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?College of Liberal Arts & SciencesDepartment of ReligionProfessor Burlein's Home Page??RELI 75 Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest -- Fall 2013MW 2:55-4:20 Breslin 0015In a false world, the only true life is an other life. -- M. FoucaultAnn Burlein104K Heger HallAnn.Burlein@Hofstra.edu516-463-7238Office Hours: Mondays 12:30-2:00 and Wednesdays 2:00-2:30 Assignment summary: 25% attendance & discussion -- 25% each test (total 75%) -- extra credit optionsBooks to buy:Woodhead, Christianity: A Very Short Introduction -- * on syllabusFoucault, Security, Territory, Population -- * on syllabusJohn Powers, A Concise Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism -- * on syllabusEnnis Edmonds, Rastafari: A Very Short Introduction -- * on syllabus?This is a picture of a sculpture by Bernini entitled the Ectasy of St. Teresa (1647-1652). It is in the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome. ???????Course Schedule????W Sept 4Introductions???Women Medieval Mystics?M Sept 9Background Information *Christianity: A Very Short Introduction, chaps 1-4. This is background reading -- you are not responsible for all of these facts. If your copy has not arrived, you can read the text at: Sept 11 Secondary scholarshipCaroline Walker Bynum, "Women Mystics and Eucharistic Devotion" from Fragmentation and Redemption, pg 119-150. ?M Sept 16 and W Sept 18 Primary MaterialsHadewijch, "Visions," pg 259-305. For Wednesday, also read: Chrisopher Bolas, On Being a Character. ?Foucault: Mysticism as Counter-Conduct to Pastoral Power????M Sept 23Theoretical Frameworks -- pastoral power*Security, Territory, Population, chapter 7, pg 163-185. More on pastoral power.????W Sept 25Theoretical Frameworks -- counter-conduct*Security, Territory, Population, chapter 8, pg. 191-216. Your key term here is counter-conduct. ????M Sept 30 and W Oct 2Review for test # 1 on Christian medieval mystics and FoucaultIn preparation for your take home essay that will focus on reading a primary text, go back to our readings from Christian women mystics: the secondary materials by Bynum and the primary materials (or first-hand insider documents) by Hadewijch. Bring in some examples of mysticism functioning as a counter-conduct: a way that medieval women said "I do not want to have my conduct be conducted in that way; in that name; by that person or institution; for that end." It could be any of those. Be sure to think about the specifics: if not "for that end," then for what end do they want to conduct their conduct? If not by that person or institution, then by whom do they want to be governed? ????M Oct 7Test #1 on Christian medieval mystics and Foucault???????Tibetan Buddhism?W Oct 9, M Oct 14, and W Oct 16Extra credit option -- Attend the lecture on Oct 9 at 6pm in Monroe Lecture Hall by Nathan Schneider, "What Proofs about God Really Prove"*Concise Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, chapters 1, 2 and 3. ?????M Oct 21 and W Oct 23*Concise Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, chapter 5. Om Mani Peme Hung (mantra)Om Mani Peme Hung (sung with prayer wheel)Vajradhatu mandala -- be sure to click on explanations/ books with questions marksRead summary of Vajrasattva purification and hear the mantraChenrezig sadhana????M Oct 28, W Oct 30Contemporary counter-conduct: Clips from Kundun -- we will watch the opening lines which set the scene, chapters 3-4 (10:48-32:36) and then chapter 15 until the end (1:40-2:13). Preece, chapters 15 and 18 from The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra.????M Nov 4Review for Test?W Nov 6Test # 2 on Tibetan Buddhism?Rastafarianism???????M Nov 11Secondary scholarshipEdmonds, Rastafari, chps 1 and 2. ?W Nov 13Secondary scholarshipEdmonds, Rastafari, chps 3 and 4. ?M Nov 16Secondary scholarship Edmonds, Rastafari, chps 5 and 6.?W Nov 20Primary MaterialsForsythe, chapters 1 and 4 from Rastafari, 1-10 and 91-130.????M Dec 2 and W Dec 4Primary MaterialsForsythe, chapters 5 and 6 from Rastafari, 131-190. This is a huge chunk, but as you will see much is his personal story and so you should skim much of it. ????M Dec 9Re-read Foucault on counter-conduct: chps 7 and 8. As you read, keep in mind my claim that Foucault comes up with the notion of counter-conduct as a way to bring avoid some false oppositions that he thought got in the way of understanding religion and its role in society. Some oppositions to consider:** religion vs. politics** religion vs. lifestyle/ culture** personal and individual spiritual quests vs. community building and ethical concerns for others** extraordinary ecstatic emotional or inner states vs. the everyday concerns of ordinary life** mystical and eternal truths vs. life on earth?W Dec 11 Review for test?Scheduled exam timeTest on Rastafarianism. Take home essay due?Assignments:There is no one textbook that holds this class together. To do well in this course, attendance is crucial. To reflect this, 25% of your final grade will come from your participation. You must 1) ATTEND ALL classes, 2) have read and PREPARED all assignments before coming to class and 3) DISCUSS relevant issues. How this works: If you attend class regularly and pay attention (rather than constantly doing facebook on your computer), BUT NEVER SPEAK, you earn a D. If however, you attend class regularly, speak rarely and pay attention (do not text or work on your computer), you earn a C. If you attend class regularly and speak occasionally and show evidence of preparation, you earn a B. If you attend class regularly and speak frequently with evidence of thought and preparation, you earn an A. What does "attend regularly" mean? Because there is no one textbook that holds this class together, absences in this class work like karma. You have two days to be absent without consequences. On your third day of absence, you lose all benefit of the doubt when it comes to your final grade. For every absence thereafter, you lose 1/3 of a letter grade from your final participation grade. (If you cut class twice in the beginning of the semester, and then become sick for two days at the end, karma will take effect and your final grade will go down). When you are absent, YOU are responsible to find out from another student what went on in class and for making up the work that you missed.? MAKE FRIENDS. If you are absent on a day when we are scheduled to take a test, see my policy on late work. 75% of your final grade will come from 3 tests, each worth 25%. Each test will be a mix of different kinds of objective questions which test your retention of information (true/ false, matching, etc.) short answer questions which test your comprehension of concepts; and 2 take home essay(s) which test your ability to use a theoretical framework to make sense of a religious phenomenon. One of these essays will require you to analayze a primary text (something written by an insider in the religion). The other will ask you to engage in a practice (loosely related to the religion in question) that you will need to do over a period of time before the essay is due so that you can write an essay reflecting on your experience of how this practice works (or does not work) as counter-conduct.Extra Credit possibilities -- earn extra points on your lowest grade by participating in the intellectual life of your campus community** earn 10 pts on your lowest grade by attending Nathan Schneider's lecture on Oct 9.** earn 10 pts on your lowest grade by attending another event on campus related to religion, medicine, or cross-cultural diversity and writing me a short email in which you answer the 'so what?' question: so I went -- so what? what did I learn?** earn 10 pts on your lowest grade by leading class discussion on Rastafari. If you want to do this, you need to let me know in advance so that I can give you instructions on how to prepare. (for those whose schedules do not permit extra time on campus in addition to class).?Late Work Policy -- It is hard for me to give you feedback (and fulfill my other obligations) if I do not recieve your work when it is due. As a result, I do not accept late work -- unless you are under severe duress (comatose will count) AND you let me know BEFORE the work is due (email is best; phone will count). ????GradingStudying religion is both an academic and a personal exercise. In your written assignments you will be graded on thinking and argumentation. I will not grade your personal beliefs or non-belief.? Nor will I grade or the particular position you take. I will grade how well you articulate why you (or someone) thinks this way as well as your ability to reflect critically on the position you take.Grading Scale0 -- You turned in an assignment that was not your own. Don't let this be you!F -- You can earn an F in two ways. Your writing was fantastic, but late. OR your writing fails to answer the questions, expresses little accurate information, and/ or is not coherent.D -- shows effort, but the information and explanation are weak. You need to make more references to the readings.C -- articulates what you think clearly.?You need to engage in a more detailed and systematic way with the readings.B -- explores why you think the way you do.A -- reserved for excellence, when you use the material as a springboard for higher level thinking. You engage with other perspectives and counter-arguments. You elaborate a creative and original take on the readings and issues being discussed in class, and you articulate your thoughts in your own voice. You go beyond stating your point of view to evaluate the pros and cons of thinking the way you do.How I convert letter grades into numbersAcademic Dishonesty: This course is dedicated to helping you develop your own thinking about what religion is. Thus I regard plagiarism as a serious violation of the academic compact, because it involves passing off someone else's thought as your own. This can happen by copying someone else's words or re-phrasing someone else's ideas in your words. Neither is your own thought: If through conversation with you I determine that you have committed an academic violation, you will receive a zero for the assignment and I will file a report to the Provost and Dean (as per University policy). I regard cheating on a test similarly: you are encouraged to work and study with others before the test, but when you are in a test you are on your own, without notes or cell.???Plagiarism is a serious ethical and professional infraction.? Hofstra’s policy on academic honesty reads: “The academic community assumes that work of any kind [...] is done, entirely, and without assistance, by and only for the individual(s) whose name(s) it bears.”? Please refer to the "Procedure for Handling Violations of Academic Honesty by Undergraduate Students at Hofstra University" for details about what constitutes plagiarism, and Hofstra’s procedures for handling violations.? ????Disabilities Policy: If you believe you need accommodations for a disability, please contact Services for Students with Disabilities(SSD). In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, qualified individuals with disabilities will not be discriminated against in any programs, or services available at Hofstra University. Individuals with disabilities are entitled to accommodations designed to facilitate full access to all programs and services. SSD is responsible for coordinating disability-related accommodations and will provide students with documented disabilities accommodation letters, as appropriate.? Since accommodations may require early planning and are not retroactive, please contact SSD as soon as possible. All students are responsible for providing accommodation letters to each instructor and for discussing with him or her the specific accommodations needed and how they can be best implemented in each course. For more information on services provided by the university and for submission of documentation, please contact the? Services for Students with Disabilities, 212 Memorial Hall, 516-463-7075.????Goals:This course fulfills the following goals for the religion department:Goal #1 -- Students will be able to describe religions' historical contexts.Goal # 3 -- Students will be able to analyze the social implications of religion.Goal # 4 -- Students will be able to interpret a variety of religious texts.This course fulfills the following goals for distribution credit. Goal 1. Students will demonstrate the ability to think critically and creatively.Goal 2. Students will apply analytical reasoning across academic disciplines.Goal 5. Students will develop an awareness of and sensitivity to global issues.????Page edited by Ann Burlein August 14 2013? ................
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