North
Carolina Wesleyan College
Humanities
Division
Spring
2001
Tues
& Thurs 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Room:
PC 279
Instructor: Steven A.
Benko, MA, M.Phil e-mail:
sabenko1@hotmail.com
Office Hours: Tues. &
Thurs. 9:45-11:15
Or
by appt. – Office Hours in Library
Course
Description:
This course is an
investigation into the histories and worldviews of some of the different
stories, rituals, beliefs, moral codes, and shared experiences that are
collected (or subsumed) under the category of ‘religion.’ We will divide our attention between the
historical development of each tradition and the worldview or belief system
that has been extrapolated from those experiences.
While this course is an
investigation into the different ‘religions’ of the world, it is also an
investigation of the term ‘religion’ and the many meanings that have been, and
can be, attached to this word.
Method and
Objectives:
Classes will consist of
lectures, films, and discussions.
Students will complete the participation component of their grade by
asking questions about the assigned readings, lectures, films, as well as
raising their own questions about the material based on their own experiences
and interpretation.
At the end of the class,
each student will have a working knowledge of the history, geography, and
worldview of the different traditions covered in class. Students will be able to articulate, orally
and in writing, the unique features of these traditions, as well as some of the
features they may have in common with one another. Paramount to each student’s success in this class will be the
ability to discuss each religion with respect for its beliefs and rituals.
Course
Requirements and Assignments:
Required Texts: Warren Matthews, World Religions, Third Edition.
Reading assignments are
listed in the schedule of lectures.
Students are asked to read the assigned pages (either from the text book
or on reserve in the library) before class lecture and discussion. Students should bring their textbook to each
class.
Students will choose one
of the following:
-
A 2-page reflection paper to completed at the end
of our discussion of each religion.
-
Two book reports of approximately 5-6 pages. Students must submit each book to the
instructor for approval. Students can
look to the ‘Suggested Readings’ section at the end of each chapter, or solicit
suggestions from the instructor.
-
A research paper of approximately 10-12 pages. The instructor must approve topics. In addition, each paper must contain
footnotes and bibliography of works cited.
There will be a mid-term
exam and a non-cumulative final exam.
Exams will consist of multiple choice, short answer, and essay
questions. Each exam will be curved. The final exam for this course is May 8th,
8:00 – 10:00 AM. It is the student’s
responsibility to resolve any scheduling conflicts.
Attendance and
Participation:
Attendance is mandatory
and will be taken each day. All
students are expected to attend all classes and arrive on time for them. Each unexcused absence after the first one
will result in a deduction of one point from the attendance and participation
component.
Grading:
Exams: 100 points, 50% of total
Papers: 80 points, 40% of total
Participation and Attendance: 20 points, 10% of
total
Extra Points:
Opportunities for extra
points will present themselves during the course of the semester. The instructor will make those announcements
to all students by announcing them in class or via e-mail.
Late Papers &
Make-up Test Policy:
Students will be allowed
to turn in papers late, or take a test they have missed, only if there is a
valid and documented reason for doing so.
Schedule
of Lectures, Readings, and Assignments
January 30th:
Introduction
-
Syllabus review
-
What is a ‘religion’?
-
What is a ‘worldview’?
February 1st:
A Narrative Theory of Religion
-
World Religions (WR) – Introduction
-
Religion as Story, Space and Story
February 6th:
Native Traditions
-
WR: pp. 19-36
-
Cheyenne Sweet Medicine (on reserve)
February 8th:
Native Traditions (II)
-
Cheyenne Sweet Medicine (conclusion)
-
Shooting Stories at You
-
WR: pp. 36-52
February 13th:
African Religions and Colonialism
-
Religions of Africa
-
WR: pp. 52-78
-
Savage
System by David Chidester
February 15th:
Is there a religion called ‘Hinduism’?
-
WR: pp. 82-112
-
“Instant Karma” by John Lennon
February 20th:
Caste System?
-
WR: pp. 112-125
February 22nd:
Buddhism
-
Movie: ‘Little Buddha’
-
Be reading WR, chapter 4
February 27th:
Buddhism and the Move West
-
Movie: Finish ‘Little Buddha’
-
Buddhist History, Geography and Theology
-
WR, chapter 4
March 1st: MID-TERM EXAM
March 6th:
Buddhism in Popular Literature and Culture
-
Buddhism and the Beat Generation
-
Tibet – and what are the Beastie Boys talking
about?
March 8th: Winnie
the Pooh … Winnie the Pooh
-
Taoism and Winnie the Pooh
-
Confucianism
-
WR, pp. 208-235
March 13th:
Ancient Near Eastern Religions … Star Wars?
-
From Zoroastrianism to a galaxy far, far away
-
WR, pp. 255-277
March 15th:
God in History
-
Ancient Judaism and the idea of the ‘Chosen People’
-
WR, pp. 313-327
March 20th and 22nd: Spring Break
March 27th:
Text, Theology/Religion, and Comedy
-
Book of Jonah (on reserve)
-
WR, pp. 280-312
March 29th:
The Holocaust and the Problem of Evil
-
Book of Job (on reserve)
-
Art Spiegelman’s Maus
April 3rd:
Different Authors, Different Audiences, Different Concerns
-
The development and formation of the Hebrew
Scriptures
-
The Book of Genesis (on reserve)
April 5th: One
Life, Different Authors, Different Audiences, Different Concerns
-
The development and formation of the Christian
Scriptures
-
Read at least 2: The Gospel of Matthew, The
Gospel of Mark, The Gospel of Luke, the Gospel of John (on reserve)
April 10th:
The Quest for the Historical Jesus
-
What is history?
-
The development of the academic study of religion
April 12th:
Christian Theology
-
WR, pp. 372-383
-
Christ and Culture
April 17th:
Early Christianity
-
From Christian origins to a universal church
-
WR, pp. 329-357
April 19th:
The Reformation
-
Christianity Fragments and Blossoms
-
WR, pp. 358-372
April 24th:
The Emergence of Islam
-
WR, pp. 385-417
April 26th:
Muslim Theology and Belief
-
WR, pp. 417-429
May 1st:
Religion and the 21st century
-
New Religious Movements
-
Alternative Religions
May 3rd: Final
Review
FINAL EXAM: May 8th,
8:00 – 10:00 AM