ME/ST735 World Religions

Course Syllabus ME/ST735 World Religions Timothy J. Furry, Ph.D. Bloomfield Hills, MI Email: tim.furry@tsm.edu Cell phone #: 937-361-8825 Email is my preferred method of communication. If you need to speak with me, let me know via email, and we can set up a time to talk via phone or Skype. Course Description An introduction to some of the major (non-christian) living religions of the world. The course will also discuss some methodological questions concerning the study of religion, for example: What is religion? What, if any, characteristics do all religions share? What are some of the approaches and concerns in the contemporary study of religion? Finally, the course will address some of the specifically Christian theological concerns and different theological approaches raised by the existence of other religions besides Christianity. Course Objectives The main objective(s) of the course is for the student to have basic knowledge of the history and theology of the following world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, Daoism, and Confucianism. Basic knowledge means that you can articulate the main aspects, beliefs, and practices of each tradition in such a way that a practitioner of that faith would say, Yes, that s what I believe and do. This is the descriptive part of the course and the most important for our purposes. It s imperative that we seek to understand each faith on its own terms as best we can and not simply compare it to Christianity in order to prove it false, which would be the evaluative part. Thinking about how each religion compares to Christianity is an essential task, but we must first do our best to understand each faith tradition as it understands itself before comparing it to Christianity as a kind of evaluation of its veracity. Otherwise, we might find ourselves caricaturing faiths and thereby be unable to actually compare it to Christianity with any accuracy the definition of futility. You also should be able to think theologically about the relation between Christianity and other religions. You should be able to analyze arguments and respond to arguments used by Christian theologians to address such questions as: How should Christians think about other religions? What might God be doing in other religions? Can Christians learn from 1

other religions? You should know the differences between positions like pluralism, exclusivism, inclusivism, etc. Ultimately, you should also have greater clarity about your own Christian theological convictions. Textbooks The two (2) following textbooks are required for the course. Be sure to get the right edition of each text. Don t get an older one to save money, though I know that s tempting. We need to all have the same book and pagination. 1. David Noss. A History of the World Religions. 12 th ed. Pearson, 2007. ISBN: 978-0136149842 NOTE: This is the 12 th edition, not the newest 13 th edition. We re using this older edition because it s WAY cheaper than the newest one. You can find this 12th edition used on Amazon and very reasonably priced (less than $30). See the link below. http://www.amazon.com/history-worlds-religions-12th- Edition/dp/0136149847/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366293065&sr=8-1&keywords=noss+religion 2. Philip Novak. The World s Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World s Religions. NY: HarperCollins, 1994, 1995. ISBN 978-00606-63421 $16.99 Selections from other texts will also be provided electronically in our Google Classroom. The following is a list of theological texts that are not required, but which may prove helpful: J. A. Dinoia, O.P. The Diversity of Religions: A Christian Perspective. Washington, D. C.: Catholic University Press, 1992. Ida Glaser. The Bible and Other Faiths: Christian Responsibility in a World of Religions. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2005. Paul J. Griffiths. Christianity Through Non-Christian Eyes. Orbis Books, 1990. Paul J. Griffiths. Problems of Religious Diversity. Wiley-Blackwell, 2001. 2

Veli-Matti Kärkkäïnen. An Introduction to the Theology of Religions: Biblical, Historical, Theological and Contemporary Perspectives. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2003. Gerald McDermott. Can Evangelicals Learn From World Religion? Jesus, Revelation & Religious Traditions. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2000. Gerald McDermott. God s Rivals: Why Has God Allowed Different Religions? Insights From the Bible and the Early Church. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2007. Stephen Neill. Christian Faith and Other Faiths. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1984. Harold Netland. Dissonant Voices: Religious Pluralism and the Question of Truth. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1991. Harold Netland. Encountering Religious Pluralism: The Challenge to Faith and Mission. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2001 Leslie Newbigin. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989. Vinoth Ramachandra. Faiths in Conflict? Christian Integrity in a Multicultural World. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1999. George R. Sumner. The First and the Last: The Claim of Jesus Christ and the Claims of Other Religious Traditions. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2004. Timothy C. Tennent. Christianity at the Religious Roundtable: Evangelicalism in Conversation with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002. Course Assignments/Requirements Online Discussions (110 pts) There will be an online forum where students will engage a question based on that week/module s reading. The beginning question of week 1 is below in the schedule. Other questions will be subsequently posted. (I do this so I can tailor questions based on previous discussions and each individual class and their interests). These responses are due the last day of that week/module; that is, the day before the next reading assignment/module begins. Initial responses should be no shorter than 300 words and are NOT to be summaries of the reading. Engaging the text and the question(s) are the focus. Subsequent interaction with other students comments is also expected, though not 3

required. Each student will receive up to 10 pts for their initial reflection and subsequent engagement. The single lowest score will be dropped at the end of the term, so there will be 100 possible points for on-line discussion for our 12 week course. Online discussion etiquette: --Engage the material and each other as if we were meeting in person, face to face. Please refrain from abusive or personal attacks. This applies to the books we are reading as well as to your classmates. Of course, disagreement and critical interaction with the text and each other (including the professor!) are expected and encouraged, but derisive and personal attacks are not. Repeated offenses of this can result in removal from the course. --Use the same care in writing as you would for a formal paper. Approach these as formal writing assignments, so be sure to pay attention to style, grammar, and proper language use. Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use abbreviations that are found in other electronic media (e.g. text messaging). --Finally, these discussions are for theological and substantive engagement. It is not a place for socializing. Please keep comments and interaction centered on the course material. Religion Summaries (105 points or 15pts for each religion listed below) Due Tuesday, August 21 You must summarize each of the following religions in 350 words or less: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Daoism, Confucianism, and Christianity. The point of this seemingly impossible exercise is to help really think about the essentials/core teachings and practices of each faith, including our own in Christianity. You should approach the assignment in this way: Provide your summaries as if you were responding to a parishioner. They come up to you and say: I have this friend at work who is a Hindu (Buddhist, Muslim, etc), and I want to understand what they think. Do you know what Hinduism is about and can you give me a short summary? I recommend doing each religion summary right after our unit on that religion. That will make it much easier to do and will keep you from having to complete all of this assignment while trying to write your research paper. Personal Theology of Religions Paper (100pts) Due Sunday, July 8 This is your chance to think theologically from a Christian perspective about the existence of other faiths. You can address questions like: How should Christians navigate the particularity of Jesus and his claims with the existence and teachings of other faiths? Can adherents to other religions be saved and why or why not? Do other religions serve a providential purpose in creation and how so? You should use Scripture, tradition, reason, 4

and experience in your response, though you need not specifically label distinct sections. I mention these as only reminders about Anglican sources of theology in order to be helpful. The paper should be 6-8 pages in length and will be graded on depth of reflection, use of theological sources, and overall writing (grammar, organization, etc). Research Paper (150 points) Due Friday, August 24th Write a 12-15 page research paper on a specific belief or practice in a non-christian world religion. You will need to have at least 6 sources in your paper two of which can be our textbooks. The paper should include the following: 1) A 4-5 page exposition of the practice/belief and its origins while being mindful of different understandings of the practice/belief within that faith tradition (E.g. if one were doing the Eucharist in Christianity, you would have to describe the practice, its theological significance, and how its derived from Scripture and tradition; then, how different Christian traditions understand the Eucharist). 2) A 4-5 page description of the significance of the belief/practice to the faith in general. In other words, show how the practice/belief fits into the whole faith. (E.g. using the Eucharist again, you would relate the Eucharist to the incarnation, worship/liturgical rituals, etc.) 3) A 4-5 page comparison of your practice/belief with relevant Christian teaching/theology/practice. More specifically, draw out similarities and differences between Christian teachings and sensibilities and your chosen topic. These will obviously differ based upon what you choose. I m happy to consult with you on this if you need assistance. Please do not use this as an opportunity to dismiss the chosen religion or prove it to be false. Think of this section under these terms: if you were to sit down with a Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, etc and talk about the part of their faith you wrote on, how would you talk with them about Christianity in light of that topic showing how Christianity is similar to and different from your topic. You will be graded on: following the instructions above, use of proper sources, depth of reflection, and overall writing (grammar, organization, etc.). Course Evaluation is based on total points for each assignment 1. Weekly reflections/online discussion (110pts) 2. Religion summaries (105pts) 3. Personal theology of world religions paper (100pts) 4. Research paper on a specific belief or practice in a non-christian religion (150pts) Course total: 465pts 5

Grades The Academic Catalog assigns the following values to grades: B: Work will demonstrate broad (sufficient information is covered) and deep (supporting material is offered) coverage of the material. Information will be accurate and there will be a clear and coherent structure. Coverage of the material and comments will be reasonably competent without being exceptional.. C: Work will demonstrate reasonable coverage of the material but will lack breadth and depth of analysis. There will not be serious inadequacies in the information presented, but the overall structure will be characteristically unclear, narrow, and shallow and void of imaginative and interesting analysis. D: Work will be notably defective according to the criteria outlined above. F: Work will demonstrate a complete failure on the part of its author to interact with the material in accordance with criteria outlined above. A: Work will demonstrate exceptional coverage of the material. What distinguishes work in this category from a B is the author s ability to develop the material in breadth and depth beyond what is necessary for a good understanding of it. The author will engage with the material in a way that is often though not always marked by creativity, exceptional insight, and/or extensive research. In the liberal arts, there is always a subjective element in grading insofar as grades reflect qualitative work rather than quantitative measures. For theological work, a number of factors enter into grading: competence in understanding and summarizing material; insightful comments; thoughtful argumentation in addition to summarizing and commenting. Generally, the more of these factors that are present, the higher the grade, but other factors will also be taken into account, for example, organizational coherence, narrative flow of argument, lucidity. (Longer is not necessarily better.) Plagiarism Plagiarism is a violation of an author s/artist s intellectual property rights and is a serious offense. Please see the Academic Catalog for a full explanation of Trinity s plagiarism guidelines and note, as stated there, that every student is expected to be fully aware of the guidelines. A student who plagiarizes will automatically receive a failing grade on the assignment and risks failing the course. If a student does not know whether or not they may be engaging in plagiarism, they are encouraged to speak to Leslie Thyberg, our Learning Skills Coordinator. 6

Late Assignments Work turned in late (quizzes, exams, etc.) for any reason, barring documented medical emergency, will be accepted up to 3 days after it was due, with a grade level reduction (an A becomes a B, etc.). Any work turned in after 3 days cannot be counted for credit. Missed Class Policy 3 missed for any reason automatically drops a student from the course. ATS Review of Student Work Samples of student work may be used as part of an on-going assessment of courses and degree programs. Students names will be removed from any work used for this purpose. 7

Course Schedule: Your weekly reading reflections/responses are due by the Sunday prior to the next week. So, your week 1 internet reflection is due on Sunday, June 3 by 11:59pm for the week 1 readings, Sunday June 10 for week 2 readings and so on. This gives you all week to read and finish your assignment. Other assignments, the papers, have specific due dates. Week 1: May 29-June 3, What is Religion? Read PDF selection from William Cavanaugh s The Myth of Religious Violence; chapter 2: The Invention of Religion Read PDF selection, Peter Berger s The Sacred Canopy; read only the 1 st chapter: Religion and World Construction pp. 3-28. Read PDF: Peter Biller, Words and the Medieval Notion of Religion, Journal of Ecclesiastical History 36 (1985). Week 2: June 4-10, Christianity and other faiths Read PDF selection: George Sumner, The First and the Last: The Claim of Jesus Christ and the Claim of Other Religions, 1-37. Read PDF selection: J.A. DiNoia, The Diversity of Religions: A Christian Perspective, pp. 1-64 Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate). (Roman Catholic) http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vatii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html Week 3: June 11-17, Hinduism part 1 Reading from Noss, History of the World Religions, pp. 80-103. Reading from The World s Wisdom by Novak, chapter 1. Read these sections; these are NOT page numbers but sections/selections of different Hindu texts: 1-6. For example, section 1 refers not to the page but to the reading, He, O Men, is Indra on p. 2, and (section) 2 is the O Agni, Dispeller of the Night reading on page 3. 8

Week 4: June 18-24, Hinduism part 2 Noss, History of the World Religions, pp. 106-150. Novak, World s Wisdom chapter 1, sections: 7-13, 16-25. Week 5: June 25-July 1, Buddhism part 1 Noss, History of World Religions, pp. 164-185. World s Wisdom, chapter 2, sections: 1-37. Week 6: July 2-8, Buddhism part 2 Noss, History of World Religions, pp. 186-238. World s Wisdom, chapter 2, sections: 38-61. Parable of the Burning House (electronic document) **Personal theology of religions paper due on July 8 by 11:59pm. Week 7: July 9-15, Jainism and Sikhism Noss, History of World Religions, pp. 152-163, 240-251. Read selections from the Adi Granth; available here: http://www.sikhs.org/english/eg_index.htm Read the first 25 pages by clicking on the links. It will be self-explanatory when you see the page. If you have questions, just let me know. Week 8: July 16-22, Confucianism Noss, History of World Religions, pp. 290-328. World s Wisdom, chapter 3, sections: 1-8, 10-24. 9

Week 9: July 23-29, Daosim Noss, History of World Religions, pp. 254-288. World s Wisdom, chapter 4, sections: 1-17 Week 10: July 30-August 5, Judaism Note: We are skipping to the development of Judaism and rabbinic Judaism because I m assuming you all have some familiarity with ancient Israelite practice and religion through your OT course work and knowledge of the OT. Noss, History of World Religions, pp. 416-450. Please note: Do NOT read your Christian Old Testament. Read the Tanakh from our textbook. There are important translation differences and we need to read the Jewish bible s rendering. World s Wisdom, chapter 5, sections: 3-10, 13-18, 23-39. Week 11: August 6-12, Islam part 1 Noss, History of World Religions, pp. 542-577. World s Wisdom, chapter 7, sections: 1-12 Week 12: August 13-19, Islam part 2 Noss, History of World Religions, pp. 578-609. World s Wisdom, chapter 7, sections: 13-45. **Religion Summaries due on Tuesday, August 21 by 11:59pm. ***Research paper due on Friday, August 24 by 11:59. 10