Syllabus Theology III B: Ecumenical and Interreligious Issues Rio Salado (Dual enrollment option is available) REL 101 Xavier College Preparatory Junior Semester Course: 2012-2013 Mrs. Hartman Work: (602) 277-3772 ext. 3346 Mon-Thurs. 8-3:30, Friday 8-12:00 Email: ghartman@xcp.org Website: www.mrsghartmanxcp.weebly.com Course Descriptions: Xavier: The purpose of the course is to help the students understand the manner in which the Catholic Church relates to non-catholic Christians as well as to other religions of the world. Building on the foundational truth on which Jesus established the Catholic Church and entrusted to her the fullness of God s Revelation, the course is intended to help students recognize the ways in which important spiritual truths can be found in non-catholic Christian churches and ecclesial communities as well as in non- Christian religions. It is also intended to help them to recognize the ways in which other systems of belief and practice differ from the Catholic faith. Rio Salado College credit is available when possible and if scheduling permits. Rio Salado: Various religious expressions of humankind. Focuses on basic religious themes common to religions, such as encounter with the holy, search for self and community, mystical illumination, spiritual discipline. Prerequisites: None. Textbooks Required: Exploring the religions of our world (2008). Nancy Clemmons, SNJM. Notre Dame, Ind: Ave Maria Press. Optional Resource: Dual enrollment The sacred quest, an invitation to the study of religion 6 th edition, Lawrence S. Cunningham and John Kelsay. ISBN: 9780205191314 Material Required: *Textbook and comp book are to be with you in class each day. You will need to bring a comp book to class for the written reflections, vocabulary notes. A folder will be needed to hold handouts and returned assessments. You may use technological devices for note taking in class; however any use of such technology for non class related purposes during class time will eliminate your ability to use technology in the classroom for the remainder of the course. Rio Salado Course Requirements: a. You must complete all assignments in the course to get a passing grade. b. Keep a copy of all your assignments.
Course Objectives: Xavier Proficiencies Include: 1. Students will discover the importance of defining religion. 2. Students will recognize the value of both ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. 3. Students will reflect upon how the human desire to know god calls forth a religious response within all humanity. 4. Students will determine how the Roman Catholic understanding of Revelation impacts the human response to salvation history. 5. Students will examine challenges of Ecclesial communion as a result of the separation within the Christian Churches today. 6. Students will determine the ways in which relationship to the Jewish community has historically impacted the Catholic Church. 7. Students will examine how the commonalities and differences between the Abrahamic Faiths affect their moral responses to ethical issues. 8. Students will consider how all religious expression reflects the human desire to search for truth and is exhibited within each of them. 9. Students will consider the importance of interreligious dialogue and proclamation within our world today. 10. Students will create a final project that demonstrates their understanding of how religions express cultural and social expressions of faith which call for personal transformation and response. 11. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops standards for Ecumenical and Interreligious Issues as articulated in the Core Curriculum guidelines established in 2010. Rio Salado Official Course Competencies: 1. Describe the role of definitions in the study of religion. (I) 2. Identify and describe the four types of definitions that have been advanced in the study of religion. (I) 3. Exemplify each type of definition of religion, as used by religious scholars. (I) 4. Trace the origins of religion in preliterate cultures. (II) 5. Trace the origins of religion in the axial period. (II) 6. Describe the relationship of the origins of religion to its nature(s) and function(s). (II) 7. Trace the history of the term "religion". (III) 8. Trace the development of the scholarly study of religions. (III) 9. Trace and describe the sub-disciplines of religious studies. (III) 10. Describe the five examples of the ways in which religions are expressed indirectly through cultural forms, such as art, music, literature, dance, and drama. (IV) 11. Describe the ways in which myth and symbol can function as direct religious expressions in religious teaching and doctrine. (IV) 12. Describe the ways in which ritual and ceremony can function as direct religious expressions in the worship and liturgy of religions. (IV) 13. Describe the ways in which communal organizations can function as social expressions of religious leadership and authority. (IV) 14. Describe the ways in which personal religious experience can function as a direct religious expression of religious transformation. (IV) 15. Describe the ways in which moral behavior can function as a direct religious expression of religious ethics. (IV) 16. Contrast exoteric and esoteric religious knowledge, and ways of acquiring each. (IV) 17. Compare and contrast the types of knowledge religions claim to provide. (IV)
Xavier Expected School wide Learning Results Include: *Know the teachings of the Catholic faith and spirituality and act as a witness of faith through ministry towards self and others. *Show facility with writing tasks called for in higher education and lifelong learning. *Demonstrate active listening and the ability to speak articulately and intelligently in conversation, class discussion, formal oral presentation, and Daily interpersonal communication. *Apply creative and critical thinking abilities across the curriculum and in life. *Use and integrate ethically, technology as a means of communication, academic enrichment, and preparation for college and for participation in the world community. Use of technology in class: *Students may use laptops for note taking in class; however if they are found to be surfing the web, or in another way distracted from being on task the lap top will be taken for the remainder of class and will be returned during 8th period. A second offense will require a call home, and the student will lose the privilege of using a laptop in class for 2 weeks. Any additional misuse of technology will cause the student to lose the privilege of using their laptop within this classroom for the remainder of the semester. *Students will be responsible for securing and protecting their devices from misuse or loss. Safety and Classroom rules: All Xavier Handbook Rules will apply. Follow all classroom guidelines. Cheating/Plagiarism: Cheating is the obtaining or providing of any questions, answers, essays, or grades by any dishonest means. Plagiarism includes presenting, as one s own, the ideas, words or any created production of another person or source (Xavier Handbook) Paraphrasing a source requires citation. If a student is found to be cheating or plagiarizing the work presented will earn a 0, and the student will be referred to the Dean for disciplinary action. *NOTE: You may not share notes, notebooks, quizzes, tests, research based essays or other written assignments with other students. After completing the class this requirement remains, to do this is cheating. Please review this website on plagiarism prior to beginning class: http://www.rioloungeonline.com/article/28043?t=tjkyk
Course Schedule: The course content may vary from this outline to meet the needs of this particular group. Assignment Week # Unit One: Religion and the quest to know. 1 Introduction to the course, review of requirements. Course standards, religious studies approach. Xavier Proficiencies Read Chapter One. 2 What is religion? Essay: religion defined. Test on Unit One Unit Two: Early Religion Samsara 3 East Asian Religious Traditions: Hinduism Read Chapters 5 Assessment: Hinduism Samsara Project. 4 East Asian Religious Traditions: Buddhism Read Chapter 6 Assessment: Small group Project: Religion in practice 5 Test on Unit Two Unit Three:Asian Religions creating Harmony Asian Religious Traditions: Taoism and Confucianism Read Chapter 7. 6 Asian Religious Traditions: Read Chapter 8. Assessment: Small group Project: Religion in practice 7 Research Paper due: Religion as practice Test on Unit Three Unit Four: Western Religions providing moral frameworks 8 Western Religious Traditions. Read Chapters 2, 3 and 4. Assessment: Faith, Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving, and Pilgrimage 9 Western Religious Traditions: Assessment: The Land and Covenant. 10 Western Religious Traditions: Read Afterward. Test on Unit Four Religion in the Modern World: Birth of Religion in the world, its purpose and role. 11 Assessment: Final research video projects presented. 12 Review for Final Exam. Key concepts and teachings. Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue for World Peace Respectful dialogue and its possibilities for Wisdom Circle dialogues. 13 Final Exam School Calendar *Additional reading will be provided through links on the website. Be sure to check on Mondays each week.
Attendance: Attendance is expected. An absence will result in loss of participation points for the week (2 points). If you have an unexcused absence, you must turn in assignment upon your return to class. If you have an excused absence you will have 3 days upon your return to complete the assignment. All tests need to be made up during 8 th period within a week of your return to class. No credit will be given if an effort to schedule your make up test is not made upon your return to class. Student Responsibilities: *Make up all missing assignments within the Xavier handbook guidelines. *Schedule make up tests within 3 days of your return to class. *Check mrsghartmanxcp.weebly.com daily for assignments, class notes and other pertinent information. *See me for assistance during 8 th period in clarifying assignments, and mastering the material. Grades: Grades will be determined on a point value system. Participation in class, determined by your contributions to discussions, turning in of assignments on time, following classroom standards, and attendance will influence your grade up to 5%. Assignments and Due Dates: The required assignments for the course are listed below. Because the lessons have a varying number of hand-in assignments, please use this chart as a checklist to avoid missing any of the requirements. To be on time your work must be delivered as assigned. (Holidays = next day). If you wish, you may also write each due date in the right-hand column of the table that follows. Unit tests will be on the last class session of the week. Calendar of Due Dates Date Assignments Due Dates Due ongoing Composition 1 st things writing daily log, etc. ongoing Chapter Reading Completed prior to beginning unit ongoing Daily Homework As assigned ongoing In class Small group religion in practice ongoing In class checkouts TBD Samsara project Primal Unit TBD Morality through practice Abrahamic Fatih unit TBD Land Abrahamic Faith unit TBD Circle dialogues Webquests 2 days notice Unit Tests Last Day of week following completion of Unit Due end of 1 st Research based essay This will be due at the end of the quarter. quarter Due Dec. 3 Final Project Video presentation that demonstrates your knowledge of religion. Final Exam *TBD to be determined Per school calendar Reading: Prior to beginning each unit, you are expected to have read the corresponding chapters in advance. This will allow you to contribute to class discussion, and to understand the religious traditions being discussed. Composition Book 1 st things writing log: These will be completed each day in class, and will assist us in connecting with the materials we will cover that day. If absent, please obtain the assignment to complete on your own. *The timelines, prayers, and vocabulary will be completed for each unit in class and as homework these will be checked on test days for completeness.
*The questions for the tests will come from these quizzes, chapter questions, assigned reading, and in class notes. *A research based essay will be assigned. You will have two weeks to complete this, and it will be submitted to turn it in.com. This is significant to your grade. *A final culminating video project will be assigned. This is to demonstrate your understanding of religion as a result of your studies. Unit tests: 4 unit tests will be given these will be based on the unit divisions within the text. Unit 5 will be tested on the final exam. Test Unit One Religion and the quest to know Course objectives: # 1,2,3, 4, 8,11 Xavier Rio Salado #1,2,3, 7, 8, 9 Test Unit Two Early religions: Indigenous and East Asian Course objectives: #11 Xavier Rio Salado #4,5,6, 10, 11, 12, 13 Test Unit Three Asian religions: Creating Harmony Course objectives: #11 Xavier Rio Salado #10-13 Religion defined Indigenous religious worldview: Lakota Philosophical worldview: China Salvation History Mystical worldview Balance in Relationships and Nature Catholic view on Hinduism, Taoism, challenges of Buddhism Confucianism proclamation and dialogue Test Unit Four Western Religions: Providing moral frameworks Course objectives: #5,6,7, 11 Xavier Rio Salado #10-16 Ecclesial communion Abrahamic faith response to moral questions Relationship with Judaism Test Unit Five Religions today: Pluralism and cultural context Course objectives: #9,10,11 Xavier Rio Salado #10-17 Religions in America Personal call and response Ethical framework. Human quest of knowing God Chapter One Chapters 5 and 6 Chapters7 and 8 Chapters 2,3,and 4 Afterward Participation: All assignments turned in on time. Late and missing assignments will result in loss of points. Attendance. More than 3 absences will result in loss of points. Completion of Composition Book. Incomplete and missing comp book will result in loss of points. Participates in class discussions, small group work. Cheating results in a loss of 8 participation points, as well as a zero on the assignment, which will significantly affect your grade. 50 points 25 per quarter. *NOTE: If you receive less than a passing grade on an assignment, quiz, or test please see me during 8 th period immediately following the return of the assignment to discuss your options.
Standards and Expectations This dual enrollment college course is intended for high school students at the junior and senior level Course Requirements All assessments must be submitted to college standards to earn a passing grade for the course. Grading Standards: A 90-100% B 80-89% C 70-79% D 60-69% F Below 60% Attendance Standards: Attendance is expected and will impact your final grade. Late/Missed Work Policy: All work is expected to be submitted on time. If work is received 1-2 days late: 10% will be deducted. If work is received 3-10 days late: 20% will be deducted. If work is received beyond 10 days late: 50% will be deducted. Work received after the close of the quarter will not be accepted for grading. Equipment Use Policies: You may use technology in the classroom for educational purposes only. This includes online research, as well as note taking and writing. If you are found to be using technology for other purposes during class time you will lose the privilege of using technology for the remainder of the course.