`R 204:Western Religions, Fall 1997`

FIELD TRIP FOR 1997

All students are asked to make a serious attempt to arrange their schedules to participate in the optional all-day 1997 Field Trip, Tuesday, October 14. Particulars are yet to be arranged. This Web page will be updated when arrangements are made.

Those going on the field trip will visit places most students will not likely have been exposed to before -- a Roman Catholic monastery, a traditional Jewish synagogue, a Greek Orthodox church, and a Muslim mosque -- and will hear speakers from each tradition who will answer questions. It is an opportunity you should try hard not to miss.
Registration and a reservation fee of $8.00 are required by Friday, Oct. 10, for transportation (lunch extra) [returnable only if remaining funds adequate]. The fee is $1.00 if you are providing your own transportation.

1997 Itinerary:

Transportation cost is $8.00 which must have been paid in advance. Lunch, if you care to purchase it at Pioneer Place Food Court, will be from $3.00 to $7.00. Persons riding in transportation other than college provided must pay $1.00 to cover arrangements and printing of this itinerary and background reading handout. Such persons must inform me (Dale Cannon) in writing during the trip of how much of the field trip they are participating in.

Do not wear over casual clothing; remember that we will be visiting places which people regard as having great sacredness and which they expect others to respect accordingly. In particular, no shorts or tight fitting clothing. Women may wear slacks, dress, or skirt -- as long as it is not over short or over tight. (We have been specifically asked to meet this requirement.)

Read through the background readings for the field trip attached to this itinerary. There will be opportunity for you to ask and have answered most any question you have. Avoid questions or remarks that might be offensive, however. In any case, remember to practice the virtues of empathetic objectivity. You will find that when you do, people will be more than happy to share their tradition in depth. Note: We will be leaving promptly at 7:30 AM. If you are late, you will miss the bus.
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7:20 AM Assemble not later than this time near the entrance to the parking lot behind the Administration building (the corner of Powell and N Warren Sts.) I will have the bus and College van (as needed) available for boarding by that time. We will leave not later than 7:30 AM.

8:20 AM Arrive at Mt. Angel Benedictine Abbey, a Roman Catholic monastery and seminary [on top of the hill immediately to the East of the town of Mt. Angel] (St. Benedict, OR 97373; phone 845-3025). We will be greeted there by Br. Marius, the Assistant Guestmaster, a monk who will give us an informal talk in the Abbey Church Choir on life as a monk in the Benedictine monastic tradition. Prior to his talk we will go on a brief tour of the grounds and the library. {To get there from Monmouth, go North on 99W to Rickreall. Turn right on 22 to Salem; proceed straight into Salem over the Willamette River onto Center St.; turn left (North) at Capitol St. NE. Proceed N about 2 miles and vere right on Silverton Road (opposite Goodwill Industries) and continue on out of Salem for about 9 miles. Turn left at Brush Creek Road (there will be a sign for Mt. Angel), then right at Hazel Green Road, and then (in 1/4 mile) left at the stoplight. It is a straight shot on into Mt. Angel in about 4 miles. As you enter Mt. Angel, the Queen of Angels (Women's) Benedictine Monastery will be on your right. Once you come to the center of Mt. Angel, turn right across the RR tracks and across the main highway through town (Highway 214) and proceed straight on Main Street up the hill past St. Mary's Church about a mile. Watch for the Mt. Angel Abbey sign and turn off to the right near the top of the hill. Proceed up the hill to the Abbey and park in the main lot. We will assemble first in the Chapel (the Abbey Church on the East end of the main lawn). The Guesthouse is the building on the far Southeast corner of the lawn, to the right of the Abbey Church.} Plan to be on the bus so we can leave by 9:35 PM.

10:30 AM Arrive at Shaarie Torah Synagogue, a traditional Jewish house of worship in Northwest Portland (920 25th NW, Portland, OR 97210; phone 226-6131). We will be greeted, given a tour, and what promises to be a most enjoyable talk by Assistant Cantor Jeff Abrams. {To get there from Mt. Angel Abbey, head back into Mt. Angel and turn right on Highway 214 toward Woodburn (about 10 miles). At Highway 99E, turn right. Proceed North about 1 mile or so, and watch for the sign to turn left toward I-5 (Highway 214 to Newberg; Safeway store at Northwest corner of intersection). In about 3 miles after that turn you should come to I-5; turn right or North toward Portland. Proceed on into Portland. Iin Portland, take the I-405 turnoff heading West; get off at the Everett Street exit. Head straight (you will be on NW 14th); turn left on NW Glisan; turn right on NW 23rd; turn left on NW Kearney [the streets are alphabetically arranged]; the synagogue will be on the right (corner of Kearney and 25th), with adjacent parking lot off of Kearney.} Special instructions: Male students must pick up a yarmulke / kepat and wear it upon entering the sanctuary. Plan to leave by 11:30 AM.

11:50 AM Arrive at Pioneer Place Food Court (lower level of Pioneer Place Shopping Center, between 4th and 5th and between Morrison and Yamhill). (Independent drivers, of course, may eat wherever they like.) {To get there from Shaarie Torah Synagogue, go back to NW 23rd heading South (or take NW 25th heading South); then left on Burnside heading East. Turn right on 5th heading South. Pioneer Place is on the left side of 5th, between Morrison and Yamhill. The bus will turn at Yamhill and onto 4th, letting people out on 4th, opposite Pioneer Place.} Plan to leave on the bus at 12:50 PM sharp. Be ready to board the bus at 12:45 PM on 4th where we were let off (opposite Pioneer Place).

1:15 PM Arrive at St Nicholas Orthodox Church (2210 Southwest Dolph Court, Portland, OR 97219; phone 245-2403). We will be greeted, given a tour, and given a talk by Fr. George Gray. {To get there from Pioneer Place, from 4th turn right onto Alder, and right onto 3rd, heading South; turn right on Market (10 blocks later) and continue across Front Ave. following the signs to I-5 South. From I-5 take exit 296-A off of I-5 to Barbur Blvd; turn right on Barbur and then immediately right again on S W Spring Garden. Once you have crossed I-5, take the first right on S W 20th (don't get back on the freeway), which winds around and becomes S W 21st. Turn right on Dolph Court, and St. Nicholas will be immediately on the left.} Plan to leave by 2:30 PM.

2:50 PM Arrive at The Portland Rizwan Mosque, a house of worship of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam (9925 SW 35th Drive, Portland, OR 97219; phone 246-0813). We will be greeted there by a Mr. Mirza Luqman, President of the mosque, who will lead us on a tour of the mosque and tell us about Islamic worship. Special instructions: I believe we will be required to remove our shoes at the door. {To get there from St. Nicholas, backtrack to Sping Garden, but turn right onto Spring Garden (not left which will take you back across I-5). Turn right on Taylor's Ferry Road, which eventually becomes S W 35th Drive. The mosque will be on your right, a distinctive red brick building.} Plan to leave about 4:00 PM.

5:15 - 5:30 PM Hopefully we will arrive back at WOU by this time, at the place where we left 10 hours before. {To get there from the Rizwan Mosque, head South on S W 35th Drive; turn right onto Huber at the blinking red light, then right onto Capitol Highway. Cross Barbur Blvd. and turn right immediately onto I-5. Stay on I-5 going South. Just North of Salem, turn off at exit 260 and the Salem bypass to Highway 22 and points West. In Salem, turn right at the Marion Street Bridge and Highway 22 and, once on the bridge, take the left lanes to connect with the bypass around West Salem. Head West on 22. At the one stoplight you will come to (10 miles later), turn left at Rickreall and head South to Monmouth.}

FIELD TRIP QUESTIONS

Remember you are encountering other worlds to live in, with vast and rich meanings you will hardly begin to explore. The proper attitude is one of humble curiousity, a readiness to empathize, and a willingness to give the benefit of doubt to representatives of the tradition when things seem strange and uncertain. Keep in mind that the people we will meet will likely not be trained in the discipline of empathetic objectivity, may not have experienced empathizing with traditions very different than their own, and may not have learned how to speak neutrally about their own tradition to outsiders like yourself.

1. Observe carefully the places we visit, and try to describe them. What do you see? What do they look like outside? What do they look like inside? How is the interior architectural space arranged and organized? What is your visual focus drawn to? What seems most important and what not? Are there areas which are "off limits" or specially sacred? How are these features communicated and made clear? How formal/informal is the decor? How spare or busy? Is it conducive to quiet contemplation and awe, or something else? How much is the overall spacial effect controlled by aesthetic considerations (i.e., carefully planned considerations of beauty, form, and effect on those who worship there)? What do people do here? How is worship bodily expressed? To what extent does the visual effect of the interior space connect with (or express) the religious teaching and the nature of their worship? How different is this place from houses of worship that you are more familiar with? To what extent are works of religious art present or not present, dominant or not dominant? How do the works of art which are present enhance the worshipful atmosphere of the place (or not)? What things do you notice that you don't understand?

2. What are the people like? How are they dressed? Does their clothing convey anything special? What if anything do they hold in their hand(s)? Do they make any special gestures or say certain things that convey symbolic meaning within the worship space? Do they come across as thoughtful and considerate people? Do they leave you with the impression that thoughtful and considerate people find deep meaning in this tradition? Can you now imagine what it would be to be a member of this tradition? How are they different from religious people you are more familiar with? How cordial and hospitable are they? Do you find them defensive? Why do you suppose that is so? On the other hand, do you find them somewhat offensive and putting down to other views? Why do you suppose that that is so? What things did they say or do that you didn't understand?

3. What sort of challenge does this visit to this tradition present to your capacity to empathize? To what extent does what you see and hear seem strange, off-putting, or even offensive to your religious sensibility? Could this be due to the "threshold effect" in reverse (i.e., things as they appear from the outside or from the religious perspective with which you identify which will likely appear very different on the inside), or could it be due to something else? What sort of change would it require of you to find yourself at home in this environment?

4. What new things are you learning about this tradition, about its perspective on the world, and about the people who identify with it as a result of this visit? What things do you find attractive and worthy of respect, if not admiration? What things do you find not the least bit attractive? What things do you find interesting that you would like to learn more about if you had the opportunity, at least to understand more fully? Return to Syllabus.