Comparative Religious Thought I, Philosophy 21020, section 1; Spring 2002
TR 1:45-3:00, MOU 301; Jeffrey Wattles, instructor
Welcome to this course in comparative religious thought! The course introduces you to beliefs, ideals, and practices of five major world religions through (1) study of scriptures from each tradition plus some commentaries, (3) exposure in class to recent and current representatives of these traditions; and (3) carrying out a project related to each tradition. Comparing scientific, philosophic, and religious approaches will help us discover what the academic study of religion involves.
You have an opportunity--the possibility is there now for any course--to add one extra unit of credit for a service-learning project. The project involves 45 hours of work, at least 30 of which are on site--typically, but not necessarily, at a community service organization. For remaining hours you prepare for your service and write up your experience. See the instructor immediately if you are interested, since the paperwork must be completed by Friday of week 1.
Diversity element: The course focuses on Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, each of which is alive in northeast Ohio. The course employs intellectually diverse methods--scientific, philosophic, and religious. Our approach emphasizes affirming our common humanity, understanding differences, and appreciating the wonderful uniqueness of each personality. This course satisfies Kent State University's diversity requirement.
Texts: The Bhagavad-Gita (Barbara Stoler Miller, translator, Bantam); The Dhammapada (Thomas Cleary, trans., Bantam), The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha (3rd edition), and The Koran (Dawood, tr. Penguin, fifth edition). Note: The purpose of obliging you to get a study Bible is to see what happens when you experience the reading of scripture through the lens of academic reflection. The New Revised Standard Version is the one most commonly used by scholars.
Evaluation will be based on (1) attendance--more than three absences may affect your grade, and you cannot pass with very poor attendance; (2) five quizzes--(10% each); and (3) five short papers (10% each). Note: in March, on a date to be announced, there will be one or two events connected with a special photography exhibit of Tibetan Buddhism at the Kent State University Museum (corner of Lincoln and Main in Kent). You are most strongly urged to make arrangements to visit the exhibition (at your leisure) and to attend these events. The quality of your writing in English is a significant in the grade on the papers. Late work is penalized one letter grade.
Office hours: MWF 10:50-11:50: T/R 10:35-11:35 (Bowman 320H) and by appointment—672-0276; e-mail: jwattles@kent.edu (http://www.personal.kent.edu/~jwattles).
In accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester or when given an assignment for which an accommodation is required. Students with disabilities must verify their eligibility through the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) in the Michael Schwartz Student Services Center (672-2972).
The Philosophy Department Grievance Procedure for handling student grievances is in conformity with the Student Academic Complaint Policy and Procedures set down as University Policy 3342-4-16 in the University Policy Register. For information concerning the details of the grievance procedure, please see the Departmental Chairperson.
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
UNIT I. DIVERSE METHODS FOR EXPLORING A MANY-SIDED REALITY
Week 1
1-1 (1-15) Introductions. What is religion? Responding to religious diversity: 1893 to the present. Gandhi’s approach. Studying religion after September 11, 2001. Read for gems and for historical understanding.
1-2 (1-17) Read before class the Bhagavad Gita, chapters 1-4, pp. 21-55 (not many words per page, quantitatively speaking), with a special emphasis on chapter 2 (“the second teaching”). Launching the project on Hinduism. Problems of comparing religions. A phenomenological method for studying religion.
UNIT II. MANY PATHS, ONE GOAL: VARIETIES OF HINDUISM
Week 2
2-1 (1-22) Please finish the Bhagavad Gita for today. Hinduism’s ways of union (yoga) through action (karma), intellectual insight (jnana), and wholehearted devotion (bhakti).
2-2 (1-24) The concept of God. Animism, polytheism, henotheism, and varieties of monotheism. Personal and non-personal concepts. A Hindu philosophy of naming God.
Week 3
3-1 (1-29) The idea of revelation and problems of assessing claims to revelation. Quiz #1.
3-2 (1-31) Paper #1 due. Clifford Geertz's anthropological approach to religion. Further discussion of the scientific study of religion: biological, psychological, anthropological, and historical approaches.
UNIT III. FROM SELF-MASTERY AND WISDOM
TO COMPASSION FOR ALL BEINGS: THE EVOLUTION OF BUDDHISM
Week 4
4-1 (2-5) Have the Dhammapada read in its entirety. Note that it is necessary only to read the text; the commentary in bold (!) is optional. Lecture on the life of Siddhartha Gautama and on his basic doctrines.
4-2 (2-7) Lecture on the Heart Sutra, the development from Theravada to Mahayana Buddhism and on methodological issues with the concept of religious evolution.
Week 5
5-1 (2-12) Class discussion of ideas of Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh (1926-) on the course website.
5-2 (2-14) Project 2 due. Conversation about projects and further discussion of topics raised in previous classes. Quiz 2.
UNIT IV: FAITH IN THE ONE GOD AS THE BASIS FOR MEANINGFUL, JOYOUS, AND RIGHTEOUS LIVING: JUDAISM IN BIBLICAL TIMES
Week 6
6-1 (2-19) Launching Project 3. God as the Creator of the heavens and the earth and as the Lord of history. Three concepts of family in the Hebrew Bible. In the Oxford Study Bible read the editorial introductions to Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Read also Genesis 1-4 and 11.26-15; Leviticus 19.1-18. For a background on Moses, read also Exodus, chapters 2-3; Deuteronomy chapters 5 and 6; 7.12-16; 8.1-10; 10.12-22; 30.11-20; 32.1-9. As time permits, explore the footnotes, too. Strategies for handling problems in the text: Moses’ diverse teachings about God and other cases. The question of demythologization. A look at the contemporary “religion and science dialogue.”
6-2 (2-21) The spirit of rejoicing. Psalms 1, 2, 19, 22, 23, 42, 119, 113 and others as you have time.
Week 7
7-1 (2-26). Varieties of prophetic messages. 1 Samuel 2.1-10; Amos (fl. 760), chapter 2 and 5.12-24; Hosea (fl. 750-722), chapters 11 and 14; Isaiah (Isaiah the first, fl. 738-701) chapters 1, 6, and 9; (Micah (fl. 725-700), chapters 4 and 6; Isaiah II (fl. Between 586 and 538)--Isaiah chapters 40-55; Jeremiah (f. 627-585), chapter 31 and 43.10. Feminist critiques of calling God “Father.”
7-2 (2-28) Religious responses to suffering. Read Job, chapters 1-7, 38-42.
Week 8
8-1 (3-5) Quiz 3.
8-2 (3-7) Project 3 due. Discussion of projects and topics previously touched on.
UNIT V. A GOSPEL OF LOVE IN
THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS OF NAZARETH
Week 9
9-1 (3-12) Launching the project for this unit: comforting others. Read the beginnings of the four New Testament Gospels, and prepare to discuss their differences and commonalities: Matthew, chapters 1-4; Mark chapter 1, Luke chapters 1-4, and John chapter 1. Read also on the course site, "A profile of Jesus of Nazareth." We will look at the political context of Jesus' life, first-century concepts of the Messiah, and the production of the NT Gospels.
9-2 (3-14). The beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. Read Matthew 5-7.
Week 10
10-1 (3-19) By today's class, have read the rest of the gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke (in that order, please, the probable order of composition), with the question in mind: What was Jesus' gospel of the kingdom of heaven? Issues surrounding inquiry into the historical Jesus.
10-2 (3-21) Meanings of family in Jesus' teaching. A look at parables in Matthew 13 and Luke 10.25-37 and chapter 15.
Week 11
11-1 (4-2) Read the rest of the Gospel according to John. Read also Romans 1-3, Hebrews 9-10, and Revelation chapter 5. Jesus' clash with the authorities. Liberation theology and the "cleansing of the temple." The meaning of Jesus' death on the cross: good shepherd (John 10) or sacrificial lamb (later interpretation)?
11-2 (4-4) Life after death? Review Mark 16; Mt. 27.62-chapter 28; Luke 24-end plus Acts 1-2; John 20-21. 1 Corinthians 15.
Week 12
12-1 (4-9) Paul: read Acts 17.16-33 and Romans 1-8. Quiz 4.
12-2 (4-11) Issues in contemporary Christianity. Project 4 due.
PEACE THROUGH SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD: ISLAM
Week 13
13-1 (4-16) Read in the Qur'an: Suras 1, 2. Introduction to Islam and to Project 5.
13-2 (4-18) Read Suras 19, 50, 86, 87, 90, 93, 94, 98, 93, and 112 (in order of decreasing length). The Qur’an and other religions.
Week 14
14-1 (4-23) Presentation of website material on Ali Shari'ati.
14-2 (11-30) Read Sura 8. What do “Islamic” terrorists have to do with Islam?
Week 15
15-1 (4-30) Quiz #5. The interreligious dialogue movement.
15-2 (5-2) Project 5 due. Review of the course.
The final examination time, 12:45-3:00, Friday, May 10, will not be used, because of scheduling difficulties with our multiple campus system. You will be notified of your grade through normal channels. Please do not call the Departmental Secretary for your grade; she is not permitted to release such information.