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Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: Introduction to Religious Studies

Course Title: Department: Instructor: Prerequisites:

RL500 - Introduction to Religious Studies Religious Studies Don E. Peavy, Sr., Ph.D. E-Mail Vita None

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE

What is religion? How do we tell those who have it from those who do not? Can religious experience be studied and examined like anatomy and physiology or any of the other sciences? These are but a few of the questions that this course seeks to answer as we undertake a study of religion as phenomena and as we examine it as it is practiced and understood by people ancient and extant. By the end of this course, students should have an understanding of what is meant by religion and why religion is so vital to human existence. At the same time, students should have some insight into those who have questioned religion in all of its manifestations and have suggested that humankind might be better served without religion.

INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE

Students should strive to use inclusive language in their writings. By inclusive language is meant language that is not gender specific and which attempts to include as many people as possible. For instance, instead of writing that "God wills that every man obeys His will," inclusive language would require us to write, "God wills that everyone obeys God's will."

REQUIREMENTS

1. Readings. The required texts are: Online Bookstore
   
   Livingston, James C., Anatomy of the Sacred: An Introduction to Religion, 4th ed., New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc. (2001, 1998, 1993, 1989).
   
   Pals, Daniel L., Eight Theories of Religion, second edition, New York; Oxford: Oxford University Press (2006).
   
   Textbooks should be ordered from the Canyon College Online Bookstore to insure that the correct volume and edition is obtained.

2. Conferences. Students may schedule no more than two Internet conferences between the student and the professor. These should be scheduled as necessary by the student. Of course, students may ask questions of the professor at any time by sending an E-mail to the address at the link above or by posting them to the message board.

3. Exams. There will be a mid-term exam and a comprehensive final examination. The exams will cover the assigned readings. The mid-term exam should be taken prior to the end of the week indicated below and the final examination should be taken before the end of week six.

4. Papers. There will be a short paper of at least two single-spaced pages or 1,250 words (not counting end-notes and bibliography), due at the end of each week=s readings in which students will answer the discussion questions and give a reaction to their readings. These papers are to be e-mailed to the professor. Those who do not feel comfortable with e-mailing the papers can contact the professor for a mailing address. Papers should conform to the form and style outlined in Kate L. Turabian's "A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations," 6th ed. Students should use end notes instead of footnotes. Finally, the papers are intended to be reflection papers and not research or the "author said" papers. Students should indicate their understanding of the texts and this cannot be done merely by quoting the authors.

5. Grades. Course work will be weighted as follows:
   
   

   Papers Midterm Exam Final Exam

   33% 33% 34%

6. Grading Scale.

   90-100%	A - Excellent
   80-89%	B - Above Average
   70-79%	C - Average
   60-69%	D - Below Average
   59% or below	F - Failing Grade

   
   A = Clearly stands out as excellent performance. Has unusually sharp insight into material and initiates thoughtful questions. Sees many sides of an issue. Articulates well and writes logically and clearly. Integrates ideas previously learned from this and other disciplines. Anticipates next steps in progression of ideas.
   
   B = Grasps subject matter at a level considered to be good to very good. Is an active listener and participant in chats, message boards, e-mails and conferences. Speaks and writes well. Accomplishes more than the minimum requirements. Work is of high quality.
   
   C = Demonstrates a satisfactory comprehension of the subject matter. Accomplishes only the minimum requirements, and displays little or no initiative. Communicates at an acceptable level for a college student. Has a generally acceptable understanding of all basic concepts.
   
   D = Quality and quantity of work is below average and barely acceptable.
   
   F = Quality and quantity of work is unacceptable.

WEEK ONE

Introduction to Course. Review syllabus. Why study religion? What is religion? A working definition.

Readings: Livingston 3-22. Pals Preface and Introduction. Read Course Lecture One.

FOR DISCUSSION: Discuss some of the definitions of religion enumerated in the readings for this week and state which, if any, you like and why. What does our class definition of religion do/give us that the other definitions do not?

WEEK TWO

The sacred and the profane.

Readings: Livingston 53-71. Pals “Animism and Magic.” Read Course Lecture Two. Film: Watch The Land Before Time,@ 1989.

FOR DISCUSSION: What is the sacred? The profane? What is the manifestation of the sacred? Does the leaf into which Littlefoot sees his reflection and hears his mother=s voice represent a hierophany, an epiphany, or a theophany? What is the ultimate reality for Littlefoot?

WEEK THREE

The sacred and the holy. Readings: Livingston 53-71. Pals “The Reality of the Sacred” and “Society as Sacred.” Read Course Lecture Three.

FOR DISCUSSION: Is there an essence of religion? We live in a culture in which significant numbers of people deny that mankind has walked on the moon or that Elvis Presley is dead. Given such skepticism in a highly technological age, how can we ever have confidence in the records of those who study and report on ancient peoples? What is the numinous and how does it differ from a hierophany?

PLEASE TAKE MID-TERM EXAM BY END OF THE WEEK.

WEEK FOUR

Religion: Non-religious explanations?

Readings: Pals “Religion and Personality,” and “Religion as Alienation,” and “Society’s ‘Construct of the Heart’.” Read Course Lecture Four. Film: Watch The Game, starring Michael Douglas and Sean Penn.

FOR DISCUSSION: How would you characterize the character played by Douglas? Is his transformation a religious or philosophical one? What is the main difference between the anlysis of Marx and that of Freud in terms of their critique of religion?

WEEK FIVE

Symbol, Myth, and Doctrine.

Reading: Livingston 73-95. Read Course Lecture Five.

FOR DISCUSSION: What is a myth, symbol, doctrine? What is the difference between a sign and a symbol? Give an example of a sign and one of a symbol. Define doctrine and give an example.

WEEK SIX

Scripture Film: The Bible: In the Beginning

Reading: Livingston 124-149; 223-249. Read Course Lecture Six.

FOR DISCUSSION: What is scripture? Can scripture be oral? What are some of the uses of scripture? What does hermeneutic mean? How faithful is our movie to the scripture it claims to follow?

WEEK SEVEN

Ritual and Worship. Readings: Livingston 97-123. Pals “Animism and Magic,” and “Religion as Cultural System.” Read also, if you can find it on the Internet or at your local library, Frazer's The Golden Bough, 26-59. Read Course Lecture Seven.

FOR DISCUSSION: Define ritual and worship. What roles do they play in the religious life? What is magic? Does religion need magic? Does magic need religion? What is the difference, if any, between magic and miracle? Give an example of a miracle and state why you consider it a miracle and not magic.

PLEASE TAKE FINAL EXAM BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.