Religious Studies 180:01
 Introduction to Religious Studies
MW 4-5:15 p.m. Plumas 201
California State University, Chico
Spring 2008

Instructor: Michelle de Beixedon, Ph.D.
Office: Trinity Hall 240 Phone: 898-5108
Office Hours: TR 12:30-2:00 p.m. or by appointment.
E-mail: mdebeixedon@csuchico.edu

Course Description:
            This course will provide an introduction to the academic study of religion through an examination of the origin, nature, and function of religion in human society. Religion in its various forms has been, and continues to be, a powerful and pervasive force in human history.
            A critical study of this fundamental dimension of human experience and expression will provide broader insight into the processes that shape our lives and our world. We will approach the subject through a comparative study of the primary characteristics of religion using the world’s major religious traditions as case studies to illustrate particular features or dimensions of religious expression. 
            Topics will include an exploration of the nature of the sacred, the varieties of religious experience, the human quest for meaning in the face of suffering and death, and the concept of salvation in various of the world’s religious traditions. We will also study the primary forms of religious expression and practice in symbol, myth, sacred texts, ritual, religious community, and ethics. Finally we will consider challenges to traditional religious systems in contemporary phenomena such as secularization, pluralism, globalization, wars of religion, issues of social injustice and gender equality.

Required Texts: The following are available at the CSUC Bookstore.

1. James C. Livingston, Anatomy of the Sacred: An Introduction to Religion (4th Edition)
2. John G. Neihardt, Black Elk Speaks: The Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux
3. Tracy Kidder, Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer: A  Man                                      Who Would Heal the World

4. Course Reader (Available at Mr. Kopy, 119 Main Street in Chico)

Course Requirements:

• Two Reflective Papers                            100 pts.
• Midterm                                                   300 pts.                                              
• Research & Class Presentation             300 pts.
• Final Exam                                               300 pts.

Total                                                       1000 pts.

Grading Policy:

• Grading Scale: 95-100 A; 90-94 A-; 87-89 B+; 84-86 B; 80-83 B-; 

77-79 C+; 74-76 C; 70-73 C-; 67-69 D+; 60-66 D;  0-59 F.

• Attendance: I take it daily. Four absences regardless of the reason and your grade will be reduced by ½ grade level. Six absences and your grade will be reduced by one full grade.  Attendance counts for your final grade!
• Participation: Read the homework readings & be prepared to discuss them.  
• I do not accept late assignments.  
• Missed Exams may be made up only under extraordinary circumstances and with consultation well prior to the date they are given.
• Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will result in a failing grade and disciplinary action.  Pay careful attention to the plagiarism tutorial in class.
• Please note: I do not accept assignments in electronic format. No exceptions.
• Office Hours: If you have something you’d like to discuss with me I invite and encourage you to take advantage of my office hours. I will be happy to discuss your progress in the course with you. 

Students with Certified Disabilities: Please notify me of any special need relating to your disability within the first two weeks of the semester. I will make every reasonable effort to facilitate your success in this course.

Explanation of Course Requirements:
NOTE:  On the second day of class bring a 3x5 index card with your full name, phone, and e-mail address printed clearly and a clear & recognizable photo of you attached.

1.   Reflective Paper One:
Papers are to be typed and double-spaced. Write a two page (minimum) autobiography telling me about yourself and the trajectory of your life to date. It should be clear, concise, and thoughtful.  Type your name on each page. Attach a front page with a clear copy of a photograph of you.
                   Reflective Paper Two:
Research and write a two-page (minimum) report on your personal/family religious history from as far back through the generations as you can and include whatever religious context or contacts have been significant in your own life. In other words, describe your religious journey to date. Include a thoughtful explanation of why you are taking this course, what questions you have regarding religion, and what you hope to get out of the course.
 

• Extracurricular Events: Due on the last day of class.

Each student will be responsible for attending four lectures or public events during the semester which are relevant to the content of this course. On the last day of class turn in a typed one-page description of each event, telling me who, what, when, where and a summary and evaluation of each event.

• Mid-term & Final: Will be based on readings and lectures and will be in objective format. I will provide you with a study guide.

• Research Report: You are to present a 15-20 minute oral report. It must include a two page (minimum) typed outline & a bibliography in correct bibliographic format, of at least 10 sources (5 of which MUST be books or journal articles). You are to give me a copy of your outline and bibliography at the beginning of your report. Be creative in your use of PowerPoint to supplement your report. You will be graded on the quality, thoroughness, and clarity of your research and your clear & professional presentation of the material. If you have any question about what constitutes plagiarism, ask me. Failure to present on assigned date will result in a failing grade (0 points) for the assignment.

RS 180 Spring 08 Course Outline                                                     M. de Beixedon, Ph.D.

Week One

Jan 28 & 30: Lecture: Introduction: Religion and Identity
            Readings: Livingston pp. 3-22. Chapt. 1 “What is Religion?”
                             Neihardt, Black Elk Speaks (completed by the midterm)
                             Kidder, Mountains Beyond Mountains (completed by the final)

Week Two

Feb 4 & 6: Lecture: Theories of the Origin, Nature, and Function of Religion
            Readings :Livingston pp. 23-4 . Chapt. 2 “Ways of Studying Religion”

Week Three

Feb 11-13: Lecture: Anthropology: The Human Dilemma of Finitude and Mortality
                                    Case Study: Buddhism
            Readings: Livingston pp. 250-273 Chapt. 10 “Anthropology: The Human Problem”

Week Four

Feb 18 & 20: Lecture: Phenomenology: The Nature of Religious Experience
                                    Case Study: Primal Religions
            Readings: Livingston pp. 53-71 Chapt. 3 “The Sacred and the Holy”
            Reader:   “Faith is More Than a Feeling” Kenneth L. Woodward

Week Five

Feb 25 & 27: Lecture: Deity: God, Gods, and Goddesses
                                    Case Study: Archaic Religions
            Readings: Livingston pp. 191-221 Chapt. 8 “Deity: Concepts of the Divine & Ultimate                                      Reality”
            Reader:   “Jesus” Kenneth L. Woodward

Week Six

March 3 & 5: Lecture: Cosmogony: Order and the Sacred
                                    Case Study: Hinduism
            Readings: Livingston pp. 223-249 Chpt. 9 “Cosmogony: Origins Natural & Social         Order”

Week Seven  

March 10 & 12 Lecture: Theodicy: The Problem of Suffering and Evil
            Readings: Livingston pp. 275-299 Chapt. 11 “Theodicy: Encountering Evil”
            Reader  “Of Evil” and “Satan” K.L. Woodward, “In the Name of God” C.        Dickey

Spring Break: March 17-21

Week Eight

March 24 & 26: Lecture: Religious Language: Symbol and Myth
                                    Case Study: Native American Traditions
            Readings: Livingston pp. 73-95 Chapt. 4 “Sacred Symbol, Myth, and Doctrine”

Week Nine

March 31:  School Holiday
April 2: Lecture: : Lecture: Sacred Texts
                                    Case Study: Judaism
Readings: Livingston pp. 124-157 Chapt. 6 “Sacred Scripture”
            Reader:    “In the Beginning Were the Holy Books” K.L. Woodward
                            “The Gospel Truth?” K.L. Woodward” and “Bibleman” M. Peyser

Week Ten    MIDTERM

April 7 & 9: Lecture: Religious Ritual: Prayer and Worship
                                    Case Study: Islam
            Readings: Livingston pp. 97-123 Chapt. 5 “Sacred Ritual”
            Reader:   “Prayer: Is God Listening?” K.L. Woodward &  “One Nation Under God” H.            Fineman              

Week Eleven 

April 14 & 16: Lecture: Religious Community and Leadership: Institutionalization
                                    Case Study: Christianity & New Religious Movements
Readings: Livingston pp. 159-186 Chapt. 7. “Society and the Sacred: Social Formations of Religion”
                        Reader:   “The Changing Face of the Church” and “2000 Years of Jesus,”
                        “Mormons” and “A Peaceful Faith, a Fanatical Few” K.L. Woodward

Week Twelve

April 21 & 23: Lecture: Ethics: Virtue, Morality and Justice
                                    Case Study: Religions of the Book: Judaism, Christianity, Islam
            Readings: Livingston pp. 304-336 Chapt. 12 “Ethics: Patterns of Moral Action” 

            Reader:   “What is Virtue? “A Question of Life or Death,” and “Mother Teresa” K.L.                Woodward,” and “Life is Precious or It’s Not” B. Kingsolver

Week Thirteen

April 28 & 30: Lecture: Soteriology and Eschatology: Salvation, Liberation, and Ultimacy
Case Study: Christianity & Hinduism
Readings: Livingston pp. 338-368 Chapt. 13. “Soteriology: Ways of Salvation”
      Livingston pp. 370-398 Chapt. 14  “Eschatology: Goals of Salvation”

            Reader:  “Heaven,” “Resurrection,” and “Angels” Kenneth L. Woodward

Week Fourteen

May 5 & 7: Lecture: Contemporary Challenges: Secularization, Pluralism, Globalization, Wars                           of Religion, Social Injustice and Gender Equality
   Reader: “Science Finds God” “Feminism and the Churches” “Sex and the Church”        
 “Globalization Threat to World’s Cultural, Linguistic and Biological Diversity”
              “500 Year Addiction to Colonizing World Requires Long Recovery” G. MacEoin

Week Fifteen

May 12 & 14: Catch Up

Week Sixteen:
May 19-23: Finals

RS 180: Report Topics and Dates: Spring 08                                          M. de Beixedon, Ph.D.

Week Three: Feb 13 : Finitude and Mortality
            The History of the Hospice Movement
            Conceptions of the Afterlife in the World’s Religions
            Egyptian Religion
            Mother Teresa’s Ministry to the Dying
Week Four: Feb 20: Religious Experience
            The Peyote Cult of the Huichol Indians of Mexico
            Sufism and Islamic Mysticism
            Shamanic Practices in Tribal Religions
            Rastafarianism: Founding, Beliefs and Practices
Week Five: Feb 27 Deity
            Atheism: History and Practice
            Zoroastrianism
            Goddess Worship Throughout History
            Gods and Goddesses in Greek Mythology
Week Six: March 5 Cosmogony
            Aboriginal Australian Religious Worldviews
            Polynesian Belief Systems
            Pre-Colombian and Meso-American Religious Worldviews
            Religious Beliefs among Native American Indians
Week Seven: March 12 Suffering and Evil                         
            Religious Responses to the Holocaust
            The Role of Religion in the Inquisition, Witch Persecutions, & Crusades
            Report on “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”
            Religious Responses to World Hunger
Spring Break: March 17-21
Week Eight: March 26 Symbol & Myth
            Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexican Catholicism
            Pre-Christian Celtic Religion of Britain
            Wiccan and Neo-Pagan Rituals
            Hmong Religious Beliefs and Practices

Week Nine: April 2 Sacred Scriptures
            Islam, the Koran and the Hadith
            Hinduism and The Baghavad Gita
            Mormonism  & the Book of Mormon in America
            Biblical Fundamentalism and the Religious Right in America
Week Ten: April 9 Prayer and Ritual
            Death, Funeral and Burial Practices in the World’s Religions
            Male and Female Puberty Rituals in the World’s Religions
            The Hajj, Mecca, and the Kaba in the Muslim World
            The City of Jerusalem in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
            The Falun Gong Movement in China
Week Eleven: April 16 Religious Community & Leadership
            Martin Luther and the History of the Protestant Reformation
            Monastic Communities in Roman Catholicism
            The Role of Religion in the Civil Rights Movement
            New Religious Movements in America (“Cults”) that Have Become Destructive
            The Priest Sex Abuse Problem in Catholicism
Week Twelve: April 23 Ethics
            The Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
            The Life and Work of Mahatma Gandhi
            The Life and Work of Dorothy Day 
            Oscar Romero and the Liberation Theology Movement in Latin America
Week Thirteen: April 30 Salvation and Ultimacy
            Millenarian (End of the World) Movements in Christian History
            Conceptions of Heaven and Hell in Christian Art and Iconography
            Veneration of  the Saints and Their Role  in Christianity
            Religious Responses to War
            The Bahai  Faith          
Week Fourteen: May 7 Contemporary Challenges
            The Evolution vs. Creationism Debate
            Genetic Engineering  & Religious Responses
            Global Warming and Environmental Ethics
            Women in Religious Leadership in Christianity
            The Status of Women in Fundamentalist Islamic States