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Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: Mythology

Course Title:	RL510 - Mythology
Department:	Religious Studies
Instructor:	Don E. Peavy, Sr., Ph.D. E-Mail Vita
Prerequisites:	None

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE

Most people today in ordinary discourse use the word myth to mean that a story or thing is not true. An example of this is the myth of “manifest destiny,” or the myth of Santa Claus. As we will discover in this course, a myth is a story told to explain something for which the scientific method or other ways of explaining cannot be employed. A myth does not mean that a story is false. The claim is that it is true or at least points to that which is true; however, it can neither be proven nor disproved. Take for instance, the myth of creation. It is a story told to explain the cosmogony of the universe and all that exists, except for God, heaven and the heavenly hosts. Although science gives us the theory of the big bang, it can neither confirm nor disprove the myth of creation. Likewise, those who hold on to the story of creation as truth cannot prove its veracity except by appeals to faith. Nevertheless, this does not lessen the value of myths. Myths play an important role in the lives of humans. Our task in this course is to understand the functions of myth, what myths are, and how myths help us to locate our place in the cosmos as well as to give us models by which we can live our lives.

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 Gods will."

REQUIREMENTS

1. Readings. The required texts are: Online Bookstore
   
   The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell, Knopf Publishing Group (1991). ISBN13: 9780385418867 ISBN: 0385418868
   
   The Spiritual Quest: Transcendence in Myth, Religion and Science by Robert M. Torrance. Univ of California Press (1997). ISBN13: 9780520211599 ISBN: 0520211596

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 no exams in this course.

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. There is a mid-term paper due of between 1500 and 2500 words. 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	60%
   Midterm Paper	40%

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

Read Campbell xi-43; Torrance 1-58.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What is myth?
2. According to Campbell, what are the functions of myth?
3. What does Torrance say is the function of rites of passages?
4. In what way(s), if any, do Campbell’s and Torrance’s concepts of myth differ?
5. Name a myth by which you live your life and explain how such myth helps you to “feel alive” as Campbell argues.

WEEK TWO

Read Campbell 44-150.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What is it that the first storytellers were attempting to do in the stories they told?
2. What does Campbell mean by the journey inward and how is it distinguished from the journey outward?
3. What role does sacrifice play in religion?

WEEK THREE

Read Campbell 151-206; Torrance 59-100.

Mid-Term Paper: You are to write a 1500 to 2500 words paper this week in which you reflect on the them of the “hero.” You are to consider the following:

1. How do Campbell and Torrance define hero and in what ways are their concepts similar/dissimilar?
2. For Campbell, the notion of the hero is a foundational principle in all of his work. Why is this concept so important for Campbell? What function(s) do concepts of the hero perform in the lives of humans?
3. Look at some common uses of the word hero and discuss whether these modern views comport with Campbell and Torrance.
4. Discuss the notion of quest in Campbell and Torrance and in particular note any differences between the two authors. How do you account for such differences?

Your paper should be in the form of a coherent essay in proper format and cannot be just a listing and answering of the questions.

WEEK FOUR

Read Torrance 101-168; and 259-294.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Discuss Torrance’s distinction between the “Priestly ritual and [the] shamanistic quest.”
2. Myths can be adopted across cultures and can take on different emphasis and function in the adopting culture. Explain how the cult of Santería, which adopts a ritual from Africa, exemplifies this concept.
3. Torrance speaks frequently of the quest that is pursued but not attained. What does Torrance mean by this concept? What is the value of a quest if it can never be attained?

WEEK FIVE

Read Campbell 207-288.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What is the gift of the Goddess and how does it help us to understand mythology?
2. Perhaps the book that established Campbell’s fame is his work, “The Hero With A Thousand Faces.” Having read chapter eight, “Masks of Eternity,” what do you suppose Campbell is getting out by speaking of a single hero in many manifestations rather than many heroes in many manifestations? Is there but one eternity?
3. Is there a myth behind love and marriage? If so, what is it? How does the myth help people to feel alive?
4. What have you read during this course that has left you with more questions than answers? That is, is there anything discussed in this course that remains unclear to you?
5. What would you like to have learned/studied in this course that was not presented?
6. In addition to reading Campbell’s, “The Hero With A Thousand Faces,” students are encouraged to read Campbell’s, “The Mythic Dimension: Selected Essays 1959-1987 (Collected Works of Joseph Campbell). HarperSanFrancisco (1997). ISBN: 0060966122