RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD



INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS

|Rutgers University-Camden Campus |Kenneth J. Banner |

|Dept. of Philosophy and Religion |banner@crab.rutgers.edu |

|Course Number: 50:840:103:01 (62577) |Office Hours: By Appointment (Just Ask) |

|Spring, 2012 TTH 3:00-4:20 PM ATG 221 |Home Phone: (610) 532-6447 |

| |(Call anytime up to 11:00 PM) |

This course is a basic introduction to the major world religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In addition, we will also briefly explore African Religions, Native American Religions, Taoism, Confucianism and Shinto.

The methods used in the course will be: 1) Historical-Examining the beginning of each religion and the major points in its history and development. 2) Phenomenological-Focusing upon the basic elements including beliefs, rituals and practices. A primary goal will be to attempt to understand each religion from the point of view of the people within that particular religious tradition. What is their world view? How do they understand themselves? 3) Comparative-Observing the similarities and differences between the religions as a way of better understanding them and religion itself as a part of human experience.

TEXTBOOKS:

William A. Young, The World’s Religions: Worldviews and Contemporary Issues, 3rd Edition

(Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2009) ISBN-10: 0205675115; ISBN-13: 978-0205675111

(This is the 3rd Edition published in 2009. Earlier editions are NOT acceptable.)

Note: Unfortunately the back cover of Young's textbook advertises something called "MyReligionKit". Your instructor does NOT recommend that you purchase "MyReligionKit". When I did a free trial I discovered that it had mistakes in it that could cause you to miss points on the exams and to end up wasting time with materials that would not help you on the tests.

Philip Novak, The World's Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World Religions (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1995) ISBN: 9780060663421

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1) Attendance and active class participation. This includes being prepared for class by having completed the reading for each session. Attendance will be taken each class. If you have a valid reason for an

absence please be sure to notify the instructor at the next class session. Also, if you come in late,

please be sure to remind the instructor after class that day so you will not be counted absent.

2) Participation in the Online Discussion Forum. Students will be expected to read the discussions and post at

least one message per week. For our discussion forum we will be using Saka (sakai.rutgers.edu)

There is a link to Sakai from the opening page of the course web site. Note that this is a WEEKLY

assignment! You are required to do it EVERY week and it will be graded on that basis. The new week begins at 3:00 PM each Tuesday.

3) A term paper of 5-7 pages on a topic which involves research on at least two but no more than three of the

religions covered in the course. After choosing the topic, discuss it with the instructor and have it approved before Feb. 28. Failing to turn in the topic by Feb. 28 will result in an automatic reduction of the term paper grade by one full letter. Please note that after turning in your topic you are not allowed to change to a different topic without first receiving permission from the instructor. Students should not expect to be allowed to change topics after March 20. A term paper guide will be included with this syllabus. The due dates for the paper are as follows:

Choose a topic and discuss it with the instructor before Feb. 28.

Feb. 28 Turn in topic and a brief descriptive paragraph

April 19 Term Paper Due-No Late Papers!

4) A mid-term exam on Feb. 2 over Native American and African Religions.

5) A mid-term exam on Mar. 1 over Religions of South and Southeast Asia, Religions of East Asia.

6) A final exam on Tues., May 8 2:00-5:00 PM over Religions of the Middle East and New Religious

Movements (i.e. the final is not comprehensive for the entire course).

Grades will be determined as follows:

Class Participation 10%

Online Discussion 10%

Paper 20%

Mid-Term #1 20%

Mid-Term #2 20%

Final 20%

100%

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING:

(Note: References in Novak refer to the chapter number, then the selection number. For example: 5:10 refers to the fifth chapter in Novak (on Judaism) and the 10th selection (on "The Covenant at Sinai") which begins on p. 186).

INTRODUCTION TO RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Tues., Jan. 17 Introduction to the Course

Young 2-20

RELIGIONS OF AFRICA

Thurs., Jan. 19 Film on Zulu Religion

Novak 8:3; 8:8; 8:11; 8:13

Tues., Jan. 24 Zulu, Yoruba

Young 23-37

NATIVE AMERICAN RELIGIONS

Thurs., Jan. 26 The Oglala Lakota (Sioux)

Young 37-49; Novak 8:17; 8:33; 8:34; 8:37; 8:41

RELIGIONS OF SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA

Tues., Jan. 31 Hinduism: History

Young 53-64; Novak 1:1-5;

Thurs., Feb. 2 Exam Over Native American and African Religions

Tues., Feb. 7 Hinduism: Distinctive Teachings

Young 64-75; Novak 1:6-9; 1:17-20;

Thurs., Feb. 9 Hinduism: Bhakti

Young 75-82, 279-281; Novak 1:22-24

Tues., Feb. 14 Jainism

Young 101-111

Thurs., Feb. 16 Theravada Buddhism

Young 84-99; Novak 2:1-12; 2: 21-22; 2:30;

RELIGIONS OF EAST ASIA

Tues., Feb. 21 Mahayana Buddhism

Young 141-154; Novak 2:39-40; Web: Tannisho ch. 1-4

Thurs., Feb. 23 Vajrayana Buddhism; Shinto

Young 154-158; 160-172 Novak 2:41; 2:46; 2:51

Tues., Feb. 28 Taoism ("Daoism"); Confucianism

Young 113-128; 128-139; Novak 4:1-4

Term Paper Topic Due

Thurs., Mar. 1 Exam over Religions of South and Southeast Asia, Religions of East Asia

RELIGIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST

Tues., Mar. 6 Zoroastrianism

Young 173-179

Thurs., Mar. 8 Judaism: History

Young 180-187; Novak 5:1-10

Tues., Mar. 13-Thurs., Mar. 15 No Class--Spring Break

Tues., Mar. 20 Judaism: Distinctve Teaching

Young 187-197; Novak 5:23-28

Thurs., Mar. 22 Judaism: Orthodox, Reform, Conservative

Young 197-199; Novak 5:33-37

Tues., Mar. 27 Judaism: The Holocaust

Novak 5:39

Selection from Theodor Herzl, The Idea of the Jewish State (web)

Thurs., Mar. 29 Christianity: History

Young 201-208; Novak 6:1-19; 6:37

Tues., Apr. 3 Christianity: Distinctive Teaching

Young 208-213; Novak 6:36

Thurs., Apr. 5 Christianity: Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant

Young 213--219

Tues., Apr. 10 Christianity: Fundamentalists, Evangelicals, Pentecostals and Charismatics

Young 219--223

Thurs., Apr. 12 Islam: History

Young 225-231; Novak 7:13-15

Tues., Apr. 17 Islam: Distinctive Teaching

Young 231-241; Selections from Al-Qur’an Web: Surah 1, Surah 2; Surah 9;

Surah 81; Surah 99; Surah 101; Novak 7:1-2; 7:5-10; 7:45

Thurs., Apr. 19 Islam: Sunni and Shia

Young 241-248; Novak 7:21-34; 7:35-37; 7:40

Term Papers Due--Thurs. Apr. 19 at the beginning of class!

Tues., Apr. 24 Film: “The Power and the Glory: Islam”

Young 248-250

NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS

Thurs., Apr. 26 Latter Day Saints, Branch Davidians, Wicca

Young 272-274; 266-267; 276-277

On the Web: James D. Tabor, "Rethinking Waco: The Perspective of the Academic

Study of Religion"

Final Exam: Tuesday, May 8, 2:00-5:00 PM

Final Exam over Religions of the Middle East and New Religious Movements

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