This course introduces students to the key terms and concepts associated with 'religion' and 'religiosity' by looking at a variety of religions from around the world. It also aims at exploring the function of religion(s) in societies. The course will encourage students to think critically about key terms/concepts associated with religion and evaluate whether there are any common patterns that emerge from the study of such concepts in a comparative perspective.

Course Procedure

Students are given reading assignments prior to lectures on a given topic. This should enable them to participate actively in class-room discussions. Moreover, students are encouraged to take an active approach to the material read and/or discussed in class.

Participation in class: This means that you: a) have done the readings and thought about them; b) are in class; c) express your views and questions orally in class; d) are able to recall what went on in the previous class and relate it to the topic(s) under examination for the current class. If any of these elements are missing you receive no credit for participation for that day. I assume that occasionally students will be absent or have less to say than usual, however, persistent absence, unwillingness to speak in class, or having failed to do the reading will affect your overall participation grade.

Field Trip, Group Project and Other Activities

The course will include a visit to a religious site in Rome (date and place TBA). This field trip will be combined with a group project. Students will work on the assignment in groups of 4-5 and will present the results of their research during the field trip. The requirements of the relevant research and specific guidelines will be posted on MyJCU.

Writing Assignments

There will be two graded writing assignments (5 pages double-spaced each): a book review and a film review. Further instructions will be posted on MyJCU.

Plagiarism

Students must provide appropriate footnotes and a bibliography of ALL sources used in their papers in order to avoid plagiarism. Students may consult the internet (e.g. Wikipedia et al.) only for their own information. General information found on the internet is not acceptable as a source for academic papers. However, students are encouraged to research academic databases, such as J-Store or Academic Search Premium, or primary sources from different religions published on the internet. Students should feel free to discuss the acceptability of specific internet resources with me should they have any questions on the matter. Cases of intentional or unintentional plagiarism will be dealt with in accordance with the university policy. Students may fail the paper or the entire course depending on the gravity of the situation.

If you have questions about how to cite material properly, refer to the appropriate sections of the MLA Style Manual or Chicago Manual of Style (or make an appointment to speak with me). There are copies of both in the reference section of the library downstairs.

Please note that your papers will be submitted to turnitin.com to check their content for plagiarism.

Exams

The mid-term and the final exams will combine essay writing with short questions.

At the end of the course students will be able to:

• appreciate the diversity of religious traditions in the world and the complexity of defining the term “religion” given this diversity;

• understand the various key concepts in the religious studies, such as ritual, scripture, holy, God, and their multiple expressions within different traditions.

• evaluate and analyze the “religious” component in such diverse areas of human experience/expression as art, literature and film.

Students are allowed two excused absences. Any further absences will result in subtracting two points from your attendance and participation grade (20% of your final grade). Late arrivals will be noted and will affect your grade. Any student who is more than 15 minutes late may not enter the classroom as this will disturb the lecture and those class-mates who have made an effort to arrive on time. Students cannot leave the classroom before the end of the lecture.

Course Schedule (NB: Changes may occur)

This is a preliminary schedule. Further Readings will be added

Text 1 = Livingston, Anatomy of the Sacred

Text 2 = Pagels, Adam, Eve and the Serpent

Week 1

M Introduction

W Key Concepts in Religious Studies

Week 2

M “What is Religion” and “Ways of Studying Religion” (Text 1, pp. 1-34)

W TBA

Week 3

M “The Sacred and the Holy” and “Sacred Symbol, Myth and Doctrine” (Text 1, pp. 37-71)

W “Introduction” (Text 2 pp. xi-xxviii) and “The Kingdom of God is at Hand” (Text 2, pp. 3-31).

Week 4

M “Sacred Ritual” (Text 1, pp. 74-93); “Christians against the Roman Order” (Text 2, pp. 32-56).

W “Sacred Scripture” (Text 1, pp. 96-121); “Gnostic improvisations on Genesis” (Text 2, pp. 57-77).

Week 5

11 M “Society and the Sacred” (Text 1, pp. 124-147); “Meditation in Theory and Practice (Text 3, 37-51)

13 W “Exploring the Nature of Consciousness” (Text 3, pp. 75-86) and “The Ground State of Consciousness” (Text 3, pp. 89-96)

Viewing of a Film

Week 6

M “Deity: Concepts of the Divine and Ultimate Reality” (Text 1, pp. 153-179)

W Film Review DUE

Week 7

M Review for the Mid-Term Exam

W Mid-Term Exam

Week 8

M “Consciousness without Beginning or End”, “The Participatory World of Buddhism”

W “Cosmogony: Origins of the Natural and Social Order” (Text 1, pp. 183-208).

“The Politics of Paradise” (Text 2, pp. 98-126).

Week 9

M “Views of the Human Problem” (Text 1, pp. 211-231)

“The Nature of Nature” (Text 2, pp. 127-150)

W Cont.

Week 10

M “Theodicy: Encountering Evil” (Text 1, pp. 235-256)

W Cont.

Spring Break

Week 11

M “Ethics: Foundations of Moral Action” (Text 1, pp. 259-283).

W TBA

Week 12

M “Soteriology: Ways and Goals of Salvation and Liberation” (Text 1, pp. 287-335)

W Cont.

THE BOOK REVIEW is DUE

Week 13

M “Secularization – New Religious Revitalization Movements – Contemporary

Religious Fundamentalism” (Text 1, 341-357)

W Cont.

Week 14

M “Contemporary Challenges to Traditional Religion” (Text 1, pp. 361-393)

W Review Session for the Final Exam

Final Exam