RELS 101 APPROACHES TO RELIGION: SPIRIT AND SPIRITS IN THE STUDY OF RELIGION

Transcription

1 RELS 101 APPROACHES TO RELIGION: SPIRIT AND SPIRITS IN THE STUDY OF RELIGION Instructor: Lenny J. Lowe, Ph.D. Phone: (Office); (Cell) Office Location: 4A Glebe 102 Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am Noon; Anytime by appointment! Course Description This course is designed to introduce students to theoretical and methodological approaches to the academic study of religion. The course will take as its topical center of gravity the notions of excess, more than, and other than that many religious cultures express through the idioms of Spirit or spirits. In each of three units, the course will use film, music, lectures, and weekly readings paired with in-class and online discussions. By the end of the semester, students will be able to demonstrate understanding of several theoretical approaches to the study of religion and corresponding methodologies as well as some familiarity with several religious traditions from around the world. Specific Course Goals: 1) Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of at least two of the theoretical approaches to religion (e.g. thing-theory, gender-theory, crowd-theory, affect-theory). 2) Students will be able to identify and describe methodological approaches that correspond to these theoretical approaches (e.g. historical-critical, textual-critical, critical-ethnographic). 3) Students will demonstrate familiarity with beliefs, texts, objects and practices across three broad cultural-religious domains: East and Southeast Asian traditions, American Protestant traditions, and the traditions of the Black Atlantic. 4) Students will be able to speak and write critically and thoughtfully about the notion of Spirit and spirits in religious traditions, connecting them to social, economic, and political realities. 5) Students will demonstrate a critical-empathetic approach to encountering basic cultural and religious differences. 1

2 General Education Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) 1) Students analyze how ideas are represented, interpreted or valued in various expressions of human culture. 2) Students examine relevant primary source materials as understood by the humanities area under study and interpret the material in writing assignments. Religious Studies Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) 1) Students recognize and explain the major theoretical perspectives and key issues of debate in the academic study of religion. Attendance Policy The nature of our course requires participation, and participation requires your actual physical presence as much as is possible. To that end, I expect that you will be present and on time always. I will take attendance daily at the start of the class session, and students absent more than 6 times will be dropped from the course. In instances of extraordinary or emergency situations, please simply talk to as soon as you can about the situation and provide documentation if it is reasonable to do so. Accessibility Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, all students, with or without disabilities, are entitled to equal access to the programs and activities of CofC. If any student requires assistance or academic accommodations for a disability, please contact me during office hours or by appointment as early as possible in the semester, and be sure to visit the Center for Disability Services to obtain proper documentation prior to our meeting. More information can be found at Religious Observances and Accommodations Religious observances will be accommodated in accordance with the Student Attendance Policy. Some care has been given to avoid obvious conflicts with prominent religious holidays. However, if you need to be absent for any given class for a specific observance please submit requests in writing to me by the end of the second week of the semester so that we can agree upon accommodations. College of Charleston Honor Code and Academic Integrity Lying, cheating, attempted cheating, and plagiarism are violations of our Honor Code that, when identified, are investigated. Each incident will be examined to determine the degree of deception involved. If the instructor determines the student s actions are related to misunderstanding, it will be handled by the instructor. A written intervention designed to help prevent the student from repeating the error will be given to the student. The intervention, submitted by form and signed both by the instructor and the student, will be forwarded to the Dean of Students and placed in the student s file. 2

3 Cases of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported directly by the instructor and/or others having knowledge of the incident to the Dean of Students. A student found responsible by the Honor Board for academic dishonesty will receive a XF in the course, indicating failure of the course due to academic dishonesty. This grade will appear on the student s transcript for two years after which the student may petition for the X to be expunged. The student may also be placed on disciplinary probation, suspended (temporary removal) or expelled (permanent removal) from the College by the Honor Board. Students should be aware that unauthorized collaboration--working together without permission-- is a form of cheating. Unless the instructor specifies that students can work together on an assignment, quiz and/or test, no collaboration during the completion of the assignment is permitted. Other forms of cheating include possessing or using an unauthorized study aid (which could include accessing information via a cell phone or computer), copying from others exams, fabricating data, and giving unauthorized assistance. Research conducted and/or papers written for other classes cannot be used in whole or in part for any assignment in this class without obtaining prior permission from the instructor. Students can find the complete Honor Code and all related processes in the Student Handbook at system/studenthandbook/index.php Final Disclaimer This syllabus is a good faith effort to represent the work we all commit to undertake as we work together as a learning community. However, it is subject to change and assignments, dates, and subjects may be adapted at times to better suit the needs of student learning. Classroom Expectations Students are expected to: 1) Come to class regularly, on time, and prepared. Preparation means reading, to the best of your ability and with strategy and attention, all materials prior to the class meeting. Additionally, you should have thought critically about the materials and be ready with questions. 2) Put away all possible distractions including but not limited to: cell phones, cell phones, cell phones, and cell phones. Laptop computers will be provisionally permitted for taking notes, accessing readings, and saving trees. 3) Engage in discussion with classmates and professor in a way that is, affirmative, open, and above all, respectful. The classroom is a safe place to ask questions and express ideas, so never hesitate. However, words matter, and we are surrounded by differences. So, think carefully before you speak, and cultivate a curious, thoughtful, respectful way of engaging in the classroom. 4) Turn assignments in on time. In extraordinary circumstances, please contact me in advance or as soon as possible. 3

4 You may expect me to: 1) Always be on time, prepared, and happy to see you. 2) Patient, empathetic, energetic, and interesting. 3) Concerned about your academic success and also your personal well-being and happiness. 4) Fair in my policies and respectful of your time and energy. 5) Available throughout the semester at most times of the day (notice.not the night, though maybe) to sit with you, listen to you, and help you with whatever you need. Required Texts None for this course. All readings will be provided OAKS. Recommended/Supplementary Texts: Georges Bataille, Theory of Religion (Brooklyn: Zone Books, 2006). Donovan Shaeffer, Religious Affects: Animality Evolution and Power (Durham: Duke University Press, 2015). Assignments and Grading 1) Weekly Discussion Question in OAKS (300 pts. / 20 pts. each) Each week, students will contribute a short response to a prompt provided in an online discussion thread. Prompts will be related to our topic and reading for the week. Responses should contain at least one citation from our reading from the assigned reading, and they should be between 150 and 200 words in a properly formatted paragraph. Students will also offer one brief response (1 or 2 sentences) to a post by a classmate. 2) Quizzes (100 pts. / 25 pts. each) There will be four announced quizzes during the semester, one at the end of each unit. Quizzes will cover content related to each unit of study, with special attention to new terminology, concepts, people, places, and dates. Quizzes attend primarily to the data type content of each unit. 3) Short Essay #1: Close Reading (150 pts.) In the first essay, students will choose from a list of theorists of religion and conduct a close reading of a short section of text by that theorist. Their close reading will be directed at answering a single question: What theoretical approach does this theorist use to describe, explain, or consider spirits (immaterial, invisible, or excessiveness)? The essay should be words, properly formatted, and containing proper citation of its source text. No other sources are to be used or cited. Typically, in the field of Religious Studies, we use the Chicago Manual of Style. A simplified form of this can be found in Kate Turabian s manual of style. However, if you are more familiar with MLA or APA, I 4

5 am willing to accept both on the condition that they are consistently used throughout your essay. 4) Short Essay #2: Synthesis (250 pts.) In the second essay assignment, students will briefly examine an event, practice, object, etc. from contemporary life (popular culture, politics, etc.) that they will argue may be understood in a new or interesting way through the idiom of Spirit or spirits (examples will be provided). This essay should be between words, should cite at least 3 sources, and must be properly formatted and containing proper citation in the style of your preference. 5) Final Exam (100 pts.) The final exam will consist of two essay response questions. A study guide will be provided in advance, and students will choose which essays to prepare for from a list of possible essay questions. 6) Participation (100 pts.) Participation grades will be based upon attendance, participation class and online discussions, adherence to classroom policies regarding technology, attention and respect. TOTAL: 1000 pts. Grading Scale A C D A C 59 and below F B C B D B D Class Schedule UNIT 1 Week 1 August 23 August 25 THEORY ACROSS THE CENTURIES Introduction to Religious Studies; What are its concerns, questions? Framing the Course: Religion? Spirits? Excess? Reading and Assignments Receive and discuss syllabus J.Z. Smith, Religion, Religions, Religious 5

6 Week 2 August 28 August 30 September 1 Week 3 September 4 September 6 Animism: Religion and Evolution Religion as Social Religion and Labor Religion and Animality Religion and Performance Tylor, Animism, selections from Primitive Culture Durkheim, Emile, The Notion of Spirits and Gods, in Elementary Forms, pp Marx, Karl, Estranged Labour Bataille, Georges, Humanity and the Development of the Profane World, Schechner, What is Performance? September 8 UNIT 2 Week 4 September 11 September 13 September 15 Week 5 September 18 Religion and Crowds THE MYSTICAL ORIENT : Buddhism Close Reading Discussion Day Introducing the Buddha Burmese Nats Buddhisms Cont. Spirit Mediumship in Burma Canetti, Elias, Crowds and Power, *Quiz #1 (in class) HUNGRY GHOSTS AND PET SPIRITS See close reading handout in OAKS Take a reading break! Start thinking about that close reading essay instead De la Perrière, Nats Wives, Or Children of Nats, Ho, Tamara, Transgender, Transgression, Translation: A Cartography of Nat-Kadaws, 6

7 September 20 September 22 Week 6 September 25 Spirits and Sacrifice in Nepal Spirits, Magic and Gender in Tibet Indian Popular Traditions Introducing the Subcontinent Owens, Blood and Bodhisattvas: Sacrifice Among Newar Buddhists of Nepal,. Gyatso, Janet, Down with the Demoness: Reflections on a Feminine Ground in Tibet, **Short Essay #1 Due in class Take a reading break! You ve earned it September 27 September 29 Week 7 October 2 The Ancestral Dead in Subcontinental Traditions Monastic Communities as Managers of Spirit-relations China and Japan Religion in China? DeCaroli, Ghost Stories, from Haunting the Buddha. DeCaroli, The Politics of Enlightenment, Haunting the Buddha. Take a rest, and actually engage instead! October 4 October 6 Medieval Chinese Mixtures Animal Spirits in Contemporary Japan Teiser, Stephen, Ghosts and Ancestors in Medieval Chinese Religion, Ambros, Barbara, Vengeful Spirits or Loving Spiritual Companions? Changing Views of Pet Spirits, *Quiz #2 UNIT 3 PROTESTANT SPIRITS: LANGUAGE, PROGRESS, CHARISMATA Week 8 Enlightenment Spirits October 9 Hegelian Geist and Dialectical Reason Hegel, Sections , Spirit in Phenomenology of the Spirit, 7

8 October 11 October 13 Weber and the Iron Cage Discussion: Protestantism, Capitalism, spirits and excess Weber, Max, The Spirit of Capitalism in The Protestant Ethic, pp No reading, but come prepared to TALK, TALK, TALK! Oct FALL BREAK NO CLASS Week 9 Inspired Language October 16 October 18 Protestantism, Revelation and Language Protestantism and Textualism Keane, Webb, Religion, Culture, and the Colonies in Christian Moderns, No Reading October 20 Week 10 October 23 October 25 October 27 UNIT 4 Week 11 October 30 Evangelical Prayer Practice Charismatic Renewal Embodiment, Affect, and Spirit Feeling the Spirit Fighting Demons BLACK ATLANTIC SPIRIT WORLDS African Inspirations Introducing the (Black) Atlantic World Luhrmann, T.M., The Skill of Prayer, in When God Talks Back, pp No Reading Hinson, Glenn, chapters 1-3 in Fire in My Bones, pp (PDF online) McCloud, Sean, American Religion in an Era of Possessions pp (PDF online) * Quiz #3 ZOMBIS, SAINTS, & ANCESTORS No Reading 8

9 November 1 November 3 Hot and Cold Traditions Ancestors and Gods Thompson, Robert Farris, Black Saints Go Marching In, in Flash of the Spirit, selections Continue Flash of the Spirit reading Week 12 November 6 November 8 November 10 Week 13 November 13 November 15 The gods of Haiti Petwo and Rada The Vodou Cosmos Discussion: Spirits of Excess or of Lack? The dead in Haiti Nzambi/zombie/zonbi and the recently dead Materializing the Zonbi; Retirer D en Bas De L eau Deren, Maya, Les Morts, Les Mystères, et les Marassa, in Divine Horsemen, pp (PDF online) Desmangles, Leslie, The Faces of the Cosmic Gods, in Faces of the Gods: Vodou and Roman Catholicism in Haiti, pp (PDF online) No Reading. Come prepared to Talk, Talk, Talk! Elsie Clews Parsons, Spirit Cult in Hayti, Journal de la Société des Americanistes de Paris. 20: ; Mary F.A. Tench, West Indian Folklore, Folklore 25, No. 3 (1914): McAlister, Elizabeth, Mystical Work, in Rara, pp November 17 Week 14 The Dead in Cuban Palo Ochoa, Todd, Kalunga, the Ambient Dead, Little Corners, and Responsive Dead, in Society of the Dead, pp November 20 Film: The Divine Horsemen No reading NOV THANKSGIVING NO CLASS 9

10 Week 15 November 27 November 29 December 1 Week 16 December 4 Week 17 Cauldrons of the Dead Returning to Theory: Spirits as Crowds? Returning to Theory: Spirits as Objects? Conclusions Final Thoughts, Summary Final Exam (TBA) Ochoa, Todd, Prendas-Ngangas- Enquisos: turbulence and the influence of the dead in Cuban Kongo material culture No Reading: Bring back Canetti No Reading: Bring back Bataille ** Synthetic Essay Due in Class 10