Introduction to Religious Studies

							                                Introduction to Religious Studies
                                          Religion 201
                                           Fall 2008
                                       Section 001 TR 12:30-1:45
                                       Section 002 TR 2:00-3:15
                                              Kinard 312


Professor Information
    Dr. William P. Kiblinger
    Office: Kinard 326
    Office Hours: MW 3:30-5:00
    Office Phone/Voicemail: 803-323-4598 (email preferred)
    Email: kiblingerw@winthrop.edu


COURSE DESCRIPTION

The primary purpose of this course is to expose students to some of the major questions in the scholarly
study of religion. What is religion? What do religious symbols mean? Why do religions exist? How
should we account for the differences among religions? Can or should we make judgments about religions,
especially given our own commitments and biases? How does or should religion relate to morality? What
is the relation of religion to culture?

To consider these questions, we will study the following texts. The work by Mircea Eliade opens with a
general account of religious belief and practice (phenomenology of religion), giving us a good example of
one of the leading theorists in the field of religious studies. The text by Irving Zeitlin explores further the
work of the seminal theorists in the field, each oriented around various themes in the study of religion. In
addition to these texts, students will examine a few supplementary readings on specific questions or by
some of the primary authors. In the next section on hermeneutics, we will discuss the vexed issue of
interpretation in religious traditions by reading texts by David Winter and Paul Tillich. This discussion will
connect to another issue: women and religion. We will read articles by Mary Daly and Rita Gross in
dealing with the issue of gender in religion. The latter will serve as a brief introduction to Hinduism. After
these theoretical considerations, we will shift to a specific religious tradition: Zen Buddhism. To do so, we
will read Eugen Herrigel’s Zen in the Art of Archery. Next, the course focuses on religion as it relates to
politics, race, and sexuality. We begin this part by reading John Wilson’s essay on the relation of church
and state, followed by an essay by James Cone on black theology. After that, we will read William
Countryman’s essay on sexuality and the Christian New Testament. Finally, we will read John Caputo’s On
Religion as a culmination of the course and in preparation for the final presentations in the course.

In this gathering of disparate issues and questions, numerous intertextual connections will emerge, and it is
one of the primary tasks of the student to identify these common themes along the way. The course requires
a demanding amount of reading, both for its quantity and quality, but its value repays the reader manifold if
treated with care. The tests and writing assignments are meant to verify that students have accomplished
this careful reading and made appropriate intertextual connections along the way.



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COURSE GOALS AND METHODS

Goal 1: Engage in reasoned inquiry and self-reflection regarding the various values, beliefs,
attitudes, and habits that define the nature and quality of life.

       Method: Read material thoroughly and think critically in order to make connections
       between the material and your own understanding of religious life.

Goal 2: Model reflective participation in a learning community by learning to communicate with
others effectively in speech and writing.

       Method: Share your reactions and understanding of religious issues with your classmates
       and learn to understand other perspectives by listening carefully and communicating
       clearly in class discussion and written assignments.

Goal 3: Recognize the constructed nature of knowledge, i.e., the way in which knowledge arises
from a diversity of perspectives.

       Method: Learn to identify multiple perspectives on religious issues and then engage this
       diversity of perspectives by dialectically taking ownership of them as possible viewpoints
       within yourself.

Goal 4: Recognize and appreciate human diversity (both past and present) as well as the
diversity of ideas, institutions, philosophies, moral codes, and ethical principles.

       Method: Read and discuss the research relating to the diversity of religious beliefs and
       practices and consider their impact on the values informing our lives.



EXPECTATIONS OF THE STUDENT

1. Class Attendance: Because this class is largely based on discussion and much of the critical “action”
occurs in the classroom, your attendance is imperative. Attendance will be taken and is a factor in your
class participation grade (about which see below). Absence for a valid reason given in advance is excusable
but inadvisable. More than two absences will lower your grade. Fewer than two absences will raise your
grade.

2. Readings: You are responsible for completing all of the assigned reading before each class meeting.
Nota bene: the reading assignments may be fairly lengthy and will always be difficult. Plan ahead! You
are not expected to master all of the details and arguments presented in the reading, but you should have
engaged them rigorously, bringing questions you still have to class. Remember: there are no stupid
questions (or not as many as you might think).




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3. Class Participation: One principal purpose of this course is to develop the student’s skills in interpreting
difficult and ancient texts, in recognizing the influence of religious thought in contemporary contexts, and
finally in constructing persuasive and well-reasoned arguments about these issues. Becoming an active
participant in the learning community, displaying the poised “ready position” of an engaged thinker, and
offering your own opinions, questions, and arguments are excellent ways to achieve the purpose of this
course. Class participation accounts for 100 points. Please note that the instructor understands that some
personalities are congenitally disposed to more extraverted and talkative forms than others. Your
participation will be judged by your seriousness of attitude as well as prolificacy in speech.

4. Quizzes: There will be occasional unannounced reading quizzes, cumulatively worth 300 points.

5. Tests: There will be two tests covering a section of the course worth 150 points each.

6. Presentation: Students will make a culminating presentation at the end of the course and will turn in a
written document to accompany the oral presentation. Students will make these presentations in small
groups. Detailed instructions will be given later for this presentation. The presentation and written
document together will count 100 points each.

7. Final Exam: The final exam will be worth 100 points.


GRADING

Class Participation:   100 points            Grading scale:
Quizzes:               300 points            930-1000: A            900-929: A-
Tests (2):             300 points            870-899: B+            830-869: B      800-829: B-
Presentation:          200 points            770-799: C+            730-769: C      700-729: C-
Final Exam:            100 points            670-699: D+            630-669: D      600-629: D-
TOTAL                  1000 points                                                  0-599: F


TEXTS
In Bookstore:
1. Mircea Eliade, The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion
2. Irving M. Zeitlin, The Religious Experience: Classical Philosophical and Social Theories
3. Eugen Herrigel, Zen in the Art of Archery
4. John D. Caputo, On Religion

Electronic Reserve:
5. Paul Tillich, “The Lost Dimension in Religion”
6. David Winter, excerpts from Believing the Bible
7. Paul Tillich, “Symbols of Faith,” in Dynamics of Faith
8. Mary Daly, “After the Death of God the Father”
9. Rita Gross, “Hindu Female Deities as a Resource for the Contemporary Rediscovery of the Goddess”
10. John F. Wilson, “Religion, Government, and Power in the New American Nation”
11. James H. Cone, “The Gospel of Jesus, Black People, and Black Power”
12. L. William Countryman, “New Testament Sexual Ethics and Today’s World”


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PLAGIARISM

Students in this course should be aware of the strong sanctions against plagiarism (misrepresentation of
another person’s work as one’s own) stated in the Student Conduct Code. (See section V. Student
Academic Misconduct of the Student Conduct Code in the Student Handbook.) If proven, a charge of
plagiarism could result in an automatic "F" in the course and possible expulsion. If you have any questions
or doubts about what plagiarism entails or how to properly acknowledge source materials and the works of
others, be sure to consult the instructor. Proper citation procedures are provided in all standard writing
manuals. For more information, see the Student Handbook at www.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education. If you have a disability and
need classroom accommodations, please contact Gena Smith, Coordinator, Services for Students
with Disabilities, at 323-3290, as soon as possible. Once you have your Professor Notification
Form, please tell me so that I am aware of your accommodations well before the first
{test/paper/assignment}.

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE

Section 001 TR 12:30-1:45            Thurs., Dec. 11, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Section 002 TR 2:00-3:15             Wed., Dec. 10, 3:00 – 5:30 PM




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DATE               TOPIC                                 ASSIGNMENT
WEEK 1             Introduction to Phenomenology
Tues., Aug. 26     Openings
Thurs., Aug. 28    Sacred Space                          Eliade, Ch. 1
WEEK 2             Religious Phenomena
Tues., Sept. 2     Sacred Time                           Eliade, Ch. 2
Thurs., Sept. 4    Sacredness of Nature                  Eliade, Ch. 3
WEEK 3             Modernity and Its Critics
Tues., Sept. 9     Human Existence and Sanctified Life   Eliade, Ch. 4 (pp. 162-167; 201-213)
                                                         Tillich, “Lost Dimension” (reserve)
Thurs., Sept. 11   Rousseau and Hegel                    Zeitlin, Ch. 1 & 2
WEEK 4             Religious Atheism
Tues., Sept. 16    Feuerbach and Marx                    Zeitlin, Ch. 3 (pp. 23-32) & 4
Thurs., Sept. 18   Test Day                              Test 1
WEEK 5             Sociology of Religion
Tues., Sept. 23    Protestantism and Capitalism          Zeitlin, Ch. 6 (Weber)
Thurs., Sept. 25   Disenchantment and Religion           Zeitlin, Ch. 7 (Weber)
WEEK 6             Primitive/Modern Dialectic
Tues., Sept. 30    Invention of Primitivism              Zeitlin, Ch. 10 (Malinowski)
Thurs., Oct. 2     Critique of Primitivism               Zeitlin, Ch. 11 (Freud)
WEEK 7             Hermeneutics
Tues., Oct. 7      Reading the Bible                     Winter, Believing the Bible
Thurs., Oct. 9     Symbols                               Tillich, “Symbols of Faith”
WEEK 8             Women and Religion
Tues., Oct. 14     God the Father                        Daly, “After the Death of God…”
Thurs., Oct. 16    Hindu Goddesses                       Gross, “Hindu Female Deities…”
WEEK 9             Zen Buddhism
Tues., Oct. 21     Zen Buddhist Practice                 Herrigel (first half)
Thurs., Oct. 23    Zen Buddhist Experience               Herrigel (second half)
WEEK 10            Politics and Religion
Tues., Oct. 28     Church and State                      Wilson, “Religion, Gov’t, & Power”
Thurs., Oct. 30    Black Theology                        Cone, “The Gospel of Jesus…”
WEEK 11            Sexuality and Religion
Tues., Nov. 4      Election Day                          No class
Thurs., Nov. 6     Dirt, Greed, and Sex                  Countryman, “New Test. Sexual Ethics…”
WEEK 12            Postmodern Religion
Tues., Nov. 11     Religion and Love                     Caputo, Ch. 1
Thurs., Nov. 13    Post-Secularism                       Caputo, Ch. 2
WEEK 13            Postmodern Religion
Tues., Nov. 18     Religion and Culture                  Caputo, Ch. 3 & 4
Thurs., Nov. 20    Religion Without Religion             Caputo, Ch. 5
WEEK 14            Presentations
Tues., Nov. 25     Test Day                              Test 2
Thurs., Nov. 27    Thanksgiving                          No class
WEEK 15            Presentations
Tues., Dec. 2      Presentations                         Groups 4-6
Thurs., Dec. 4     Presentations                         Groups 7-9
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