Marshall University      Spring 2000
                                                   RST 351:  Classics of Religious Literature

                                                  "One word of truth outweighs the whole world."
                                                                                                                        - Russian proverb


Mentor:  Dr. Alan Altany [curriculum vitae]                                            Office:  Harris Hall 411
Email:   altany@marshall.edu                                                                 Phone/Voice Mail:  304.696.2702
Web Site:  http://webpages.marshall.edu/~altany/                               FAX:    304.696.2703

Sessions:  Tuesday/Thursday 12:30 - 1:45, Harris Hall 445
Office Hours :  MW  10 - 11, 12 - 2,  T/Thr  11 - 12:30, F 10 - 11
Office Email:   Student email will be responded to within 24 hours

Texts:   Dakota, Kathleen Norris
              Learning to Love, Thomas Merton
             The Other Side of the Mountain, Thomas Merton
             Dillard Reader, Annie Dillard
             Cross Creek, Marjorie Rawlings
             The Violent Bear It Away, Flannery O'Connor

 World-wide web sites for both assigned and free reading


Religious Studies is an academic discipline in which the phenomenon of religion in human experience is studied in a
nonsectarian, unbiased manner using various kinds of historical-critical, analytical, comparative, phenomenological,
interdisciplinary methodologies.  Discussion should be conducted with honesty, enthusiasm, kindness, critical thought
and respect for the worldviews and beliefs of others. This course is not only for learning, but is itself to be a model for how
to learn, why to learn, and to learn to love to learn.

            The following course explanation, in its totality, is a syllabus that is dynamic and flexible
              according to the needs of the learners and of the learning process. It is not presented
              as complete at the beginning of the study, but as an initial trajectory for the study.  More
              specific guidance and resources will be available as needed along the way.  You, the learner,
              have a key voice in the directions our study of world religions take so that our work will be
              significant for you and for the class as a whole within a learner/student-centered context.
Course_Description
 Course_Objectives
 Computing in this Course
 Writing Across the Curriculum
 Attendance Policy
 Drop Policy
 Course Evaluation
 Semester Schedule

Course Description
The theme of this course is "Spirited Places."  Through reading nonfiction, especially in the form of journals, fiction
and web exploration, through synchronous and asynchronous discussion, through reflection and writing, we will
imaginatively participate in the spiritual insights of various persons as they portray their search for and experience of
what religions call the sacred, that which is considered as the source, center and destiny of human life and existence,
that which is understood to be the virtue of all virtures.  The role of "place" will be central, place is in the sense of
nature, monastery, memory, self, faith.

This course is a reading, discussion and writing oriented course.  Through the media of telecomputing we will be
able to have a semester-long contemplative focus upon the writings, interpretation and evaluation of those writings,
and upon our own thinking and thinking about our thinking.  We will critically and creatively think about what is the
nature and meaning of nature and experience   We will risk approaching universal human themes through specific,
unique individuals and the stories they have to tell.

This is a course about stories and finding ways to express what one thinks, feels and experiences, and how  evocative                 and how language can be used to portray spiritual and human perceptions and perspectives.  Someone has said that "the
destiny of the world is determined less by the battles that are lost and won, than by the stories that are loved and
believed in."  We will read the stories of others and perhaps write more of our own stories along the way.

The goal is not the accumulation of information, but the growing into wisdom with the help of the writers, cultures
and religious traditions we will encounter and engage.
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Course Objectives
By the end of this course it is hoped and expected that each student will be able to read more deeply, interpret
more analytically and creatively, think more critically, reflect for the purpose of integration, communicate in writing
more precisely, concisely and imaginatively, express one's ideas orally to others with greater clarity, and, importantly,
have had an enjoyable educational and personal time of it all.
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Computing in this Course
Each student needs to have the basic ability to use email that is web-sensitive such as Netscape Messenger or Microsoft
Outlook and to be able to find and utilize world-wide-web resources that are available for the study of religion and religions
through use of a web browser such as Navigator (4.0 or higher) or Internet Explorer (4 or higher).  The course will include
sending and receiving email, web site readings and research, an electronic discussion list (with web archive) and electronic publication of student writings, both individual and collaborative.

The educational use of telecomputing will facilitate ongoing asynchronous discussion, submission and revision of student
writings, peer review of student writings, collaborative group writings and projects, individual communication with the
professor, or among students, and publication of an electronic course journal with student contributions.

Telecomputing tutorials are available as is guidance on how to engage in respectful communication on the Internet
(netiquette).  In using web sources, please refer to Documenting Sources from the World Wide Web.

The purposes of the using of computer technology in this study are as follows:


Writing Across the Curriculum
This study is a Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC), writing-intensive, course where writing is fully integrated into all
aspects of the learning and reflection process.  In this process one's writing skills are further developed in the context of
both learning to write and writing to learn. There are no exams in this course, but there are in- and out-of-class writings,
a formal, revised essay, group writings, oral presentations or debates with written components.  On-line writing resources
are available.  All writings are to be completely the work of the individual or the group doing the writing, thus avoiding
all plagiarism.
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Attendance Policy
Attendance at every class is expected and necessary to best benefit the act and art of learning through the discussion
and writing orientation of this course on a very complex subject.  Anyone not willing to be responsible for attending all
classes is advised not to take this course.
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Drop Policy
The official withdrawal policy is observed where the withdrawal ("W") period for an individual course begins
January 18th and ends March 17th.
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Course Evaluation
                   Discussion List & Writings          20%
                   Course Journal                           30%
                   Group Project                             20%
                   Final Essay (revision)                  30%
* Voluntary participation in the writing, editing & publishing of issue of the course journal is available
All writings need to be received on time (allowing for computer system outages) for full evaluation.
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Semester Schedule

                                            "Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established,
                                              that, unless we love the truth, we canot know it."  - Pascal

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