CourseOutline:2017-18
Religious Studies 2130 Location:HUC, W12 Day(s): W
Time:7-8:50 pm.
Instructor(s): First Term:Rev. Janet Anstead
Contact info:
Second Term: Dr. Bill Acres
Contact info:
CourseOutcomes:
The purpose ofthe course is to develop students’understanding of the living religionsof the world with a major emphasis on theirorigins, historical development, teachings and practices. The currentpractices ofthese religions, both within their region (country) of origin, and abroad, will be discussed.
Religions are not “linear” or logical.Much of the material will be presented in alinear fashion, but there arethematic areas of somecomplexity—of specialnote are theconcepts ofBrahman- Atman in Hindu Upanishads; Anatta in Buddhism; Sacraments and the Trinity in Christianity; but, otherwise, the materials are accessible. There are greatsimilarities between religions but in this coursethere is noattempt to homogenize them. Canada is a thriving multicultural society and the study of religions is a part of Canadian culture and society.
CourseSyllabus:
Course Delivery:
It is a very good policytoattendalllectures—history shows that the highest grades follow nearly perfect attendance. Theroomis a wired amphitheatre, meaning that evenwhisperingcan be heard there.There will also be various guest lecturersthroughout the duration of thecourse. Attendanceis mandatory and any material presented istestable. These speakers have been brought intoenrich your learning experience byallowing students toencounter and dialogue with someone fromwithin the faith.
The coursematerials are the textbook (as below) and all materials are available tostudents on Sakai: Lecture notes, background notes, interviews with experts, review questions andanswers, and other materials as needed (directions to visits). Please note: site visits are mandatory.
Assessments:
Two term tests of Scantron questions (30% each) heldin the Kingsmill Common Room, HUC, November 8, 2017, and January 31, 2018. In addition, a final examination will be scheduled during the examination period. Please note: Scantronswill not be reviewed as partof the assessment process. Scantronswill be processedasfilled in. Reviews for each test,reviewquestions and answerswill be provided on Sakai.
Required Text
1.A Concise Introduction to WorldReligions,ed. W. G. Oxtoby &A. F.Segal. New York: OxfordUniversity Press. 2012.
Itemsto Note: Prerequisite Information:
It is the student’sresponsibility forensuring that he/she has successfullymet the course prerequisite or has obtained specialpermission fromthe Dean of their Faculty. Unless you have either the prerequisites for thiscourse or writtenspecial permission fromthe Dean to enrollin it, you will beremovedfromthis course and it willbe deleted fromyour record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive noadjustment to your feesin the event that you aredropped froma course for failingto have thenecessary prerequisites.
Plagiarism:
Students must write theiressays andassignments in their ownwords. Whenever students take an idea or passage formanother author,they must acknowledgetheir debt both by using quotation marks where appropriate and by proper referencing such asfootnotes orcitations. Plagiarismis an academic offence and will betreated as such.If in any doubt as tothe nature of this offence, consult yourinstructor or theDartmouth Handbook on Sources: Their Use andAcknowledgementavailable in the Huron University CollegeLibrary.
Plagiarismsoftware maybe used inthis course.Students may be required to submit their work in electronic form.
Counselling:ReligiousStudies students requiring counselling about their programof study or related matters (eg. Appeals,lettersof permission, special permission) should contacttheir Faculty Dean or Academic Advisors.
Course Schedule:
September2017
13: Intro:(Anstead)The Indian religions overviewand Hindu I 20: Hinduism II
27: Hinduism III and Buddhism October 2017
4: Buddhism and Jain
11- No Class
18: Jain and Buddhism conclusion
25: Sikh
November 2017
1: Review
8: Test no 1.30% Hinduism, Buddhism, Jain, Sikhism, Kingsmill Room 7pm, 1hour
15: Zoroastrianism
22: ChineseReligions I
29: Confucius I
January 2018
10: (Acres)Tao
17 Tao conclusion
14: Shinto
31: Test No 2, 30%, China, Shinto, Zoroastrianism, Taoism Kingsmill Room, 7pm, 1 hr.
February 2018
7: Judaismand Monotheism
14: Judaism
21: Conference Week No Class
28: Christianity
March 2018
7: Christianity
14: Islam
21: Islam
28: Islam
April 2018
4: Bahai
Final Exam: 40%: Date and timewill be posted on the Western Registrar’s site in draft and final form. Pleasecheckboth.
The above isthe generalpattern for the lectures: much of the material will overlapintothe following week. Not allof the material on the following sheetwill be covered inclass. Each student must, therefore,read the appropriate required text in additionto the lecture material.
Lecture materials covered by topic Introduction to religion:
1.What is religion?
2.Importance of understandingthe world religions.
3.Characteristics of religion
Hinduism:
1.Origins: Historical development
2.Scriptures: Vedas, Upanishad, Bhagwad Gita
3.Major beliefs and practices:
a)The Absolute(Brahman) and the soul (Atman)
b)Bondage and paths of liberation
c)The law of Karma
d)The four goals of life
e)The four stages of life
f)Hindu trinity, daily worship (puja)
4.Hinduismat present
Buddhism:
1.Life ofGautma Buddha
2.Scriptures ofBuddhism
3.Four Noble Truths: Middle path,Nirvana
4.Rituals, Symbols (three refuges)
5.Concept of No-self
6.Sects of Buddhism
7.Buddhism outsideIndia
Jainism:
1.Life of Mahavira
2.Jain writings
3.Basic concepts: livingand non-living
4.The five great vows, non-violence
5.Types of Jain practices
Sikhism:
1.The lifeof the founder, Guru Nanak
2.Political history of Sikhism
3.Scripture ofSikhism
4.Basic teachings
5.Sikh symbols (5 k’s)
6.Variations within Sikhism
7.Sikh ceremonies andobservances
Introduction to Chinese and Japanese religions Confucius: QongZi’s teachings
1.Historical backgroundto his writings
2.Life ofConfucius: teacher
3.Literatureof Confucianism: Analects
4.Teachingsof Confucius: a) Ethicalprinciples b) religiousteachings
5.Confucianismand themodern world.
Taoism:
1.Origin and life ofLao Tzu
2.Scriptures ofTaoism
3.Taoismas philosophy
4.Taoismas religion
5.Taoismtoday
Shinto:
1.Origin and historicaldevelopment
2.Basic teachings: Kami, Nature, HumanBeings
3.Forms of Shinto: Primitive, State (Tennoism) and Domestic (popular)
4.Religiousfestivals andobservances
5.Shinto inpresenttime
Zoroastrianism:
1.Life ofZoroaster
2.Zoroastrian Scriptures
3.Basic Teachings and Practices: a)Nature of God; b) Zoroastrian Ethicsand Humans; c) Worship and Rituals; d) Tower of Silence
Judaism:
1.Historical background
2.Scripture: The Hebrew Bible
3.Basic Teachings and beliefs: TheAbsolute, the World, Humans
4.Jewish Observances and Festivals
5.Major groups of Judaism
Christianity:
1.Life ofJesus Christ
2.Scripture: The Bible
3.Major Teachings of Jesus: a) TheKingdomof God; b) Religious teachings; c) Ethical teachings; d) Trinity
4.Worship and Sacraments
5.Major groups of Christians
Islam:
1.Life ofthe Prophet Muhammed
2.Scripture: The Quran
3.Major beliefs and thefive Pillars of Wisdom
4.Islamic Observationsand Festivals’
5.Sects of Islam
Bahai:
1.Origin and development of Bahai
2.Life ofthe Founder:Bahaullah 3.Major teachings and practices
4.Structureof Bahai faith
5.Bahai and the modern world.
Assignments:
Midterm Test No. 1: November 8, Kingsmill Room, 7-8pm, 40% Midterm Test No. 2: January 31, 2018, Kingsmill Room, 7-8pm, 20%
Final Examination:TBAduring finalexamination period, 40%
All tests are Scantron. Scantronscannot be reviewed afterthetest. If there are discrepancies these will be noted in Scan-Exam II during the score processing.
AdditionalStatements:
1.Statement on Use of ElectronicDevices during Tests and Exams
Itis notappropriatetousetechnology(such as, but notlimited,tolaptops, PDAs,cell phones)inthe classroomfornon-classroomactivities.Such activityisdisruptive and is distractingtootherstudents and totheinstructor, and can inhibitlearning.Students are expected to respect the classroom environmentand torefrain frominappropriate use of technologyand other electronic devices in class.
2.Statement on Academic Offences: Scholastic offences aretaken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriatepolicy,specifically,the definitionofwhatconstitutes aScholastic Offence,atthefollowing web site:
3.Support Services:
- UWORegistrar’sOffice:
- Huron’s FacultyofTheology,Office of the Dean:
- FacultyofTheologyoffice:,519-438-7224,ext.289
- Bachelor’s Academic Advising atHuron:
- Huron’s Writing SkillsCentre:
- UWO’s Mental Healthwebsite: Studentswho are in emotional/mentaldistress should refer to this website for acompletelistofoptionsabouthow to obtain help.
- UWOStudent Support andDevelopmentServices:
- Services provided byWestern UniversityStudentCouncil:
4.Accommodationfor absences:
Ifdocumentationis requiredfor either medicalor non-medical academic accommodation,then such documentationmustbe submitted by the studentdirectly toyourFaculty’s Dean’soffice (or academic counselor), and nottotheinstructor.FortheFaculty ofTheology,all suchdocumentationmustbe
submittedto roomA227.It will bethe Dean`s office thatwill determine ifaccommodation is
warranted.
a)Non-medicalabsences:
Documentation willberequiredfor non-medicalabsencesfrommidtermsand must be supplied toAcademic Counseling inyourhome faculty. Academic Counseling willsupply a note supportingthe documentationfor approval/acceptance bythe Instructor.Youwill be notified ofthis throughout the process.
b)Medicalabsences:See also thePolicyonAccommodation for MedicalIllness
—Undergraduate Students,at
[Forwork representing 10%ormore of the overallgradefor the course,astudentmust presentdocumentation indicatingthat the studentwas seriouslyaffectedbyillnessand couldnot reasonably be expected to meethis/her academic responsibilities.Documentation mustbe submitted assoon as possible to your FacultyDean’soffice (HuronArts & SocialScience students should take their documentation to the Academic Counsellor,through the Academic Services Centre atHuron),together withaRequestfor Reliefspecifying the nature ofthe accommodation requested.The requestand documentation will beassessedand appropriate accommodation will be determined bytheDean’s office inconsultation with the instructor(s.) Academic accommodationwillbe granted ONLYwhere the documentation indicates thatthe onset,duration and severityoftheillness aresuch thatthestudentcould notreasonablybe expected to complete his/her academic responsibilities.
The UWO StudentMedicalCertificate(SMC) and Request for Reliefare available at theStudent Centre website ( UniversityCollege AcademicCounselling website( or from the Dean’s Office orAcademic Services Centre atHuron.