Semester at Sea, Course Syllabus. Colorado State University, Academic Partner

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1 Semester at Sea, Course Syllabus Colorado State University, Academic Partner Semester: Fall 2016 Discipline: Philosophy/Religion Course Number and Title: PHIL 171 Religions of the West (Section 1) Course Level: Lower Faculty Name: Dr. Yael Avrahami Semester Credit Hours: 3 Prerequisites: None COURSE DESCRIPTION The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the three Abrahamic religions. The beliefs, practices, and sacred writings of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam will be discussed. The course will open with the notion of the East as the historical birthplace of the west and will include references to some themes within ancient near eastern religions as well as Greek philosophy. The second part of the course will discuss the mutual influence and development of the three religions. Both similarities and biases between them will be discussed. The third part of the course will focus on the ways that the encounter with other cultures further shaped each of the three religions. Particular attention will be given to shifts in Judaism and Christianity that resulted from reaching out to the New World. LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of this course, students will be able to: 1. Outline the important figures and historical moments in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. 2. Explain key beliefs and describe the main ritual practices of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. 3. Compare and contrast the belief systems and practices of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. 4. Write about their field experience using terms and theories taught in the classroom and in the course readings. 5. Discuss diverse religious ideas and practices in an emphatic-objective way. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS 1. AUTHOR: J. Brodd, L. Little, B. Nystrom, R. Patzner, R. Shek and E. Stiles TITLE: Invitation to Western Religions PUBLISHER: Oxford University Press ISBN #: X DATE/EDITION: 1 edition (September 2, 2015) It is also advised (but not mandatory) that students will have an e-book of the following: TITLE: Bible: New Revised Standard Version. DATE/EDITION: Any e-book version AUTHOR: M.A.S Abdel Haleem (translator) 1

2 TITLE: The Qur an (Oxford World s Classics) PUBLISHER: Oxford University Press ISBN: DATE/EDITION: Reissue edition (June 15, 2008) TOPICAL OUTLINE OF COURSE Depart Hamburg September 10 A1 September 12: Why Abrahamic Religions? The genealogy of the Abrahamic traditions Religion as an aspect of Identity Sacred texts The Sacrifice or the the Binding" The Holy Quran: 37: Bible: Genesis 22. A2 September 14: The Ancient Near East Religion of the ancient near east Temple religions Cosmology The east as the birthplace of the west C.B. Hays, Creation Accounts (pp ), in: Hidden Riches: A Sourcebook for the Comparative Study of the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near East, Westminister John Knox, Bible: Genesis 1-3. No Classes September 16 A3 September 17: Ancient Greece and Persia Zoroatrianism in the ancient worlds Philosophical monotheism Gnosticism The Teachings of Zoroastrianism (pp , ) in: Invitation to Western Religion (textbook). L.C. Schneider, End of the Many: the Roots of Monotheism in Greek Philosophy (pp ) in: Beyond Monotheism: A Theology of Multiplicity, Routledge, Piraeus September

3 A4 September 24: The Basics of Judaism Jewish principles of faith The Torah (Law) The Jewish Calendar The Teachings of Judaism (pp ) in: Invitation to Western Religion (textbook). A. Altmann, Article of Faith: Maimonides (Vol2, pp ) in: Encyclopaedia Judaica 2 (Ed. M. Berenbaum and F. Skolnik), Macmillan Reference, 2007 A.J. Heschel, A Palace in Time (pp.12-24) in: The Sabbath, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, Assignment: Inform Instructor about biblical story chosen for independent field assignment Civitavecchia - September Livorno September A5 October 1: The Basics of Christianity The life of Jesus Paul Trinity Dogma The Teachings of Christianity (pp ) in: Invitation to Western Religion (textbook). Bible: Galatians 4:21-27; 6; Romans 4:9-17; 10:5-13 Barcelona October Oct is Muharam (Islam) and Rosh Hashana (Judaism) A6 October 8: The Basics of Islam Muhammad and the Revelations The Five Pillars The Muslim Calendar Teachings of Islam (pp ) in: Invitation to Western Religion (textbook). The Holy Quran: 19 Casablanca October Field Class Monday, October 10 Oct12 is Yom Kippur (Jewish) A7 October 15: Religion as Practice Religious practice: faith, social structure, calendar, life cycle events, daily life. Similarities and differences of the three traditions Assignment: Bring photos and notes for group study following field trip. 3

4 A8 October 17: Islam up to the Middle Ages The spreading of Islam Denominations: Suni, Shia, Sufism Theology and political power The history of Islam (pp ), Varieties of Islam (pp ) and Sufism (pp ) in: Invitation to Western Religion (textbook) M. Diouf, The Public Role of the Good Islam (pp. 1-35) in: Tolerance, Democracy, and Sufis in Senegal, A9 October 19: Bible in Africa We will watch: Cheick Oumar Sissoko (director), La Genèse: the Biblical Story of Jacob and Esau, 1999 Indigenous religion Local interpretation Colonialism Orientalism The Bible: Genesis Dakar October Special ceremony each Sunday 10:00AM at Keur Moussa Monastery. A10 October 25: Judaism up to the middle Ages From temple to prayer Development through negation with Christianity and Islam the development of Exegesis The history of Judaism (pp ) in: Invitation to Western Religion (textbook). M.R. Cohen, Religions in Conflict (pp ) in: Under Crescent and Cross: The Jews in the Middle Ages, Princeton University Press, Assignment: Final date to submit field class paper A11 October 27: Christianity up to the middle ages The spreading of Christianity Monasticism Denominations: Orthodox, Catholic Theology and political power The history of Christianity (pp ) in: Invitation to Western Religion (textbook) No Classes October 28 4

5 A12 October 30: African religion in the New World - Brazil We will watch: David Byrne, Ilé Aiyé (the House of Life), Syncretism Post-colonialism The teachings of Indigenous African religions (pp ), The history of Indigenous African religions (pp ) in: Invitation to Western Religion (textbook). Salvador November 1-6 Nov 2 is Dia de Finados (Christianity), Public Holiday A13 November 7: Christianity Reformations The Protestant Reformation The Roman Catholic Reformation The conceptual links between the era of discoveries, humanism and the reformations The history of Christianity (pp ) in: Invitation to Western Religion (textbook) Excerpts from: Martin Luther, On the Freedom of a Christian A14 November 9: Midterm Overview Summary of major themes and developments in the Abrahamic traditions We will work as groups using charts from: H.W. House, Charts of World Religions (charts 20, 22, 29, 31, 33, 41, 43, 45, 50), Zondervan, 2006 A15 November 11: Midterm Exam Assignment: Exam: Ideas and history of Judaism, Christianity and Islam Port of Spain November A16 November 15: Judaism in Latin America Spanish Inquisition and Crypto-Jews Public and domestic religious practices Religion, nationality, ethnicity Diaspora J.L. Jacobs, Women and the Persistence of Culture (pp ), in: Hidden Heritage: The Legacy of the Crypto-Jews, University of California Press, 2002 J. Lesser and R. Rein, New Approaches to Ethnicity and Diaspora in 20 th Century Latin America (pp ) in: Rethinking Jewish Latin Americans, University of New Mexico Press,

6 A17 November 17: Christianity in Latin America I Liberation Theology Base communities femisism Women in Christianity (pp ), in: Invitation to Western Religion (textbook) J. Lynch, New Worlds: A Religious History of Latin America, Chapter 12 Between Liberation and Tradition, pp No Classes November 18 A18 November 20: Christianity in Latin America II Catholicism Guadalupe the patron Pentecostal church D.L. Levine, The Future of Christianity in Latin America (pp ), Journal of Latin American Studies 41/1 (2009). Roland Flamini, POPE FRANCIS: Resurrecting Catholicism's Image? (pp ), World Affairs, Vol. 176/3 (2013). Callao November A19 November 27: Contemporary Judaism in North America Progressive Judaism The Holocaust and its theological impact Zionism A.-J. Levine, introduction (pp.1-16), in: The Misunderstood Jew, HarperCollins, 2006 The history of Judaism (pp ) in: Invitation to Western Religion (textbook) A20 November 29: Islam in North America Jihad Islam and the West Multiculturalism and monotheism The history of Islam (pp ), Islam as a way of life (pp , ) in: Invitation to Western Religion (textbook) Guayaquil December 1-4 6

7 A21 December 5: Christianity in North America Evolution and creationism Evangelical Christianity Religion and economics Excerpts from: M. Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (tr. T. Parsoms ad A. Giddens), Unwin Hyman, 1930 R.A. Mohler, The Eclipse of God at Century s End: Evangelicals Attempt Theology without Theism (pp.6-15), Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 1 (1997). A22 December 7: Secularism Beyond Evolution Postmodernism Secularization Science and religion We will watch: Jonathan Miller, Atheism: a brief history of disbelief - final episode, 2007 J. M. Erickson, The challenge of postmodernism (pp ), in: Postmodernizing the faith: evangelical responses to the challenge of postmodernism, Baker Academic,1998 Puntarenas December 9-13 A23 December 14: New Religious movement Religions reactions to modernization and secularization the search for meaning Religious interpretation Alternative Christianities and their offshoots (pp ) in: Invitation to Western Religion (textbook) A24 December 16: Globalization Christmas as A Study Case Consumer religion: who is Santa? Social pressure and religion: Christmukkah O. Sandikci and S. Omeraki, Globalization and Rituals: Does Ramadan Turn Into Christmas? (pp ), Advances in Consumer Research 34, 2007 R. Abramitzky, L. Einav, and O. Rigbi, Is Hanukkah Responsive to Christmas? (pp ), The Economic Journal, 120/535, June 2010 Study Day December 18 A25 December 19; A Day Finals Assignment: Brief class presentation and final date for submission of independent field assignment San Diego December 22 7

8 Requirements/Methods of Evaluation: I. Class participation and pop reading quizzes 15% Class attendance is mandatory (up to 3 absences acceptable). Participation in class means coming prepared to class, reading and reflecting on the assigned readings, and actively participating in class discussion. There will be unannounced quizzes on the readings and/or films from A12 onwards. A =Excellent B=Good C=Satisfactory D=Poor F=Fail attending having read the assignments engaging in class discussions with reference to the readings or travel experiences. attending having read the assignments rarely engaging in class discussions. attending class engaging in class discussions not demonstrating familiarity with the content of the reading attending class rarely or never participating in class discussion not demonstrating familiarity with the content of the reading Rarely attending II. Mid- term exam 45% One hour exam will be held on Nov 11 (A15) on the topic: Ideas and history of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. A Review class will be held on Nov 9 (A14). NOTE: Exam will only be rescheduled in the event of an emergency, and only if the professor is notified BEFORE the test! III. Field class and Assignment (20%) Field Class attendance is mandatory for all students enrolled in this course. Do not book individual travel plans or a Semester at Sea sponsored trip on the day of your field class. Field Classes constitute at least 20% of the contact hours for each course, and will be developed and led by the instructor. The Abrahamic Religions in Casablanca - Monday, Oct 10 We will visit a site of worship for each of the three Abrahamic religions: the Hassan II Mosques, the Cathedrale Sacre-Coeur, and Temple Beth-El. This will provide an opportunity for comparative observation of the architecture, symbolism, and worship in each tradition. Students will get a chance to experience the coexistence of the three traditions in Morocco. Objectives: Students should understand the similarities and differences between the three traditions. Students should become familiarized with major symbols of the three traditions. Students should come to question the widespread dichotomy between the Judeo-Christian and the Muslim worlds Assignment: During the field class students are asked to take a photo of two religious elements for each religion (total 6 photos). Elements could be anything related to religion: ritual, symbol, drawing, architecture, outfit etc. while taking photos make sure that you understand the nature of the element you are photographing. Document the information on spot. Make sure photos are permissible. You can consult the relevant chapter 8

9 in How to Be a Perfect Stranger: The Essential Religious Etiquette Handbook found in the Ship s library for more details regarding visiting worship sites and services. In class, Oct 15 (A7), you will create an online exhibition of the photographs in small groups. Groups will need to decide on categories and arrangement of exhibition, and assign TWO photos per student to write his/her paper on. These photos must represent two different religious traditions. Write a 5-6 page field class paper explaining the two photos, including: 1. Description of the photo context, meaning, religious category etc. 2. Reflection on the different meanings of these elements for the religious practitioner and for the student. 3. Illustration in some detail (with ample citation) how the experience of or encounter with these two elements enriched the student s understanding of some class reading or lecture 4. Explanation of the way history, doctrine, and practice are interrelated through these observed elements 5. Reflects on some observed similarities and differences both across and within the diverse forms of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Paper will be submitted no later than Oct 27 (A11) IV. Independent field assignment (20%) Choose one biblical story in the early stages of the course. Inform Instructor by Sep 24 (A4). Read the story a few times and write down some questions that arise from the story. Use The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version (found in ship library) to better understand the chosen story. Your essay is like a travel blog that focuses on the biblical story that you chose. During your field experience, document four visualizations of the story. These visualizations must be diverse: either found in different continents; in different religious traditions/denominations; or in different settings such as popular vs. religious culture, wall painting vs. video clip etc. make sure that you document as much information as possible on these visualizations on spot. Submit a PPT slide including the title of the story you chose and 4 photos of the 4 visualizations by Dec16 (A24). Template will be given by instructor. Interpret the four visualizations in a 8-9 pages essay, including: 1. Short description of the story and the main questions 2. For each visualization: a short description 3. For each visualization: how is it similar or different to the biblical text? 4. For each visualization: does it try to answer one of the questions that you raised? 5. For each visualization: Illustration in some detail (with ample citation) how the respective religious tradition influenced the interpretation of the story. *it is strongly advised that you write 2-5 as you go, when impressions are fresh and time is still plenty. 6. Compares and contrasts the interpretive choices of the different visualizations. It is advices Paper will be submitted no later than Dec 19 (A25) 9

10 METHODS OF EVALUATION / GRADING SCALE The following Grading Scale is utilized for student evaluation. Pass/Fail is not an option for Semester at Sea coursework. Note that C-, D+ and D- grades are also not assigned on Semester at Sea in accordance with the grading system at Colorado State University (the SAS partner institution). Pluses and minuses are awarded as follows on a 100% scale: Excellent Good Satisfactory/Poor Failing %: A %: A 90-93%: A %: B %: B 80-83%: B %: C %: C 60-69%: D Less than 60%: F ATTENDANCE/ENGAGEMENT IN THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM Attendance in all Semester at Sea classes is mandatory, but it is at the instructor s discretion to assign a grade to the participation and attendance requirement. Students must inform their instructors prior to any unanticipated absence and take the initiative to make up missed work in a timely fashion. Instructors must make reasonable efforts to enable students to make up work which must be accomplished under the instructor s supervision (e.g., examinations, laboratories). In the event of a conflict in regard to this policy, individuals may appeal using established CSU procedures. LEARNING ACCOMMODATIONS Semester at Sea provides academic accommodations for students with diagnosed learning disabilities, in accordance with ADA guidelines. Students who will need accommodations in a class, should contact ISE to discuss their individual needs. Any accommodation must be discussed in a timely manner prior to implementation. A memo from the student s home institution verifying the accommodations received on their home campus is required before any accommodation is provided on the ship. Students must submit this verification of accommodations pre-voyage as soon as possible, but no later than July 19, 2016 to academic@isevoyages.org. STUDENT CONDUCT CODE The foundation of a university is truth and knowledge, each of which relies in a fundamental manner upon academic integrity and is diminished significantly by academic misconduct. Academic integrity is conceptualized as doing and taking credit for one s own work. A pervasive attitude promoting academic integrity enhances the sense of community and adds value to the educational process. All within the University are affected by the cooperative commitment to academic integrity. All Semester at Sea courses adhere to this Academic Integrity Policy and Student Conduct Code. Depending on the nature of the assignment or exam, the faculty member may require a written declaration of the following honor pledge: I have not given, received, or used any unauthorized assistance on this exam/assignment. 10

11 You are allowed, even encouraged, to form study groups. However, all work turned in (papers, quizzes, exams) MUST be your own work. College rules on plagiarism will apply to all of your written work, and any violation is a serious offense. Plagiarism includes copying another student s work in any capacity; and copying an author s work without proper citation. This latter category includes directly quoting a work without reference, and inappropriately paraphrasing (simply changing a few words rather than presenting the thoughts of the author in your own words). Please consult the College Handbook and the instructor if you are unclear about what constitutes plagiarism. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse. For the first offense, you will receive a zero for that assignment. Any second offense will be reported to the authorities, a letter will go into your permanent file, and you will fail the course. No exceptions. THE ACADEMIC STUDY OR RELIGION While this course makes no presuppositions about your faith-perspectives, it does insist that the variety of confessional stances be respected. You are not asked to believe all materials presented, but you are expected to know the theories and to be able to engage them critically. Primary texts, movies and other documentations are to be respectably yet critically evaluated. RESERVE BOOKS AND FILMS FOR THE LIBRARY AUTHOR: M. A. S. Abdel Haleem (Tr.) TITLE: The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics) PUBLISHER: Oxford University Press ISBN #: EDITION: Reissue edition (June 15, 2008) AUTHOR: H. Wayne House TITLE: Charts of World Religions PUBLISHER: Zondervan ISBN #: X EDITION: February 26, 2006 Author: P. Perkins, M.C. Coogan et al TITLE: The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version Publisher: Oxford ISBN: EITION: 4th edition (March 19, 2010) DIRECTOR: Cheick Oumar Sissoko TITLE: La Genèse (the Biblical Story of Jacob and Esau )* PUBLISHER: New York: Kino International DATE: 1999 (publication year 2003) DIRECTOR: David Byrne TITLE: Ilé Aiyé (the House of Life) 11

12 PUBLISHER: Plexfilm DATE: 2014 Author: Jonathan Miller DIRECTOR: Richard Denton TITLE: Atheism: a brief history of disbelief* EPISODE: The final hour (3 rd ) PUBLISHER: BBC DATE: 2007 *Lecturer has a copy ELECTRONIC COURSE MATERIALS AUTHOR: Christopher B. Hays CHAPTER TITLE: Creation Accounts BOOK TITLE: Hidden Riches: A Sourcebook for the Comparative Study of the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near East DATE: 2014 PAGES: AUTHOR: L.C. Schneider CHAPTER TITLE: End of the Many: the Roots of Monotheism in Greek Philosophy BOOK TITLE: Beyond Monotheism: A Theology of Multiplicity DATE: 2008 PAGES: AUTHOR: A. Altmann ARTICLE TITLE: Article of Faith: Maimonides BOOK TITLE: Encyclopaedia Judaica 2 DATE: 2007 VOLUME: II PAGES: AUTHOR: Abraham Joshua Heschel CHAPTER TITLE: A Palace in Time BOOK TITLE: The Sabbath DATE: 1951 PAGES: AUTHOR: Mamadou Diouf ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: The Public Role of the Good Islam BOOK TITLE: Tolerance, Democracy, and Sufis in Senegal DATE: 2013 PAGES:

13 AUTHOR: M.R. Cohen CHAPTER: Religions in Conflict BOOK: Under Crescent and Cross: The Jews in the Middle Ages PAGES: pp YEAR: AUTHOR: Martin Luther ARTICLE TITLE: On the Freedom of a Christian Available online: AUTHOR: J.L. Jacobs CHAPTER TITLE: Women and the Persistence of Culture BOOK TITLE: Hidden Heritage: The Legacy of the Crypto-Jews DATE: 2002 PAGES: AUTHOR: J. Lesser and R. Rein CHAPTER TITLE: New Approaches to Ethnicity and Diaspora in 20 th Century Latin America BOOK TITLE: Rethinking Jewish Latin Americans DATE: 2008 PAGES: AUTHOR: J. Lynch CHAPTER TITLE: Between Liberation and Tradition BOOK TITLE: New World: A Religions History of Latin America DATE PAGES: AUTHOR: D.L. Levine ARTICLE TITLE: The Future of Christianity in Latin America JOURNAL TITLE: Journal of Latin American Studies ISSUE: 41/1 DATE: 2009 PAGES: AUTHOR: R. Flamini ARTICLE TITLE: POPE FRANCIS: Resurrecting Catholicism's Image? JOURNAL TITLE: World Affairs ISSUE: 176/3 DATE: 2013 PAGES: AUTHOR: A.-J. Levine CHAPTER TITLE: introduction 13

14 JOURNAL TITLE: The Misunderstood Jew DATE: 2006 PAGES: 1-16 AUTHOR: M. Weber TITLE: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (tr. T. Parsoms ad A. Giddens) PUBLISHER: Unwin Hyman EDITION: 1930 PUBLIC DOMAIN: AUTHOR: R. Albert Mohler CHAPTER TITLE: The Eclipse of God at Century s End: Evangelicals Attempt Theology Without Theism JOURNAL TITLE: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology DATE: 1997 PAGES: 6-15 ONLINE ACCESS: AUTHOR: O. Sandikci and S. Omeraki ARTICLE TITLE: Globalization and Rituals: Does Ramadan Turn Into Christmas? JOURNAL TITLE: Advances in Consumer Research DATE: 2007 VOLUME: 34 PAGES: ONLINE ACCESS: AUTHORL R. Abramitzky, L. Einav, and O. Rigbi ARTICLE TITLE: Is Hanukkah Responsive to Christmas? JOURNAL: The Economic Journal VOLUME: 120/535, June 2010 PAGES: pp AUTHOR: J. M. Erickson CHAPTER TITLE: The Challenge of Postmodernism BOOK TITLE: Postmodernizing the faith: evangelical responses to the challenge of postmodernism DATE: 1998 PAGES: