Spring 2008, TR 9:30-10:45 Phone:
893-3945
Office Hours: R 11:15-1:15 Office: HSSB 3054
E-mail:
DESCRIPTION
This course is about how religions are studied critically
within frameworks of knowledge advanced in the humanities and social
sciences. It introduces major concepts
and theories, and examines their utility in understanding, comparing, and
explaining religious phenomena in their variety. Rather than considering religion solely
within the purview of theology, which is largely a Christian project, we will
work under the premise that religion and religions are best understood when
examined relationally and in comparative perspective. This undertaking is multidisciplinary and encourages
openness to new, different, and alternative formations of religious belief and
practice.
We will explore the study of
religion in four ways: through1) how scholars name and classify religions; 2) historical
explanations of how religions have formed and developed; 3) key concepts used
in comparing religions (myth, experience, ritual, doctrine, and politics); and
4) examination of cross-cultural themes of religious journeys and afterlife
visions. All four levels will be studied
as they occur in two important “families” of religion: the Dharmic family (Hinduism and Buddhism)
and the Abrahamic family (Judaism, Christianity and Islam).
By taking this course, you will
acquire knowledge of several of the world’s religious traditions and their
mutual interactions with human history and social life. You will acquire skills for thinking critically
about people’s religious beliefs and practices and placing them in relational
and comparative perspective. The paper
assignment will sharpen writing skills while engaging you in the analysis of
contemporary works of literature that have religious subjects.
MATERIALS
Required:
J.E. Campo, Religious
Journeys (at Grafik Art in I.V.)
G. Kessler, Studying
Religion: An Introduction through Cases,
3d ed.
T.
Ludwig, The Sacred Paths: Understanding the Religions of the World, 4th ed.
and ONE of
the following:
P. Coelho, The Alchemist
H. Hesse, Siddhartha
K. Hosseini, The Kite
Runner
C. McCarthy, The Road
REQUIREMENTS
1. Being up-to-date
with all reading assignments
2. Attending & participating in discussion
sections—(10%)
3. Midterm Exam, Thurs, 1 May—(25%)
4. Book Paper assignment, Draft due Thursday, 15
May in class, Final Draft due Thursday, 29
May, in class—(25%)
5. Participation in section group book
discussion (dates TBA)—(10%)
6. Final Exam, Tuesday, 10 June—(30%)
Communications: Take
advantage of Professor Campo’s office hours to discuss course-related and
academic matters. Only email him in emergencies. General communications about readings,
assignments, etc. should be through your TA during her/his office hours. Do not email any class assignments to the
professor or TAs unless you are given explicit permission to do so.
The TAs for this class are:
Wyatt Rounds awr@umail.ucsb.edu , R & F sections
Kristen Tucker kristinntucker@umail.ucsb.edu ,
M & W sections
Electronic Reserve: The Syllabus,
Book Paper Assignment, study guides and other materials are available on the
library’s ERes: www.eres.ucsb.edu . The PW is:
dodge.
Cell Phones, iPods, etc.:
To enhance your learning experience, cell phones must be turned off during
the lecture. iPods and other listening
devices are not allowed.
Exams: The Midterm will consist of objective questions and
map questions. The Final will be
comprised of a mix of objective, map, short answer, & essay questions. There
will be only one scheduled make-up exam for the Midterm for students who
have received prior permission from their TA.
Final exams must be taken on the scheduled date
and time, unless Prof. Campo has given prior permission.
The
Course Standard of Academic Honesty and Responsibility: The Student Code of
Conduct clearly sets forth the standard of academic honesty and responsibility
in which a student’s work must be his or her own work. The faculty in Religious Studies believes
that plagiarism is one of the most serious violations of student standards of
conduct and the intellectual values of the university. Faculty members have agreed that we will
pursue disciplinary actions in all cases of plagiarism and that, if warranted,
we will ask the Dean of Students and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies to
suspend the offending student from the university. Make certain that you attribute all materials
(including materials downloaded from the web) cited directly or indirectly,
verbatim or paraphrased in your paper.
Students caught cheating on the midterm or final exam will receive an
automatic fail.
Outline & Readings
v
Note:
I. INTRODUCTION (4/1-4/8)
A.
Approaches and Definitions
B.
Religious Power and Beliefs in Supramundane Beings
C.
Religious Journeys and the Afterlife
Readings: Kessler, chaps 1-3 and pp. 103-121
*Smith, “Religion, Religions,
Religious;” *Dictionary of Religion, “Pilgrimage,” *Clift,
“Some
Common Motifs of Pilgrimage;” *Zaleski, Otherworld Journeys (selection)
II. HINDU JOURNEYS
(4/8-17)
A. Concept: Myth
B. What is “Hinduism”?
C.
Cosmogony, Sacrifice & Society
D.
Hindu Journeys
Ludwig, pp. 69-83, chs. 5 & 6
Hindu Texts: *The Rig
Veda (selections), *“The Indian
Ascetic”
III. BUDDHIST JOURNEYS
(4/22-29)
A. Concept:
Religious Experience
B.
What is Buddhism?
C.
The Buddha & Enlightenment
D.
Buddhist Journeys & Afterlifes
Ludwig,
pp. 127-142; chs. 8 & 9
Buddhist
Texts: *”Prince Siddhartha
Encounters Old-Age, Sickness and Death,” *”The
Great
Departure and Enlightenment,” Shan-tao, “The Parable of the White
Path”;
*Akutagawa,
“The
Spider’s Thread”
¯Midterm
Exam: Thursday, May 1
IV. JUDAIC JOURNEYS (5/6-13)
A.
Concept:
Ritual
B.
What is Judaism?
C.
Temple & Torah
D.
The Seder: Exodus,
Exile & Redemption
IV. JUDAIC JOURNEYS
(continued)
Ludwig, pp. 322-24, 347-362, chs. 21
& 22
Jewish Texts: *Bible, Genesis, The Story of Abraham;
*Passover
V. CHRISTIAN JOURNEYS
(5/13-5/20)
A.
Concept:
Doctrines of Salvation
B.
What is Christianity?
C.
Jesus Christ:
God and Human Being
D.
Journeys to the Afterlife and Salvation
Ludwig, pp. 395-417, chs 24 & 25
Christian
Texts: Bible, Matthew 26; *
“Apostles’ Creed,” *H. of Saltrey, St.
Patrick’s
Purgatory (selection); *Bonaventure, The
Soul’s Journey into God (selection);
*Teresa of Avila, The
Life (selection)
@ Paper
First Draft Due: Thursday, 15 May in
class
VI. ISLAMIC JOURNEYS
(5/22-29)
A.
Concept:
Religion & Politics
B.
What is Islam?
C.
God, Prophet, Law and the Question of War
D.
Pilgrimages & Mystical Paths
Readings: Kessler, ch. 10
Ludwig, pp. 448-464, chs 27 & 28
Islamic Texts: *Qur’an (selections); *Hadith (selections); *Al-Ghaiti,
“The Story
of
the Night Journey & Ascension,” *Attar, Conference
of the Birds (selection),*al-
Qayrawani,
“The Laws of Holy War;” Bin Ladin, Messages to the World (selection)
@ Paper
Due: Thursday, 29 May in class
VII. CONCLUSION: MODERN JOURNEYS (6/2-5)
A.
Religion, Modernity & Globalization
B.
Modern Pilgrimages
C.
Modern Afterlife Visions
Texts: *Pentukar, “Sabarimala: A Pilgrimage with a Difference,” *Frey, Pilgrim
Stories
(selection), *Bailey & Yates, The Near-Death Experience,
“Introduction”
¯FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, 10 June, 8-11 AM