World Religions (RELG 300)
Spring 2009 Relg 300-01 M/W 2:00 pm, Kinard 018 Relg 300-02 M/W 3:30 pm, Kinard 312 (Revised 1/9/09) Dr. Kristin Beise Kiblinger Office: Kinard 324 Contact Info: (803) 323-4650, kiblingerk@winthrop.edu (e-mail preferred) Office Hours: M/W 9-11 am; by appointment if this time doesn’t work for you. Occasionally an obligation conflicts with office hours, so it’s best to call or confirm by e-mail in advance. Required Texts: 1) Living Religions by Mary Pat Fisher, seventh edition (sixth edition would be acceptable) 2) Bruce Lincoln’s Holy Terrors: Thinking About Religion after September 11, pp. 1-50 3) Anthology of Living Religions by Lee Bailey and Mary Pat Fisher, second edition. Readings from this are required, but we are reading only selected short portions, which are sample excerpts from primary texts. Required Accounts: 1) Web CT (Web Course Tools). 2) Winthrop e-mail. It is important that you use your Winthrop e-mail, not an alternative e-mail address, and check it regularly. 3) Turnitin. Information on Turnitin will be provided with the field visit assignment. Web CT instructions: 1. The Web CT administrator loads you into the Web CT course automatically just prior to the first day of class, so all you should need to do is log in. (Do NOT try to create an account or add yourself to a course.) In order to log in, go to http://online.winthrop.edu. 2. When it asks for your Web CT id, type wu_ followed by your Winthrop e-mail address before the @ symbol. (For ex., wu_smithj2.) 3. When it asks for a password, if you have not used Web CT previously or if you have not used it since passwords were reset, again type wu_ followed by your Winthrop e-mail address before the @ symbol (for ex., wu_smithj2). 4. Click “Log in.” You should now be able to see any courses for which you have registered that are using Web CT. Web CT allows you to choose your own password once you have logged in this way. 5. Troubleshooting (don’t worry; the vast majority have no problem): Any student without a working Winthrop e-mail account must go to 15 Tillman and fill out an email account creation request form. Check http://www.winthrop.edu/webct/ for required browser settings and more information. Check with a peer who has used Web CT before or ask a tech at the computer lab. Check with K. Kiblinger. As a last resort, contact the Web CT administrator, Suzanne Sprouse, at sprouses@winthrop.edu for help. Objectives: This course is intended to provide a beginning overview of the major religions of the world, with an emphasis on non-Christian traditions. Students should gain an introductory familiarity with the beliefs and practices of the religious people studied and of cultures that may differ from their own or from 1
those dominant in the U.S. By studying these forms of life, we may also, through contrast, gain a new perspective on previously familiar traditions and cultures. Relation to Winthrop’s General Education Goals: Students will further develop their writing skills through practice with essays on tests and a field visit report. They will develop their oral communication skills by contributing to classroom discussion. They will develop reading and analytical abilities through engaging Religious Studies texts as well as primary sources. (goal 1) Students must use critical thinking with all of the above, and they must conduct research through a field visit. The course will use technology consistently throughout—for information dissemination, presentation of material, writing a report, and plagiarism detection. (goal 3) Because the course studies a variety of cultures and religious traditions not dominant in the U.S., students will learn to appreciate diversity. (goal 4) Through study of religious art and literature, students will understand aesthetic values and the importance of these forms for cultural expression. (goal 6) By examining various religious traditions, students will consider “values, attitudes, beliefs, and habits which define the nature and quality of life.” (goal 7) Students with Disabilities: Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education. If you have a disability and require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact Gena Smith, Program Director, Services for Students with Disabilities, at 323-3290. Once you have your official notice of accommodations from Services for Students with Disabilities, please inform me as early as possible in the semester. If your accommodations affect every test/assignment, please remind me prior to each test/assignment. Requirements and Evaluation: Participation (See criteria below.) Announced quiz on Lincoln reading Midterm (factual questions and essay) Individual field trip and report paper Final Exam (factual questions and essay) Grading: Scale: 934-1000 A 900-933 A
100 points 25 325 225 325 1000 total 767-799 734-766 700-733 C+ C C667-699 634-666 600-633 D+ D D-
867-899 834-866 800-833
B+ B B-
0-599 F
All grades will be posted to Web CT, so there should be no surprises or pleading regarding grades, and any inaccuracies can be promptly brought to my attention and corrected. The final exam is the last chance to earn points; no late work will be accepted after the final exam. Grades are based on performance on the relevant items listed above and will not be adjusted for other reasons, such as the need to maintain a specific GPA for scholarships, financial aid, athletic eligibility, or parental approval. In the interest of fairness, there will be no exceptions to these policies. No extra credit opportunities will be provided, as I already build in points for attendance/participation, provide study guides and essay questions in advance, and am willing to discuss your writing assignment draft prior to the deadline and your test essay plans prior to the tests. In accord with Winthrop’s academic regulations, an F or U will be assigned for the course when absences (whether excused or unexcused) exceed 25% of the class meetings. In this course, that means 8 or more absences will result in failing the course. 2
The Writing Center provides support for all students in all Winthrop classes free of charge. It is located in 242 Bancroft. Check its web page for current hours (http://www.winthrop.edu/wcenter). Bring the writing assignment with you when you go. To schedule an appointment, call (803) 323-2138. Attendance and other policies to be read very carefully: 1.) Attendance will be taken regularly and will affect your participation grade, which counts 10% of your overall grade. I do distinguish between excused and unexcused absences. Although this is not a hard and fast rule and may be adjusted for variations in the quality of participation (i.e., factors such as the quality of your contributions in class, using the writing lab, attentiveness, frequent tardiness, etc.), the following gives you an approximate idea of the correspondence between attendance and your participation grade: # of unexcused absences participation grade of 0-1 A 2 B 3 C 4 C5-6 D >7 F Note: 8 or more absences (no matter whether excused or not) will result in a final grade of F or U for the whole course, in accord with the university’s attendance policy about missing more than 25% of classes. If you add the class after classes have begun, any missed classes do count towards the 25%. 2.) I expect you to contact me promptly, if not in advance (e-mail correspondence preferred), every time you miss a class if you have a decent reason for missing, just as you would contact a boss or co-worker if you had to miss work. Four types of excuses will automatically secure an excused absence if I am provided with appropriate documentation in a timely manner: university-sponsored event; your own or a dependent family member’s illness requiring medical attention; court appearances or jury duty; and funerals. There are often good reasons for missing class other than these, but I have learned that some students are more crisis-prone and prone to rationalizing absences than others. If you communicate another type of excuse or have an undocumented one (for example, you were sick but didn’t go to the doctor), I record all such excuses and judge them at the end of the term in light of your overall attendance and behavior in the class. If you rarely miss class and have been keeping up well, you can be assured that I will excuse absences for such additional reasons. If you are sick, stay home and rest; as long as you let me know and otherwise come regularly with good participation, that will be excused. Again, I make a judgment about undocumented absences at the end of the term in light of your overall behavior and performance. 3.) Unless there has been a prior arrangement, in cases of a missed test or reading quiz, you are entitled to a make up only with documentation. 4.) Late papers and penalties. If a due date in my class falls at a bad time for you, talk to me about it well in advance (at least 2-3 weeks before the due date), and I may grant you an extension if you have a good reason for one. Unless there has been a documented emergency or a prior arrangement made, an assignment is considered late when turned in any time after the class in which it is due, even if it is turned in later that same day. The penalties for a late paper: in on the due date but after the class in which it is due -.33 letter grade 1 day late -1 letter grade within 1 week of due date -1.5 letter grades within 2 weeks of due date -2 letter grades more than 2 weeks late but by the final exam depends on quality, but in the F range Late (but by the final exam) is better than never; some credit can be awarded even if you are in the F range. 40% or 50% can make a big difference compared to a 0. 3
5.) Turnitin, a plagiarism detection service, will be used for this class for the field trip report paper. Students who do not submit their papers to Turnitin will not receive credit for the paper. It is the students’ responsibility to understand what counts as plagiarism and methods for properly crediting sources of information. When in doubt, ask an English teacher, your instructor in this class, or staff at the writing center. See the English department’s webpage on the correct use of borrowed information: http://www.winthrop.edu/english/plagiarism.htm. Significant plagiarism (whether intentional or not) will result in an F on the paper and a report filed with the Dean of Students. If the case is a second offense (even if an earlier offense was from another class), it may result in an F in the course or other sanctions. Duplicate submissions (turning in the same or a very similar paper for two assignments in two different classes) is permissible only with the approval of both instructors in advance. Otherwise, a duplicate submission will be treated as a case of academic dishonesty. 6.) Students are responsible for checking their Winthrop email accounts regularly. Important announcements and information will be communicated via email, and not checking your email is not an excuse for missing such information. Similarly, students are responsible for quickly getting up and running with Web CT in order to be participating appropriately in class. (Warning: it is possible for a professor to track whether a student logs in to Web CT.) 7.) Regarding Ns and dropping the course, March 11th is the course withdrawal deadline, and an N is automatically granted. After this date, a student may not withdraw from the course without documented extenuating circumstances and approval from the Dean of Enrollment Management; (it is not up to the instructor.) 8.) I do not allow rewrites on papers. I have found that when students count on the chance to do a rewrite, they often do not put their full effort into the original paper. Also, allowing rewrites is not fair to other students who did well originally. The proper time for revising is with drafts prior to the due date.
Tentative Schedule
Unit readings should be done at your own pace during the unit. I do not assign pages for particular classes, except for the Bruce Lincoln reading in the Islam unit.
Mon., 1/12
introduction to the course, important information
Judaism and Christianity Unit
Unit readings: 1) Living Religions, Judaism and Christianity chapters 2) Anthology of Living Religions, Abraham’s Covenant (p. 192), Mosaic Covenant (p. 193), Davidic Covenant (p. 195), Prophecies of Isaiah (195), The Passover Story (201), Branches of Judaism section (207), Surviving Auschwitz (212), glossary (220), holy days (221), historical outline (221) first Judaism presentation Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday Saba Hanbali lecture on 5 Pillars of Islam, 7 pm, Plowden auditorium, cultural event credit, encouraged second Judaism presentation Promises video about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict complete video, discuss (reminder: you are responsible for the Christianity chapter reading, although class time will concentrate on Judaism) third Judaism presentation
Wed., 1/14 Mon., 1/19 Tues., 1/20 Wed., 1/21 Mon., 1/26 Wed., 1/28 Mon., 2/2
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Islam Unit
Unit readings: 1) Living Religions, Islam chapter 2) Anthology of Living Religions, The Prophet Muhammad—two Hadith from Sahih Muslim (269), Islamic Scripture: the Qu’ran (273), Hadith (280), How to Perform Salaat (284), Rights of Women (294), glossary and holy days (306), historical outline (307) 3) Holy Terrors: Thinking about Religion after 9/11 by Bruce Lincoln, pp. 1-50 first Islam presentation second Islam presentation Saba Hanbali lecture on Women in Islam, 7 pm, Plowden auditorium, cultural event credit, encouraged third Islam presentation Brief reading quiz on and discussion of Lincoln’s Holy Terrors, pp. 1-50 Catch-up day or review for midterm test; midterm study guide available on WebCT on Tues., 2/17 *MIDTERM TEST* covering Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Wed., 2/4 Mon., 2/9 Tues., 2/10 Wed. 2/11 Mon., 2/16 Wed., 2/18 Mon., 2/23
Hinduism Unit
Unit readings: 1) Living Religions, Hinduism chapter 2) Anthology of Living Religions, Sruti texts (63), I am the Beginning and the End (66), Duties of the Four Castes (70), In Praise of Durga (75), The Way of Devotion (76), Untouchability (83), Hindu-ness (85), glossary and holy days (91), historical outline (92)
Wed., 2/25 Mon., 3/2
first Hinduism second Hinduism Section 001 (2 pm class) ½ class (last name begins A-K) meets in community center in basement of Wofford dorm for yoga activity ½ class (last name begins L-Z) meets in community center in basement of Wofford dorm for yoga activity Section 002 (3:30 class) meet in community center in basement of Wofford dorm for yoga activity
Wed., 3/4
Mon., 3/9
Tues., 3/10 Wed., 3/11
Saba Hanbali lecture on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, 7 pm Plowden auditorium, cultural event credit, encouraged third Hinduism; course withdrawal deadline
SPRING BREAK
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Buddhism Unit
Unit readings: 1) Living Religions, Buddhism chapter 2) Anthology of Living Religions, Defeat of Mara and Enlightenment (114), Theravada section (119), Emptiness by Nagarjuna (121), Heart Sutra (122), Zen and Koans (124), Vajrayana section (127), Living Engaged Buddhism (131), Precepts for an Engaged Buddhism (137), glossary (138), holy days (139), historical outline (140)
Mon., 3/23 Wed., 3/25 Mon., 3/30
first Buddhism second Buddhism; *2:00 class (Relg 300-01) field visit report due*--hard copy to me and electronic copy to Turnitin. See Web CT for the assignment instructions. *3:30 class (Relg 300-02) field visit report due*--hard copy to me and electronic copy to Turnitin. See Web CT for the assignment instructions. Compassion in Exile video about Tibetan Buddhism and the Dalai Lama Section 001 (2:00 pm class) ½ class (last name begins A-K) meets in community center in basement of Wofford dorm for meditation activity ½ class (last name begins L-Z) meets in community center in basement of Wofford dorm for meditation activity third Buddhism Section 002 (3:30 pm class) meet in community center in basement of Wofford dorm for meditation activity
Wed., 4/1
Mon., 4/6
Wed., 4/8
Taoism and Confucianism Unit
Unit readings: 1) Living Religions, Taoism and Confucianism chapter 2) Anthology of Living Religions, The traditional canon section (under Taoism) (165), Communication of the Force of Life with Heaven (173), Awakening to Perfection (175), The Story of He Xiangu (179), Essence of Tai Ji (181), glossary and holy days (185), historical outline (186), The Confucian Classics section (143), The Great Commentary on the Book of Changes (151), Confucianism and the Twenty-first Century (157), Staying Power of Religion in China (161), glossary & holy days & historical outline (163) Taoism presentation Book of Changes activity—meet in regular classroom, not Wofford; evaluations Confucianism presentation review for final exam; study guide for final exam posted to Web CT review for final exam
Mon., 4/13 Wed., 4/15 Mon., 4/20 Wed., 4/22 Mon., 4/27
*final exam*
Section 001 (2 pm class) Mon., 5/4 3:00pm
Section 002 (3:30 pm class) Fri., 5/1 3:00 pm
The final exam covers untested material (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism) and also includes an essay question that asks for more comprehensive reflection over the variety of traditions studied this semester. The final exam needs to be taken at the assigned time, as dictated by the University exam schedule, unless I am notified by the Registrar that you have a legitimate scheduling conflict. This was announced the first day of class, so make your plans accordingly.
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