Instructor Michael E Chaness (mechanes@syr.edu) REL 101 Fall 2014 M, 6:45-9:30 Office Hours: M, 5:30-6:30, Pages Cafe HL, 111 Religions of the World Religions manifest themselves in a diversity of human expressions. From Judaism, Christianity and Islam to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Native American traditions this course will explore religious traditions as they coalesce around history, theology, ritual and literature. We will investigate religion as a means of sharing, living and expressing the sacred throughout a variety of historical periods, geographical locals and cultural contexts. None of these traditions will be covered comprehensively; instead we will investigate the Holy texts and sacred literatures from several of the world s great traditions. Methodologies from anthropology, the history of religions, textual, cultural and comparative studies will guide our investigation into the lives of religious man. Texts: Farid ud-din Attar. The Conference of the Birds. Feng, Gia-Fu and English, Jane. Tao Te Ching. Kerouac, Jack. Dharma Bums. Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. Smith, Huston. The World s Religions. Stoler-Miller, Barbara. The Bhagavad-Gita: Krishna s Counsel in Time of War.
Requirements: 1. Critique - one per week. It is necessary to complete 10 short writing assignments (no more than 500 words in length), roughly one for each week. Critique s are designed to focus your thoughts on a specific argument or thread of analysis and will be graded for content as well as completion. Critique s are to be handed in promptly at the end of class on the designated due date. Late papers will not be accepted, no exceptions. 2. Journal entries: to be collected twice, on October 13th and on December 8th. Worth 20% of the final grade. Journal entries are an exercise in creativity and reflection and will be graded for completion. 3. Tests: the first worth 15% of the final grade, the second worth 15% of the final grade. Test #1 will be administered on October 20 and Test #2 on December 15th. The format of the test will be short answer and essay. 4. Active participation in class. This class will be discussion heavy. Keep in mind that in addition to entering into discussions during class, e-mail, blackboard and office hours offer unique formats for active participation. 5. The ability to listen. I want, as much as possible, for us to watch films and listen to music during class; however, our ability to play music and watch films will be directly linked to our collective skills of listening. 6. NO cell phones, computers, tablets or other electronic devices will be permitted during class at any time. In this class text is not a verb. Grading: Journal (20%), Critique (25%), Test (30%), Attendance/Participation (25%) A 100-89 B 88-80 C 79-70 D 69-60 F 59 and below 2
Goals: The Department of Religion has articulated three goals that shape its teaching and expectations of what students in its courses and programs may expect to gain from this study: 1. To understand better the nature and diversity of religious expressions in the contemporary world and in history, and their power in peoples' personal and collective lives; 2. To think more deeply and critically about religious experience and its modes of expression and forms of interpretation; 3. To recognize and appreciate the difficulties and possibilities in a disciplined study of religion; and to become aware of a diversity of approaches and methods within that study. A. Holy Text 25 August: Introductions Standard rules for students. Syllabus. Writing. Academic Study of Religion. Definitions of Religion. Religion and the Media. Top 10 List. 1 September: No Class Memorial Day 8 September: The Bible Geography. History (passion, reformation). Jesus. Creation. Theology (sin, trinity, salvation). Spread (empire, conversion, colonization). Christianities. Smith Ch. 8, Selections from Christian Bible, MLK 15 September: The Vedas India. Caste. Atman. Brahman. Karma/Samsara. Gods. Darshan. Bhakti. Jnana. Yoga. Dharma. Exportation to West. Smith Ch. 1, Selections from RgVeda, Gandhi 22 September: The Tao Te Ching (and Analects) China. Tao. Leadership. Warfare. Civilian. Yin-Yang. Wu-Wei. Natural Order. Family. Filial Piety. 5 Relationships. Discipline. Smith Ch. 4-5, Selections from Tao Te Ching and Analects 29 September: The Dhammapada Geography. Siddhartha. 4 Noble Truths. Karma/Re-birth. Buddha. Dharma. Sangha. Mahayana/Theravada. Bodhisattva. Meditation. Smith Ch. 3, Selections from Dhammapada, Dalai Llama 3
6 October: The Qur an Geography. Ritual Structure. Theology. Mohammed. 5 Pillars. Sunni/Shi a/sufi. Calligraphy. Orientalism. Media. NOI. Smith Ch. 6, Selections from Qur an, Said, Esposito, Malcolm X 13 October: The Talmud Geography. Jew/Jewishness/Judaism. Israel. God. Family. Ritual. Holocaust. Zionism. Hebrew. Yiddish. Modern Judaism. Smith Ch. 7, Heschel, Herzl Journal #1 Due 20 October: Test #1 B. Sacred Literature 27 October: From Primitive to Indigenous Oral Culture. Federal Indian Policy. Relocation. Reservation. Allotment. Residential School System. Onondaga Nation. AIM. Sovereignty. Smith Ch. 9, Deloria Ch. 17, Selected Alexie Poems 3 November: Hasidic Tales and Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav Hasidism. Kaballah. Travel. Mysticism. Storytelling. Animals. Nahman Tales 10 November: Conference of the Birds Sufi. Mysticism. Music. Ecstasy. Storytelling. Animals. Conference (entire) 17 November: C.S. Lewis and Mere Christianity Mysticism. Spirituality. Transcendence. Deification. Selections from Mere Christianity 24 November - No Class Thanksgiving 1 December: The New Vision of the Beat Generation American Buddhism. Zen. Travel. Poetry. Jazz. Drugs. Dharma Bums (all), Jataka Tales 8 December: The Bhagavad-Gita Krishna. Arjuna. Dharma. Karma. Warfare. Family. Poetry. Bhagavad-Gita (selections) Journal #2 Due 15 December: Test #2 4
Statement Regarding Disability-Related Accommodations Students who are in need of disability-related academic accommodations must register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS), 804 University Avenue, Room 309, 315-443-4498. Students with authorized disability-related accommodations should provide a current Accommodation Authorization Letter from ODS to the instructor and review those accommodations with the instructor. Accommodations, such as exam administration, are not provided retroactively; therefore, planning for accommodations as early as possible is necessary. For further information, see the ODS website, Office of Disability Services, see http://disabilityservices.syr.edu Academic Integrity Statement The Syracuse University Academic Integrity Policy holds students accountable for the integrity of the work they submit. Students should be familiar with the Policy and know that it is their responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard to proper citation of sources in written work. The policy also governs the integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments as well as the veracity of signatures on attendance sheets and other verifications of participation in class activities. Serious sanctions can result from academic dishonesty of any sort. For more information and the complete policy, see http://academicintegrity.syr.edu/ Related Links: Policy: http://academicintegrity.syr.edu/faculty-resources/ What does academic integrity mean? http://academicintegrity.syr.edu/what-does-academic-integrity-mean/ Statement on Religious Observance Policy Students must notify instructors by the end of the second week of classes if they will be absent during the semester in order to observe a religious holiday. For more information about SU s religious observances policy, see http://supolicies.syr.edu/emp_ben/religious_observance.htm. Under the policy, an online notification process is available through MySlice/Student Services/Enrollment/My Religious Observances from the first day of class until the end of the second week of class. Students are then provided an opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirements that may be missed due to a religious observance provided that they have notified their instructors before the end of the second week of classes. 5
S T A N D A R D R U L E S F O R T H E S T U D E N T S (Fela Sowande) 1. Never be over-owed by authority. Not at any time whatever, nor for any reason whatsoever, can anyone with safety or profit permit his faculty-of-thought to take a sabbatical, least of all when that individual s mind is exposed to the thoughts of other people. 2. Be open to conviction, but refuse to be convinced until conviction becomes a necessity. In other words, do not imprison your mind in the padded cell of the comfortable rut of your own preferred beliefs, prejudices, biases, or ego-centricity. 3. Read little, think deeply and much. Avoid acquiring the grasshopper mind. Books are highly suggestive, therefore, choose your authors with care. Take time to think through the full implications and connotations of what you read, testing its validity from as many angles as you can. Even nourishing food leads to indigestion if swallowed whole. Avoid mental indigestion at all costs. It is not to be cured merely by going to the Drug Store! 4. Seek TRUTH and pursue it, to the extent of remaking your own mind no matter the cost, should it become necessary. Never forget that the superstitions of today were the truths of yesterday; the truths of today will be the superstitions of tomorrow. Do not allow them permanent residence in your mind. Seek not mere knowledge but UNDERSTANDING. Perchance W I S D O M may follow. One thing is certain: Only when the rational mind is stilled can the ears of understanding open to the voice of Wisdom. 5. If you must lie, lie to others; they will find you out and know you for the fool that you are. But if you lie to yourself, you are a lost fool. 6. Learn to think beyond the thoughts of men that lean on things they see. Inevitably they become obsessed by the perceptible to such an extent that, for them, thinking has become synonymous with repeating parrot-fashion the cast-off-thoughts of others, with less intelligence than the (so-called) dumb animals. On no account should you visit that Club, much less join it. 7. Make it your golden rule, never to be broken, NOT under any circumstances to consult any author on any subject until you shall first have thought deeply about it a meditative act and shall have reached some conclusions, no matter how tentative. Remember at all times: NOTHING BELONGS TO YOU EXCEPT YOUR MIND HAS HAD A HAND IN ITS FORMULATION. The moral is obvious: ensure by every means at your disposal, that your mind is actively functioning on oiled wheels, and it functions as your servant and not your enslaver. 8. Heed well the words of Herbert Spencer: There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance: That principle is contempt prior to investigation. ((First drawn up Howard University 1969, revised Pittsburgh University 1973, and restructured Dartmouth College, July 1975)) 6