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ST. PETERSBURGCOLLEGE
St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus
WORLD RELIGIONS: REL 2300—1152
Fall Session—2012 (460)
Room: EI210 Time: Friday, 9:00—11:50 a.m.
Instructor: Charles Jones, Ph.D. Office: HS 129, Phone: 341-4397
Contact: 727-418-2654 (cell) email: Office Hours: Gibbs Campus: by appointment.
Ms. Nancy Smith, Academic Department Chair for Humanities and Fine Arts; HS118, 727-341-4360
Dr. Jonathan Steele, Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts; Clearwater Campus, 727-791-2548
TEXT: Robert E. Van Voorst, World RELG, Wadsworth/Cengage
Learning; Boston, MA: 2013 (Primary text which is critical for course material—has an online component & e-book if purchased through bookstore.)
Comparative Religions: A Guide to World Religions, Quick Study Academic, BarCharts, Inc. (Strongly recommended aid, can be purchased at the SPC Bookstore.)
PowerPoint presentations posted on ANGEL (Lecture notes)
Study Guides for each chapter are at the back of the textbook which can be removed.)
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course introduces students to the major religious traditions of the world, so that students can recognize and discuss the basic beliefs of each. The course covers the following areas:
- the human impulse to create a “religious” perspective;
- the general tenets of the major world religions, that include but are not limited to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Judaism, Christianity and Islam;
- the cultural context and historical backgrounds of these religions;
- the sacred texts, founders, leaders, and major events in each religious tradition;
- the various rites, holy days, worship practices and significant terms of each religion;
- the role of religion in today’s world;
- new religious movements and their significance for the contemporary scene.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
When an enrolled student exceeds a total of three absencesand has not already withdrawn from the course, he/she will be asked to withdraw by the instructor. If this occurs on or before the 60% point of the term (October25th), a “W” will be assigned to the student that carries no academic penalty; or be given a grade of WF if it occurs later in the term. Excused absences, of course, will not count against the student. However, the student needs to clarify the excused absence with the instructor. Students are responsible for withdrawing from a course. The instructor no longer can do this.
Attendance shall be recorded weekly on ANGEL. Students may keep track of their attendance record by checking ANGEL or consulting with the instructor. Attendance lists will be circulated each class period. The student is responsible for signing in for the class. If a student’s name does not appear on the attendance list, the student shall be marked absent.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
This course is highly interactive. Each student is expected to play an active role in the discussion, both by asking questions and raising points that emerge from the readings and by responding to the comments of other students. The course grade is determined by five major graded assignments:
80% Four objective examinations
20% One five to seven page reflection paper—topics to be assigned
that will ask for analysis, critical evaluation, and an assessment
of particular religious ideas.
Students are expected to display a mastery of the material and be able to discuss the cultural and social implications of the various religious traditions.
All examinations shall be taken online. The first three tests shall be 40 minutes in length and you have two opportunities to take the test with the higher of the two scores counting. The final exam is a bit longer (65 minutes) and shall be taken only once. It is longer than the first three and shall, in part, be comprehensive. Each of the tests counts 20% of the total grade for the course. Students can keep track of their grade averages in “gradebook” on ANGEL.
Note the following procedures for taking the online tests:
1)Approximate dates for the test are listed in the syllabus.
2)Test times will be announced in class.
3)A reminder of test times will be sent to students via email on ANGEL. Students are responsible for checking their email for messages from the instructor. This is essential.
4)A 48 hour period shall be given for students to take each test. Failure to take the test within that time-frame shall result in a zero for the test.
5)If a student incurs any technical difficulty taking the test, call the ANGEL help-line at 727-341-HELP and also email the instructor.
If there are any questions concerning procedures, students may meet with instructor.
EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES: (optional)
During the course of the term, there will be several extra credit opportunities worth five points each that include the following: (no more than ONE typed page)—total of 25 extra credit points
1)Define the term Brahman and explain how it is critical to the Hindu tradition.
2)Define the term “nirvana” and tell how it relates to Buddhism.
3)Define the term “Dao: and explain how it relates to Chinese religion.
4)Read Genesis chapters 1 through 3, then first: determine where the TWO creation stories begin and end: Genesis 1:1-- __ __-- Genesis 3:24; second, answer: What is the purpose of each story? What does each say about “God”? How are humans described? How do these stories set up the rest of the biblical narrative? What is the moral of each story? Why are there two stories?
5)Define the term “grace” and explain why it distinguishes Christian-ity from the other religions of the world.
6)Describe the groups Sunnis and Shi’ites how they differ and the impact they had on the development of Islam.
7)Complete the SSI at the end of the course and submit the end of survey form to the instructor.
Perfect attendance during the term is worth an additional 10 points. (Perfect attendance is defined as missing NO class for any reasonduring the term. This includes excused absences which are not counted toward the 3 unexcused absences. There is the possibility of accumulating 45 extra credit points throughout the term.
This class lasts for 2 hours and 40 minutes. There will ordinarily be a five to seven minute break in the middle of each class. This is NOT a time to leave the class. Those who skip the last half of the class will be counted as absent.
Once a class begins, it is expected that each student will remain in his/her seat until the break. If for personal reasons you need to leave earlier, please sit near the door in order to minimize any disruption if you must leave. Those who violate this policy will be dismissed for the class and counted as absent.
Anyone who arrives at class more than 15 minutes late will be counted as tardy. Habitual tardiness may constitute sufficient reason for the instructor to withdraw a student from the class. There may be those times when there is an emergency which certainly will be taken into consideration.
GRADING SCALE:
A=90-100
B=80-89
C=70-79
D=60-69
F=0-59
PAPER GRADING POLICY:
All papers are to follow the standard MLA format. It is essential that all sources used be properly noted and documented. You may use the short form by citing the author and page number in parentheses after the reference and include the work in a brief bibliography at the end of the essay. Each page of a paper should be clearly numbered.
Papers are usually graded from A to C. If the assignment is completed satisfactorily, well organized, with an introductory paragraph stating the paper’s thesis and a conclusion summarizing the paper, good grammar, correct spelling and proper syntax constitute the elements of an “A” paper. A “B” paper means that the assignment has been completed with some errors. A “C” paper means that there are some deficiencies that need improvement. The only way to fail a writing assignment is not to submit a paper. It is always better to turn something in, to make some effort, and the minimum grade will be given. If at any time a student wants feedback from the instructor, a preliminary draft may be submitted. Papers must be submitted in hard copy. No papers will be accepted through email.
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
Cheating, Plagiarism, Bribery, Misrepresentation, Conspiracy and Fabrication are defined in Rule 6Hx23-4.461, Student Affairs: Academic Honesty Guidelines, Classroom Behavior. St. PetersburgCollege is committed to academic integrity.
THE TEN RULES OF CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:
Classroom courtesy is essential for a positive educational experience. Unnecessary distraction and interruption will be avoided as the following “rules for the room” are observed. The instructor will enforce them strictly. They are not meant to embarrass anyone, but rather to establish clear guidelines for appropriate classroom behavior.
- Cell phones, I-pods and I-phones shall be turned off and put away and all electronic devices turned off and stored during class. Anyone texting during class will be excused for the day and be marked as absent.
- Laptops (with permission of the instructor) may only be used in matters related to the class. Violation will cause the laptop to be confiscated. The student may retrieve it from the Humanities Program office. (HS118)
- There will be no conversations taking place while the instructor is presenting material. Failure to comply will result in the student being excused for the day and marked absent.
- There will be no food consumed during class presentations per college regulations.
- Class times are clearly designated. Students who are more than 15 minutes tardy or who leave class early will be marked absent.
- When class starts, the student shall remain in his/her seat during the instructor’s presentation. If the student must leave for any emergency, the student shall ask the instructor to be excused.
- Respect and courtesy shall be shown to all class members. If this is not observed, the instructor will dismiss the student for the day and mark the student as absent.
- There shall be no sleeping in class during an instructor’s presentation. The instructor may excuse the student for the day and mark the student as absent.
- There shall be no “parading” across the front of the classroom after the instructor has begun class. Randomly going in and out of class while it is in session is the height of rudeness. Any student who does so shall be dismissed for the day and counted as absent. Repeated offenses and the student shall be asked to withdraw from class.
- There shall be no monopolizing the instructor’s time during class. If a student needs to consult with the instructor, an appointment may be made to see the instructor after class.
Any infraction or violation of any of these rules may cause the student to be dismissed from class for the day and marked absent.
CLASS SCHEDULE:
August 24: Introduction
What Is Religion?
WorldRELG 1: “The Big Picture”
August31: Indigenous Religions
WorldRELG 2: “Early Religious Expressions”
September 7: “Many Ways to the One God”
WorldRELG 3: Hinduism
(First optional extra assignment due.)
September 14: “Radical Rejection of the World”
WorldRELG 4: Jainism
TEST 1: On all material up to this point!
September 21: “The Enlightened Path”
WorldRELG 5: Buddhism
(Second optional extra credit assignment due.)
September 28: India’s Unique Syncretistic Religion
WorldRELG 6: Sikhism
October 5: “Understanding Harmony and Balance”
WorldRELG 7: Confucianism & Daoism
(Third optional extra credit assignment due)
October 12: “Veneration of the Past”
WorldRELG 8: Shinto
TEST 2: On all material since last test!
October 19: “The Way of the One Wise Lord”
WorldRELG 9: Zoroastrianism
October 25: The Last Day to Withdraw from the Course with a
Grade of “W”
October 26: “A Chosen People”
WorldRELG 10: Judaism
(Fourth optional extra credit assignment due)
REFLECTION PAPER DUE ON THIS DATE!
Papers must be turned in on time!!!!
November 2: “What Good Can Come from Nazareth?”
WorldRELG 11: Christianity
(Fifth optional extra credit assignment due.)
November 9: “The Maturing of a Tradition”
WorldRELG 11: Christianity
TEST 3: On all material covered since last test.
November 16: “The Way of Total Submission”
WorldRELG 12: Islam
NOVEMBER 23: NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING BREAK
November 30: “Religion in a Different Key”
WorldRELG 13: New Religious Movements
December 7: “Wrapping It Up”
Slide Show 14: Religion in the 21st Century
December 10-13 Final Exams to be taken Online
NOTE: The final exam will concentrate on material covered since the last exam, but there will be some “big picture” questions that will be reviewed during the last class period. It is the fourth test for the course. A special study sheet will be posted on ANGEL that will summarize the material for the final exam.
CHOICE OF PAPER TOPICS: You may choose any one of the following three topics upon which to write a five to seven page, type-written, double-spaced reflection paper. Read each choice carefully, and whichever one you choose, be sure to write on the topic as assigned. Papers are due October 26th. Options three and four are research papers which will require a mini-mum of four outside resources, two of which must be books. (Wikipedia is NOT an acceptable resource for academic work.) If you choose option three or four, please check with the instructor— choose a religious movement or person who is NOT associated with your own religious tradition. MLA format is expected. Please use the writing lab in the library to assist you in your paper.
1.In considering the major Eastern religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism, describe their worldviews, their claims about the nature of reality as a whole, about the nature of persons, the “human dilemma,” about the spiritual goal of humans, and about the significance of moral values. How does each tradition shape the society in which it exists? What kind of “hope” does each hold out to its adherents?
2.Judaism, Christianity and Islam are considered the three major monotheistic religions in the world. How are their concepts of God similar and where do they differ? Each tradition is a “religion of the book.” What role do the sacred scriptures play in each? How does each describe the human struggle in life? What is the “plan” of salvation? Why are they called “Abrahamic” religions? What is “unique” about each, and how does each provide “purpose” for living?
3.You may pick any one of the new religious movements mentioned in the 12th chapter of the Fisher text and write a brief history on it. Your paper must include: major influences on the religious movement; founders and their impact; its basic convictions and beliefs; its distinctive rituals; the major impact that the movement has had; and what you see as the incentive for people to join the movement. How has the particular movement provided a spiritual alternative that did not exist before?
4.You may choose a significant religious figure and research thoroughly this person’s background. (Please check with the instructor.) The paper should include: formative influences on the person, the religious tradition of which he/she is a part, the impact this person has had on it, significant writings or religious practices that may be associated with this person, and why the person is remembered today. Comment on how society reacted to this individual and the impact that the person had on society in their day. [You are to become the expert on this religious figure.]