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 479 Topics in Comparative Religion Course Level: Upper ( ) Faculty Name: Dr. Yael Avrahami Semester Credit Hours: 3 Prerequisites: An upper-division religion course COURSE DESCRIPTION The main purpose of the course is to bring students to a deeper understanding of religious phenomena through the comparative method. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism will be considered, as well as some indigenous religions that have encountered these three. The comparative exploration in this course will focus on the topics of creation and apocalypse. The first part of the course will include close reading of primary texts that touch upon creation and apocalypse. We will discuss conceptual links between the two themes; the origins and reception of these texts; and the question of universalism vs. relativism. The second part of the course will look at religious rituals that are linked to the themes of creation and apocalypse. The intertwining of religious thought and practice will be the main theoretical angle of the discussion. The third and last part of the course will look at the representation of the themes of creation and apocalypse in popular media. The endurance and influence of religious themes and ideology in different cultures will be examined comparatively LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of this course, students will be able to: 1. Outline the links between the biblical themes of creation, salvation, and apocalypse. 2. Explain the links between narrative, myth and ritual. 3. Compare and contrast the notions of creation and apocalypse in different times, locations, and religions/denominations. 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 AUTHOR: John R. Hall TITLE: Apocalypse: From Antiquity to the Empire of Modernity PUBLISHER: Polity ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: 1 edition (July 27, 2009) TOPICAL OUTLINE OF COURSE 1

2 Depart Hamburg September 10 B1 September 13: Creation and Text Genesis 1 Text and interpretation Myth and history/science Myth and ritual the Sabbath Bible: Genesis 1 M. Smith, Is Genesis 1 a Creation Myth? (pp ), in D. E. Challender, Myth and Scripture (resources for biblical study), SBL Press, B2 September 15: Ancient Near Eastern Creations Religion of the Ancient Near Wast 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, No Classes September 16 B3 September 18: Ancient Greece translating the Bible Hellenism Translating the Bible Rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity Bible: John 1 D. Boyarin, Logos, a Jewish word: John s Prologue as Midrash (pp ), in A.-J. Levine and M. Z. Brettler, The Jewish Annotated New Testament, 2011 J.F. McHugh, The Logos in the Prologue (pp ) in John 1-4: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary, London: T&T Clark, Piraeus September B4 September 25: Creation and Humanity - I Genesis 2-3 Themes within the narrative: mortality, gender, time, human-divine relationship. Bible: Gen 2-3 Watch: Garden of Eden: What Do We Know About Adam and Eve? ABC News, Dec 21, Civitavecchia - September Livorno September

3 B5 October 2: Creation and Humanity - II Gender, social order, and the power of myth Myth and ritual life cycle events Religious architecture J.L. Ska, Genesis 2-3: Some fundamental questions (pp. 1-27) in K. Schmid and C. Riedweg (eds.), Beyond Eden: the Biblical Story of Paradise (Genesis 2-3) and Its Reception History, Mohr Soebeck, Barcelona October Oct is Muharam (Islam) and Rosh Hashana (Judaism) A6 October 8: Creation in Islam Angelology Meeting points between the three Abrahamic traditions Excerpts from Quran: K.E. Kvam, L.S. Schearing, and V.H. Ziegler (eds.), Islam (pp ), Eve & Adam, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Readings on Genesis and Gender, Indiana University Press, Author, Satan in the qura n (pp.00-00) in: C.B. Horn, and S.H. Griffith (eds.), Biblical & Qur'anic Traditions in the Middle East, Abelian Academic, Assignments: European journal reflection due Casablanca October Oct12 is Yom Kippur (Jewish) B7 October 16: St. Paul: the Original Sin Early Christological interpretations of Gen 2-3 Theology in everyday life Bible: Excerpts from Romans 1; 5; 1 Corinthians 6; 11; 15; Ephesians 5. P.C. Boutenoff, At the birth of Christian reflection: Paul and the New Testament (pp ) in Beginnings: Ancient Christian Readings of the Biblical Creation Narrative, Baker Academic, B8 October 18: Historical and Allegorical Creation Creation and the image of God The question of good and evil I. Dunderberg, Gnostic Interpretations of Genesis (pp ) in: The Oxford Handbook of the Reception History of the Bible, Oxford,

4 B9 Octpber 20: Creation in African myth African myths of creation Universalism and particuralism B.C. Sproul, African Myths (pp ) in: Primal Myths: Creation Myths Around the World, HarperCollins, Dakar October Special ceremony each Sudnay 10:00AM at Keur Moussa Monastery. B10 October 26: Afro-Brazilian myth Candomble Myth and ritual - Embodiment Polytheism, monotheism, and gender Sheila Walker, "Everyday and Esoteric Reality in the Afro-Brazilian Candomble," History of Religions 30 #2 (Nov. 1990), Watch: Benjamin Watkins, Rhythmic Uprising: Chapter 9, Candomble Telesur, Afro-Brazilian Goddess Brings in New Year No Classes October 28 B11 October 29: mid term exam Assignment: Exam on the reception history of Genesis 2-3 A12 October 31: Day of the Dead a Comparative Study case Death as a religious problem Funerary and ancestor rites Dia de Muertos, Dia de Finados, and Halloween S. Brandes, The Day of the Dead, Halloween, and the Quest for Mexican National Identity, The Journal of American Folklore 111/442, 1998, pp R. M. Marchi, The Expanding Hybridity of an Already Hybrid Tradition (pp ), Day of the Dead in the USA, Rutgers Press, Salvador November 1-6 Field Class, Tuesday, November 1 Nov 2 is Dia de Finados (Christianity), Public Holiday 4

5 B13 November 8: Creation, Death, Salvation Creation in the Psalms and the Book of Job Creation and Salvation Creation and the Problem of Evil Kate Bowler, Death, the Prosperity Gospel and Me, New York Times, Feb 13, 2016 Bible: Excerpts from Job and Psalms B14 November 10: Creation, Exodus, Salvation Reception history of the Exodus narrative The rise of Rastafarianism Martin Luther King M. Walzer, Exodus Politics (pp ) in: Exodus and Revolution, Basic Books, 1986 Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Lecture Martin Luther King Jr., Sermon at Temple Israel of Hollywood B15 November 12: Class Presentations Assignment: Field class presentations and essay due Port of Spain November B16 November 16: Caribbean Myth Santeria Syncretism Comparing Brazilian and Caribbean syncretism Watch: Gloria Rolando, Oggun: An Eternal Present, Havanah, 1991 No Classes November 18 B17 November 19: Introduction to Apocalypse The shift from prophecy to apocalyptic literature Apocalypse as new creation Babylonian exile and the emergence of apocalypse Zoroastrianism The Ancient Origins of History (pp. 9-25) in Apocalypse (Textbook) Assignments: African journal reflection due 5

6 B18 November 21: The Book of Revelations Apocalypse in early Christianity Watch: Christian Amanpour, Journey to Armageddon, ABC News. Bible: The Book of Revelations, Revelations, Mark 13 The Ancient Origins of History (pp ) in Apocalypse (Textbook) Callao November B19 November 28: Medieval Concepts of the Apocalypse Antichrist Apocalypse and heresy Augustine and allegorical interpretations Christian -Muslim relations in the middle ages. Medieval Christendom and Its Others (pp ) in Apocalypse (Textbook). Adso of Montier-En-Der, Letter on the Origin and Time of the Antichrist. B20 November 30: Reformation and the Apocalypse Textual and theological interpretation Modernization Migration and religious renewal Apocalypse Re-formed (pp ) in: Apocalypse (Textbook). Guayaquil November 1-4 B21 December 6: Apocalypse in North America Fundamentalism International affairs and theology The cold war American interpretations of the Apocalypse Modernity and the Apocalypse (pp ) in: Apocalypse (Textbook). B22 December 8: Islam and Apocalypse Muslim apocalyptic literature Jihad and apocalypse Globalization Radical Islam and the Globalized Apocalypse (pp ) in: Apocalypse (Textbook). D. Cook, Conclusions (pp ), Contemporary Muslim Apocalyptic Literature, Syracuse University Press,

7 Puntarenas December 9-13 Dec 12 is Fiesta de la Yeguita (Christianity) B23 December 15: Apocalypse-Summery and Overview History and apocalypse Narrative, identity, and poltics The Last Apocalypse (pp ) in: Apocalypse (Textbook). Watch: Apocalypse! Frontline PBS (upon availability) Assignments: Latin American journal reflection due B24 December 17: Apocalypse Now Apocalyptic themes in popular culture R. P. Seesengood and J.L. Koosed, Spectacular finish: apocalypse in/and the destruction of earth in film (pp ) in: M.C. Stewart (ed.), Simulating Aichele: Essays in Bible, Film, Culture and Theory, Sheffield Phoenix, Study Day December 18 B25 December 20; B Day Finals Assignments: Exam on apocalypse through the ages San Diego December 22 REQUIREMENTS/METHODS OF EVALUATION I. Class participation and pop 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 watched in class 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 25% One hour exam will be held on Oct29 (B11) on the topic: Reception History of Genesis

8 III. Final Exam 25% One hour exam will be held on Dec20 (B25) on the topic: Apocalypse through the ages. A review class will be held on B24. NOTE: Exams will only be rescheduled in the event of an emergency, and only if the professor is notified BEFORE the test! IV. 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 Syncretism in Brazil Tuesday, Nov 1 We will open our day with a visit to the Museu Afro-Brasileiro, where students will learn about African religious influence on Catholicism in Brazil. We will then visit Igreja de São Francisco. Besides being an impressive example of baroque architecture and ornamentation, the history of its construction is a fine example of religious battle over symbols. After lunch, we will drive to Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim. This church is a central location for worship of the syncretized deity Our Lord of Bonfirm, this church demonstrate the centrality of purification and healing rites to religious worship. Assignment: During field class students are asked to take a photo/group of photos of one syncretic element. This could be a visual symbol (drawing, figure etc.), a ceremony, architectural element 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 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. Write a 5 page field class paper explaining your photos, including: 1. Description of the photo context, meaning, religious category etc. 2. Explanation of the syncretic nature of the element 3. Reflection on the different meanings of this elements for the religious practitioner and for the student. 4. Illustration in some detail (with ample citation) how the experience of or encounter with this element enriched the student s understanding of some class reading or lecture. 5. Explanation of the way history, doctrine, and practice are interrelated through this observed element Present a PPT slide in class including the photo/s and give a 2 min. explanation of the syncretic nature of the element. In addition to class readings and notes, it is possible to refer to the chapter indigenous Religions of Africa in Invitation to western Religions. Paper submitted and Slide presented in class on Nov 12 (B15) 8

9 V. Journal Reflections on site visits (15%, 5% each, 2 double-spaced pages each) Choose at least three sites (not including our field lab) from those listed in each of our ports on the syllabus. Your entry should include your thoughts on how the space communicates the beliefs of this religion? How does it help its visitors experience/understanding of the religion? What symbols either architectural or artistic are present and what do they tell you? Your entry should describe in detail one distinct observed element of the site visit which refers to either creation, the exodus, or the apocalypse and explain how this interprets the texts studied in class. Journal entry for Europe should be submitted by B6 (Oct 9) Journal entry for Africa and African influenced religious should be submitted by B17 (NOV 19) Journal entry for Latin America should be submitted by by B23 (Dec 15) 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. Remember to include information concerning the evaluation of Field Assignments and the Field Classes, which must constitute at least 20% of the total grade in a course. 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. 9

10 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. 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: A.-J. Levine and M. Brettler (Eds.) TITLE: Jewish Annotated New Testament PUBLISHER: Oxford University Press ISBN #: EDITION: 1st edition (November 15, 2011) AUTHOR: B. C. Sproul TITLE: Primal Myths: Creation Myths Around the World PUBLISHER: HarperCollins ISBN #: EDITION: 1991 AUTHOR: K.E. Kvam, L.S. Schearing, and V.H. Ziegler (eds.) BOOK: Eve & Adam, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Readings on Genesis and Gender PIBLISHER: Indiana University Press 10

11 ISBN: YEAR: 2009 DIRECTOR: Christian Amanpour TITLEL: Back to the beginning PUBLISHER: ABC News ASIN: B00B1FMZHY DATE: January 15, 2013 DIRECTOR: Gloria Rolando TITLE: Oggun: An Eternal Present PUBLISHER:? DATE: 1991 ELECTRONIC COURSE MATERIALS AUTHOR: Mark Smith CHAPTER TITLE: Is Genesis 1 A Creation Myth BOOK TITLE: Myth and Scripture (resources for biblical study), ONLINE: DATE: 2014 PAGES: AUTHOR: C.B. Hays CHAPTER TITLE: Creation Accounts PAGE TITLE: Hidden Riches: A Sourcebook for the Comparative Study of the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near East DATE: PAGES: AUTHOR: Daniel Boyarin CHAPTER TITLE: Logos, a Jewish word: John s Prologue as Midrash BOOK TITLE: The Jewish Annotated New Testament DATE: 2011 PAGES: AUTHOR: J.F. McHugh CHAPTER TITLE: The Logos in the Prologue BOOK TITLE: John 1-4: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary PAGES: YEAR: 2009 AUTHOR: J.L. Ska CHAPTER TITLE: Genesis 2-3: Some fundamental questions 11

12 BOOK TITLE: Beyond Eden: the Biblical Story of Paradise (Genesis 2-3) and Its Reception History YEAR: 2008 PAGES: 1-27 AUTHOR: K.E. Kvam, L.S. Schearing, and V.H. Ziegler (eds.) CHAPTER TITLE: Islam BOOK TITLE: Eve & Adam, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Readings on Genesis and Gender YEAR: 1999 PAGES: AUTHOR: CHAPTERL: Satan in the qura n BOOK: Biblical & Qur'anic Traditions in the Middle East YEAR: 2016 AUTHOR: Peter C. Boutenoff CHAPTER: At the birth of Christian reflection: Paul and the New Testament BOOK: Beginnings: Ancient Christian Readings of the Biblical Creation Narrative PAGES: YEAR: 2008 AUTHOR: Ismo Dunderberg: CHAPTER TITLE: Gnostic Interpretations of Genesis BOOK: The Oxford Handbook of the Reception History of the Bible PAGES: EDITION: 2013 AUTHOR: B. C. Sproul CHPTER TITLE: African Myths BOOK TITLE: Primal Myths: Creation Myths Around the World PAGES: YEAR: 1991 AUTHOR: Sheila Walker ARTICLE TITLE: Everyday and Esoteric Reality in the Afro-Brazilian Candomble JOURNAL: History of Religions VOLUME: 30/2 DATE: Nov PAGES: AUTHOR: S. Brandes ARTICLE TITLE: The Day of the Dead, Halloween, and the Quest for Mexican National Identity JOURNAL: The Journal of American Folklore VOLUME: 111/442 12

13 DATE: 1998 PAGES: AUTHOR: R. M. Marchi CHAPTER: The Expanding Hybridity of an Already Hybrid Tradition BOOK TITLE: Day of the Dead in the USA YEAR: 2009 PAGES: AUTHOR: Kate Bowler ARTICLE TITLE: Death, the Prosperity Gospel and Me JORNAL: New York Times DATE: Feb 13, 2016 ONLINE ACCESS: AUTHOR: M. Walzer CHAPTER: Exodus Politics BOOK TITLE: Exodus and Revolution YEAR: 1986 PAGES: AUTHOR: Martin Luther King Jr. TITLE: Nobel Lecture ONLINE ACCESS: AUTHOR: Martin Luther King Jr. TITLE: Sermon at Temple Israel of Hollywood ONLINE ACCESS: AUTHOR: Adso of Montier-En-Der TITLE: Letter on the Origin and Time of the Antichrist ONLINE ACCESS: AUHTOR: D. Cook CHAPTER TITLE: Conclusions BOOK TITLE: Contemporary Muslim Apocalyptic Literature YEAR: 2005 PAGES: AUTHOR: R. P. Seesengood and J.L. Koosed TITLE: Spectacular finish: apocalypse in/and the destruction of earth in film BOOK TITLE: Simulating Aichele: Essays in Bible, Film, Culture and Theory YEAR: 2015 PAGES:? 13

14 AUTHOR: J. Brodd, L. Little, B. Nystrom et al CHAPTER: Indeginous Religions of Africa BOOK TITLE: Invitation to Western Religions YEAR: 2015 PAGES: