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online Greco-Roman Religions course at Canyon College
COURSE SYLLABUS: Greco-Roman Religions


Course Title: RL570 - Greco-Roman Religions
Department: Religious Studies
Instructor: Don E. Peavy, Sr., Ph.D. E-Mail Vita
Prerequisites: None


PURPOSE OF THE COURSE

Welcome to RL 570, Greco-Roman Religions. Max Weber has written that religion has an economic basis – that is the first human need for religion was to deal with the basic needs of getting along in the world and feeding one’s family. These “primal” needs of humans can be best seen in indigenous religions and in the religions of the Greco-Roman world which provide the background in which the three great world religions emerge. Thus, any study of religion is incomplete without some attention being paid to Greco-Roman religions. That is the task of this course.

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

    Magika Hiera: Ancient Greek Magic and Religion by Obbink Faragone. Oxford University Press (1997). ISBN13: 9780195111408 ISBN: 0195111400

    Textbooks should be ordered from the Canyon College Online Bookstore to insure that the correct volume and edition is obtained.
  1. 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.
  1. Exams. There will be no exams in this course.
  1. 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.
  1. Grades. Course work will be weighted as follows:

    Papers 60%
    Midterm Paper 40%
  1. 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 Faraone 3-106.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. Prepare an outline of this week’s reading.
  2. What do you notice right away about Greco-Roman religions?
  3. Does the Greco-Roman world seem more concerned with this world or the world to come?
WEEK TWO


Read. Faraone 107-187.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. Prepare an outline of this week’s readings.
  2. Did those who offered up prayers in the Greco-Roman world expect their prayers to be answered? How did they respond when a prayer was not answered?
  3. What role do dreams play in Greco-Roman religion? Has that role shifted or abated in some of the religions extant today?
WEEK THREE


Go to: http://www.roman-empire.net/religion/pantheon.html. Write a coherent essay of between 1500 and 2500 words in proper APA or Turabian format in which you answer the following questions:

  1. 1. What do you notice right away about the pantheon of gods?
  2. 2. How do the names of the gods and their areas of responsibility reflect the comment by Weber in the “Purpose of the Course” above?
  3. 3. Some have complained that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are male dominated religions in which women find little empowerment or identity. Can the same be said of Greco-Roman religions? Why or why not?
WEEK FOUR


Read Faraone 188-end.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. Prepare an outline of this week readings.
  2. What is eros and how is it viewed in Greco-Roman religions?
  3. What is the role of magic in Greco-Roman religions?
  4. What is the role of magic in Western religions?