APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF RELIGION

Transcription

1 Religious Studies 200 Spring 2002 Dr. Bruce Grelle 235 Trinity Hall ; Office Hours: W 1:00-3:30 and by appointment APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF RELIGION This course will explore 1) the origins, development, and institutionalization of religious studies as a scholarly and academic discipline; 2) the diverse theories and methodologies employed within the field of religious studies; and 3) significant contributors to the discipline and their classic works. This course is designed primarily for religious studies majors and minors as well as for others who have a serious interest in the nature and methods of the cross-cultural and historical study of religion. Prerequisites: RS 5 or RS 6 or permission of the instructor. Requirements: Students will be expected to complete the assigned readings, to attend class meetings, and to be prepared to participate in class discussions. Evaluations will be based on the following: Class attendance and participation (worth 10% of the final grade). Three objective exams. (One mini-exam early in the semester worth 5% of the final grade; a mid-term exam worth 15% of the final grade; and a final exam worth 20% of the final grade). One paper of approximately three and one-half typewritten pages (worth 15% of the final grade) AND One six to seven page paper (worth 35% of the final grade) Topics and due dates for papers will be discussed in class.

2 All papers should be typed and double-spaced. Guidelines for Written Assignments As a general rule, you should imagine that you are writing for an audience that is not familiar with your subject matter. Do not assume that your audience knows what you are talking about. Try to anticipate the questions that might arise in the minds of your readers as they read your work, and build the answers to those questions into you discussion. Be as clear and as thorough as you can possibly be. Be sure to PROOFREAD your paper before you turn it in. Papers should conform to the guidelines for spelling, punctuation, abbreviation, and other matters of style that are set forth in one or another of the commonly accepted manuals of style for academic writing (for example, Harold Kolb's, A Writer's Guide, or Kate Turabian's, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations). All quotations and paraphrases must be properly referenced. Evidence of plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the course and disciplinary action that could result in expulsion from the university. Evaluation of Written Assignments My evaluation of your written work will concentrate on 1) what you say and 2) how you say it. 1. What you say. (Is it accurate? Is it complete and comprehensive? Does it provide sufficient depth and detail in its exposition and assessment of the material? Does it provide examples from the readings and class discussions in order to illustrate and support statements and claims?) 2. How you say it. (Is the discussion sharply focused? Is it well organized? Is it clearly and convincingly written? Is it polished and attentive to detail?) Students with Certified Disabilities: Please have the Office of Disability Support Services notify me of any special needs relating to your disability within the first two weeks of the semester. I will make every reasonable effort to work with DSS in order to accommodate such special needs.

3 Required Texts: William E. Paden, Interpreting the Sacred: Ways of Viewing Religion (available in the A.S. Bookstore and on reserve) Course Reader for RS 200, a collection of photocopied materials (available from Mr. Kopy, 119 Main St. and on reserve in the library) Students will also be required to read primary texts by the thinkers about whom they choose to write their papers. I have placed many of these texts on reserve in the library. Optional Text: Walter H. Capps, Religious Studies: The Making of a Discipline (available in the A.S. Bookstore) Texts on Reserve in Meriam Library The Origins and Development of the Academic Study of Religion -Mircea Eliade, "The History of Religions in Retrospect: 1912 and After," in The Quest: History and Meaning in Religion -Joseph M. Kitagawa, "The History of Religions in America," in Mircea Eliade and Joseph M. Kitagawa, editors, The History of Religions: Essays in Methodology -Seymour Cain, Eric J. Sharpe, Thomas L. Benson, "Study of Religion," from The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Religion -Eric J. Sharpe, Comparative Religion: A History -Charles Y. Glock and Phillip E. Hammond, editors, Beyond the Classics: Essays in the Scientific Study of Religion -Mark Taylor, Critical Terms for Religious Studies -Graham Cunningham, Religion and Magic: Approaches and Theories -James Thrower, Religion: The Classical Theories -Russell McCutcheon, Manufacturing Religion: The Discourse on Sui Generis Religion and the Politics of Nostalgia -Bruce Lincoln, Theorizing Myth Marxism -Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, excerpts from "Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right" and from Anti-Duhring, (on reserve as "Religion is the Opium of the People") -Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, On Religion -David McLellan, Marxism and Religion -Trevor Ling, Karl Marx and Religion Psychoanalysis -Sigmund Freud, excerpt from New Introductory Lectures in Psycho-Analysis (on reserve as "Religion is an Illusion") -Sigmund Freud, The Future of an Illusion -Sigmund Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents -Sigmund Freud, Moses and Monotheism -David M. Wulff, Psychology of Religion: Classic and Contemporary Views, chp.6

4 Sociological and Anthropological Interpretations -Emile Durkheim, On Religion -Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism -Max Weber, From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology -Clifford Geertz, The Interpretation of Cultures -Arthur Mitzman, The Iron Cage: A Historical Interpretation of Max Weber -Anthony Giddens, Capitalism and Modern Social Theory -Sherry B. Ortner, "Theory in Anthropology since the Sixties" -Victoria Lee Erickson, Where Silence Speaks: Feminism, Social Theory, and Religion Psychological Perspectives -David M. Wulff, Psychology of Religion: Classic and Contemporary Views -Peter Homans, Jung in Context: Modernity and the Making of a Psychology Comparative and Phenomenological Interpretations -David Cave, Mircea Eliade s Vision for a New Humanism -Mircea Eliade, The Quest: History and Meaning in Religion -Mircea Eliade, Ordeal by Labyrinth: Conversations with Claude-Henri Rocquet -Bryan S. Rennie, Reconstructing Eliade: Making Sense of Religion -Steven Wasserstrom, Religion After Religion -Sumner B. Twiss and Walter H. Consor, (editors), Experience of the Sacred: Readings in the Phenomenology of Religion Theological Interpretations -Karl Barth, "Religion is Defiance of God" -Carl Braaten and Robert Jenson, (editors), A Map of Twentieth Century Theology -John Hick, "The Christian Message" -Kate McCarthy, "Reckoning with Religious Difference" -CSSR Bulletin articles on the relationship between theology and religious studies Feminist and Liberationist Interpretations -Mary Daly, The Problem, the Purpose, the Method, and "After the Death of God the Father," from Beyond God the Father: Toward a Philosophy of Women's Liberation -Rosemary Radford Ruether, "The Feminist Critique in Religious Studies" -Jean Graybeal, "Are We Ready for Integration Yet?" -Ursula King, "Religion and Gender" -Pamm Larry, "Mary Daly" -Paula Felipe, "Toward a Christian Feminist Theology" -Rubem Alves, "The God of the Oppressed," from What is Religion? -Bruce Lincoln, editor, Religion, Rebellion, Revolution

5 Religious Studies 200 Spring 2002 Instructor: Bruce Grelle CLASS SCHEDULE: TOPICS, READINGS, ASSIGNMENTS (subject to revision) 1st week (T 1/29-Th 1/31) The Background and Origins of Religious Studies : Interpretive Frames and Contexts Readings: Paden, Preface & chp. 1 Recommended: Seymour Cain, Eric J. Sharpe, Thomas L. Benson, "Study of Religion," from The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Religion, (on reserve and in the reference room of the library) 2nd & 3rd weeks (T 2/5-Th 2/14) Criticisms of Religion and the Hermeneutics of Suspicion Readings: Paden, chp 2; Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, excerpts from "Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right" and from Anti-Duhring (Course Reader); Sigmund Freud, excerpt from New Introductory Lectures in Psycho-Analysis (Course Reader) MINI-EXAM T 2/19 (date subject to revision) 4th - 6th weeks (T 2/19-Th 3/7) Religion, Society, and Culture: Sociological and Anthropological Interpretations of Religion Readings: Paden, chp. 3; Emile Durkheim, excerpts from The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (Course Reader); Max Weber, excerpt from "The Social Psychology of the World Religions" (Course Reader) 7th week (T 3/12-Th 3/14) Religion and Personality: Psychological Interpretations of Religion Readings: Paden, chp. 4; Carl Gustav Jung, excerpt from Psychology and Religion (Course Reader) Catch-Up and Review 8th week (T 3/19-Th 3/21) MID-TERM EXAM Th 3/21 (date subject to revision) SPRING BREAK 3/25-3/29 9th - 10th weeks (T 4/2-Th 4/11) Religionswissenschaft and the History of Religions: Comparative and Phenomenological Interpretations of Religion Readings: Paden, chp. 5; Mircea Eliade, excerpt from The Sacred and the Profane (Course Reader); Mircea Eliade, "History and Hermeneutics," from Ordeal by Labyrinth, (Course Reader); Joachim Wach, excerpt from The Comparative Study of Religions (Course Reader); Charlotte Allen, "Is Nothing Sacred?" (Course Reader)

6 11th-12th weeks (T 4/16-Th 4/25) Religion from the Inside: Religious and Theological Interpretations of Religion Readings: Paden, chp. 6; Karl Barth, excerpt from Church Dogmatics (Course Reader); Paul Tillich, excerpt from Theology of Culture (Course Reader); CSSR Bulletin articles on relationship between theology and religious studies (on reserve) Recommended: John Hick, The Christian Message (on reserve); Kate McCarthy, Reckoning with Religious Difference (on reserve) 13th-14th weeks (T 4/30-Th 5/9) Religion, Gender, and Power: Feminist and Liberationist Interpretations of Religion Readings: Rosemary Radford Ruether, "The Feminist Critique in Religious Studies" (Course Reader); Mary Daly, "The Problem, the Purpose, and the Method" from Beyond God the Father (Course Reader); After the Death of God the Father from Beyond God the Father (on reserve) Recommended: Rubem Alves, "The God of the Oppressed," from What is Religion? (on reserve); Ursula King, "Religion and Gender" (on reserve) Catch-Up and Review 15th week (T 5/14-Th 5/16) FINAL EXAM: Th 5/ :50 PLEASE NOTE TIME (AS LISTED IN TRACS BOOK P. 17) AND PLEASE DO NOT ASK TO RESCHEDULE THE FINAL EXAM