Ground (“A New Hindu Landscape”; “Building the Temple”) Video: Short Cut to Nirvana 9/24: Contemporary Hinduism II: Pilgrimage Video: Short Cut to Nirvana WEEK 5 (9/27-10/1) Jainism 9/27: The Tirthankaras and Asceticism Fisher, Living Religions, 120-127 “On Non-Violence”; “On Self-Restraint”; “Respect for Life”; “Anekantavada”; “The Blind Man and the Elephant” On Common Ground (“Ahimsa”; “God/Soul”; “Tirthankara”) 9/29: Spiritual Practices and Contemporary Jainism Fisher, Living Religions, 127-133 Coward, Readings in Eastern Religions, 103-109 “Forsaking Eternal Bliss for a Drop of Honey” On Common Ground (“Paryushan”; “American Jains”; “Dating”) 10/1: Religious Center Visit: Satchidananda Ashram/Integral Yoga Institute WEEK 6 (10/4-8) Buddhism I 10/4: Introduction to Buddhism Unit II Quiz The Life and Legend of the Buddha Fisher, Living Religions, 134-147 Coward, Readings in Eastern Religions, 113-147 Video: The Buddha Religious Center Visit: Blue Ridge Zen Group 10/6: Dharma Coward, Readings in Eastern Religions, 154-163, 183-187, 191-198 On Common Ground (“Dharma I”; “Dharma II”) Video: The Buddha Religious Center Visit: Blue Ridge Zen Group 10/8: The Buddha and the Paths of Buddhism Fisher, Living Religions, 147-169 Coward, Readings in Eastern Religions, 151-154, 163-168, 173-174, 177-181 On Common Ground (“Meditation”; “Heart Sutra”; “Zen I”; “Zen II”; “Zen III”; “Zen IV”) 5 Religious Center Visit: Blue Ridge Zen Group WEEK 7 (10/11-15) Buddhism II 10/11: Buddhism in the West Fisher, Living Religions, 169-181 Coward, Readings in Eastern Religions, 221-234, 236-242 On Common Ground (“A New Buddhist Landscape”; “American Buddhists”) 10/13: Life and Liberation I Coward, Readings in Eastern Religions, 181-183 Video: The Tibetan Book of the Dead 10/14: Religious Center Visit: Lotus Garden 10/15: Life and Liberation II Video: The Tibetan Book of the Dead WEEK 8 (10/20-22) Sikhism 10/18: Fall Break 10/20: Principles and Practices in Sikhism Fisher, Living Religions, 434-458 Coward, Readings in Eastern Religions, 249-263 10/22: Sacred Scriptures and Contemporary Sikhism Sikh Scriptures Singh, “Sikhism and Music” “The Sikh Gurus’ Vision of an Ideal Society” On Common Ground (“Five K’s”; “American Sikhs”; “Shabad Kirtan”) III.