RLS 1200G:
INTRODUCTION TO RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Professor: Dr. Jason Waller
Office: Coleman Hall 3734
Email:
Text:(765)-586-6894
Lecture: MW 2:00 – 3:15
Room: Coleman Hall 2731
Office Hours: T 4:00 – 7:00; W 12:00 – 2:00
Required Tests
- Huston Smith, The World’s Religions.
- Confucius, The Analects.
- Lao Tzu, Tao TeChing.
- The Bhagavad Gita. (Easwaran, trans.)
- The Upanishads (Easwaran, trans.)
- Buddhist Scriptures (Penguin Classics)
- The Bible
- The Qur’an (Khalidi, trans.)
Course Description
This course is intended as a first course in the study of the world’s religions. We will examine three of the world’s most influential religious traditions: the Chinese tradition (Confucianism and Taoism), the Indian tradition (Hinduism and Buddhism), and the Near-Eastern tradition (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). The purpose of this course is (i) to learn the “basic facts” about each tradition and (ii) to examine “key insights” that each tradition has into the ultimate meaning of life.
Course Objectives
- Familiarity with the basic facts about the world’s major religious traditions.
- Familiarity with the “key insights” into the meaning of life offered by each tradition.
- Develop the student’s own views on the ultimate nature of reality.
- Develop critical thinking skills and clear writings skills.
Course Requirements
Quizzes and In Class Work25% of Final Grade
Take-Home Exam I25% of Final Grade
Take-Home Exam II25% of Final Grade
Take-Home Exam III25% of Final Grade
Class Work / Reading Quizzes
There will be times throughout the semester where we will do in class group work. These assignments will be graded and make up about a 1/4 of your final grade. There will be some number of “pop” quizzes during the semester. The questions for these quizzes will be answered in the readings assigned for that day’s class. **The quizzes are open note.** So please take notes when you read! You will answer the questions on your own paper, so please bring some blank paper to class.
*Also, please always bring your book to class because we will be referring to it often.
Exams
There will be three exams in this class. They will all be take home exams.
Attendance Policy
You are expected to be in class each day having read the material assigned for that day. If you cannot make it to class for some reason, then please email and if we have a quiz or class assignment that day, then you will be excused from it. If you do not contact me before class (baring unusual circumstances, of course), then you get a 0 on the quiz or assignment if we have one.
Extra Credit
There is substantial extra credit possibilities in this class. You can write an extra credit paper for an additional 3 points added to your final grade. These papers should be about 5 pages. To do this, please choose a religious tradition not studied in this class and explain the basic facts and key insights of that tradition. Important: You must talk to me before you undertake an extra credit project.
Contacting the Professor
You have three ways of contacting me. First, you can stop by my office hours. Second, you can email me. Third, you can send me a text. Here are some general guidelines regarding contacting me:
If you cannot make it to class for some reason and want to be excused, please send me an email. Do not text.
If there is some kind of emergency that I need to know about, you have a quick question, or you wish to set up an appointment please feel free to text or email.
Please note that if the question you ask is answered in this syllabus, then I will likely not respond to you. So please check the syllabus before you contact me.
Contacting You
Throughout the semester I will send you emails in case a class needs to be canceled for some reason or if the reading assignment changes. Please keep on top of these emails.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to maintain principles of academic integrity
and conduct as defined in EIU’s Code of Conduct (
Violations will be reported to the Office of Student Standards
Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a documented disability in need of accommodations to fully
participate in this class, please contact the Office of Student Disability Services (OSDS). All accommodations must be approved through OSDS. Please stop by Ninth Street Hall, Room 2006, or call 217-581-6583 to make an appointment.
The Student Success Center
Students who are having difficulty achieving their academic goals are encouraged to
contact the Student Success Center ( for assistance with time management, test taking, note taking, avoiding procrastination, setting goals, and other skills to support academic achievement. The Student Success Center provides individualized consultations. To make an appointment, call 217-581-6696 or go to 9th Street Hall, Room 1302.
No Class On:
5 September (Labor Day)
21 - 23 November (Thanksgiving Break)
**Reading Schedule**
This schedule is only an outline. More detailed reading assignments will be given in class.
Introduction: Thinking About Religion
Big Question: Why is Life so Messed Up?
Three Traditions: Chinese, Indian, Near-Eastern
Inclusivism, Exclusivism, and Overlapping
What is a Religion?
Unit One: The Story of China
(Confucius and Taoism)
Week 2: Confucianism Smith Ch. 4; Analects
Week 3: Confucianism Analects
Week 4: Taoism Smith Ch. 5; Tao TeChing
Week 5: TaoismTao TeChing
Take-Home Exam on China
Unit Two: The Story of India
(Hinduism and Buddhism)
Week 6: HinduismSmith Ch. 2; Bhagavad Gita
Week 7: HinduismBhagavad Gita; Upanishads
Week 8: Hinduism / BuddhismUpanishads; Smith Ch. 3
Week 9: Buddhism“Buddhist Universe,” “The Buddha”
Week 10: Buddhism“Meditation,” “Enlightenment”
Take-Home Exam on India
Unit Three: The Story of Western Monotheism
(Judaism, Christianity, and Islam)
Week 11: JudaismSmith Ch. 7; Genesis; Exodus
Week 12: ChristianitySmith Ch. 8; Matthew; John; Romans
Week 13: ChristianityMatthew; John; Romans
Week 14: IslamSmith Ch. 6; The Qur’an
Week 15: IslamThe Qur’an
Take-Home Exam on Western Monotheism
1