DePaul University
Department of Religious Studies

Syllabus

REL 320  OUR SOUL AND MONEY     Fall, 1997    Section 101   TH: 5:45 - 9:00 PM
EDWARD J. TOMASIEWICZ, C.M.

Instructor's Office Hours are Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM and by appointment

Office: SAC 442

Telephone: X 1271

e-mail: etomasie@wppost.depaul.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Is there a positive relation or a negative tension, or possibly both, between our Souls and Money? By focusing on the relationship between Soul and Money, this course grapples with the relationships and tensions between faith/religion and commerce/money. We will explore classical philosophical texts on these subjects, and research contemporary trends in money matters and the concept of prosperity.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course will endeavor to engage the student's understanding of the image's surrounding the concepts of SOUL and MONEY, through the ages. We shall examine the images of money and our dealings with those images not just in theory but in our daily practices'. These are some of the question's that we shall explore: Is there an ethical bond between our souls and money? What is the SECRET power of money and why are we so secretive about it? What does money do to our souls? What does our soul do with money?

REQUIRED READINGS:

Soul an Archaeology, by Phil Coustineau.

Money and the Meaning of Life, by Jacob Needleman.

The Oxford Book of Money, ed. Kevin Jackson.

Your Money or Your Life, Dominquez and Robin.

CLASS REQUIREMENTS:

Regular Class Attendance: Attendance is essential to the process of learning and growth. Academics is a discipline and an experience, interaction with the teacher and one's classmates balances the solitary experience of study. Lateness, please arrive on time so as not to disrupt the learning process of others.

• Class preparation: It is an assumption of the learning process that one is
• prepared. Reading and analysis of the assigned texts will be emphasized during
• the quarter. You will be expected to complete the reading assignment before the
• class meeting and to contribute to the class discussions. What is
• important in reading the assigned material is the ability to analyze and interact
• with the material. You need to read the material with this in mind: What is the point or goal of the writing? What are the pertinent facts? What are the values that are found? What is the operative principle/s? What is the most important factor that is being addressed? What are the effects of this line of thought ?
• (Some of you might have to read the assignment more than
• once to catch the author's point.) The readings are meant to evoke questions
• and insights into the various topics we shall be exploring. * SEE "JOURNAL"
• BELOW.
• The lecture material is meant to elicit issues and questions.

2. Participation: Active participation helps the learning process. It helps us to meet and experience others and they to experience us. Understanding and Insight are relational.

• Respect of Others is a sign of Self-respect. An attitude of openness and a respect of others, their opinions and expressions are essential to any growth process.

3. There will be NO final exam.

1. The assigned reading material.
2. A class *JOURNAL (any type of notebook will do) You will keep a reading journal for this course. This is not a personal diary, but rather a place to work out your thoughts and record your questions while doing the readings. These journals are meant for your personal exploration and preparation for sharing with the class and your working partner. In the beginning of the course, you will be paired up with another student who will be your working partner. At the end of each class you and your partner will exchange your journal entries and you will give a one page feedback to your partner on their entries for that class; while your partner will give you feedback on your entries as well. The working relationship with your partner is not about evaluating your partners work or having your own worked evaluated. It 's purpose is to help refine and define your questions, reactions, ideas, suggestions, assessments and integration of the reading material. Think of it as a conversation from which you both will share and learn cooperatively.

For each reading assignment that you do, I would like at least a page of responses' comments and questions that you would like to raise in the class discussions Your careful preparation for discussion in the journal will make a huge difference in the quality of class time and in the evaluation of your final grade. The journal is also a place for us to have more individualized conversations about the readings and the issues they raise. Questions we don't get to in class which were particularly important to you or which you feel awkward raising with the whole group, can go in your journal. The Journal will be shared with your working partner.

CONFIDENTIALITY with regard to your partners' journal is IMPERATIVE.

However, you need to REMEMBER that the journal entries are not a personal diary but a forum for class preparation and integration. Partner work is not about rendering a judgment of a moral nature, that being a judgment of "right or wrong". Students need to SUSPEND JUDGMENT. Our work with our partner is to help us to learn about CRITICAL THINKING and ARTICULATION, that is: analyzing, reasoning and learning.

Evaluating the Journal

1. I will look at individual journals while you are parterning. You need to make sure that I review your individual journals at least twice before the end of the quarter. Points will be assigned to you based on the completion of your weekly journal entries. I will collect all journals for grading the day of the last class, November 13. These journals will be returned to you. There will be One Paper due for this course. It will consist of TWO parts. Each Part will be: 8 - 10 pages double spaced .

For the First Part of the paper the students will present: (1) an identification and explication of your understanding of the main thesis or theses of the author, how its developed (show and analyze the thesis/theses).

The Second Part of the paper will deal with your response to, and critique of the thesis/theses of the author; think of this second part of your paper as a conversation, an opportunity to engage in a written conversation and a personal analysis with the author.

FOR THIS PAPERYOU MAY CHOOSE ANY BOOK DEALING WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER. ( We shall discuss this in class.) You must see me for approval. You need to have your book approved by September 25. The first part of your BOOK REPORT IS DUE ON OCTOBER 16.

Plagiarism: will result in an "F", please consult the Student Handbook, p. 59, 1996-1997.

GRADING:

CLASS PARTICIPATION - 25%

JOURNAL WORK - 25%

BOOK REPORT - 50%

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL: Please consult the required texts, or see me for further information.

CLASS TIMETABLE : Due to the duration of the class period, the time spent each session will be divided approximately into: lecture, discussion , and partner journaling.

Lecture: 5:45 - 6:30 PM

Discussion: 6:30 - 7:45 PM

Break: 7:45 - 8:00 PM

Journaling: 8:00 - 9:00 PM

Journaling: 8:30 - 9:00 PM

CLASS SCHEDULE : (Note: Class material may change due to the circumstances of the teaching process, but in general the syllabus will be followed.)

SEPTEMBER 11:

Partner Process.

Read for September 18:

SAA: Part 1.

OBM: Intro., Opening Accounts and Getting and Spending.

MML: Intro. and 1 - 5.

SEPTEMBER 18:

Symbolism.

Discussion.

Journaling.

Read for September 25:

SAA: Part 2..

OBM: Riches and Poverty.

MML: 6 - 10.

SEPTEMBER 25:

The Secret Power of Money.

Discussion.

Journaling.

Read for October 2:
SAA: Part 3.

OBM: Coins and Paper, Exchange and Mart.

MML: 10 -12..

October 2:

Gifts.

Discussion.

Journaling.

Read for October 7:

SAA: Part 4.

OBM: Borrowing and Lending.

MML: 13 - 16.

October 7:

Debt.

Discussion.

Journaling.

Read for October 16:

OBM: Prices and Values.

MML: 17 - 19.

October 16:

Digital Money and E-Cash.

Discussion.

Journaling.

FIRST PAPER DUE.

Read for October 23:

OBM: Vice.

MML: 20 - 22.

October 23:

Money Autobiography.

Discussion.

Journaling.

Read for October 30:

OBM: Virtue and the Coda.

YMYL: 1 - 4.

October 30:

Humanness.

Discussion.

Journaling.

Read for November 7:

SAA: Part 5 and 6.

YMYL: 5, 6 and 7.

November 7:

Ethics and Money.

Discussion.

Journaling.

Read for November 13:

SAA: Part 7.

YMYL: 8 and 9.

November 13:

Last Will and Testimony.

Discussion.

Loose Ends.

ALL JOURNALS DUE
FINAL PAPER DUE