Schedule of Classes & Reading Assignments

Friday August 24th: First class meeting, go over syllabus, academic advising.

Monday, August 27th: 1/2 hour class meeting (maybe?)

Tuesday, August 28th:

1. Studying religion academically: How did we get here? Who studies Religion? "This doesn't sound like my Sunday School"
Introducing the Comparative enterprise.

William Paden, Religious Worlds ("Intro", "Some Strategies of Comparison", "Religion as Subject Matter", "Worlds"), pp. 1-65.

Check out the following web-pages, to see who is conducting the academic study of religion:

www.aarweb.org/
www.umich.edu/~aos/

Film: The Long Search: Reflections on the Long Search

 

2. Structures of Religious Worlds: The Sacred and its language (myth, ritual, and communities).

Is there a common language we can use to talk about saints and Yoda? Thursday, August 30th: Paden, Religious Worlds ("Myth", "Ritual and Time", "Gods"), pp. 69-140. Film: Star Wars and Myth (exact title?) Tuesday, September 4th: Paden, Religious Worlds, 141-170. Eck, A New Religious America, 1-25.

First friendly little writing assignment.:

Religion in a "global village" 4. The construction of "Eastern spirituality" as exotic and mystical "Am I still Christian/Jewish if I like this stuff a bit too much? Tuesday, October 2nd: Kamenetz, The Jew in the Lotus, p. 1-72. Film: The video of The Jew in the Lotus. Thursday, October 4th: *Kamenetz, The Jew in the Lotus, p. 73-158 *Seders for Tibet"? What is going on here? http://savetibet.org/action/seder/index.htm Tuesday, October 9th: No Class, Mid-Term Recess over break, read: Kamenetz, The Jew in the Lotus, p. 159-225 Thursday, October 11th: Kamenetz, The Jew in the Lotus, p. 226-289 Eck, A New Religious America, Chapter 4.

Second Essay, 7 pages, due .. Either emailed, or delivered to the slot at Hascall Hall. Topic TBA.:

	Chinese Traditions
	5. Chinese Traditions: Social Harmony, Ancestor Veneration, and Harmony with Nature. The intertwined traditions of Confucianism, Taoism (and Zen Buddhism). Tuesday, October 30th: readings re-read Diana Eck, cha. 3, ch. 4 Film: China, Mandate of Heaven. Thursday, November 1st: Tao Te Ching, chapters 1-40 For alternative translation, check out: www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/taoism/ttc-list.htm Tuesday, November 6th: Tao Te Ching, Chapters 41-81. Film: The Long Search: China Thursday, November 8th: discussion of Tao Te Ching Consult the following web pages: :www.enteract.com/~geenius/kongfuzi/ www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/taoism/ www.qi.to/

	Teachings of the Budda
	7. Taking Refuge in the Triple Jewels: The Buddha, Dharma, Sangha Tuesday, November 13th: Powell, Living Buddhism, 10-41 Jack Kornfield, Teachings of the Buddha, 1-69. Film: Buddhism: Footprint of the Buddha Thursday, November 15th: Jack Kornfield, Teachings of the Buddha, pp. 70-140. Film: Land of the Disappearing Buddha Tuesday, November 20th: (no class, but read:) Powell, Living Buddhism, 42-77. Thursday, November 22nd: Thanksgiving Recess read up on Powell, Living Buddhism, 78-110 Powell, Living Buddhism, 110-186. www.tibet.com Tuesday, November 27th: Jack Kornfield, Teachings of the Buddha, pp. 141-200. come ready to discuss the previous sets of readings. www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/rel/buddhism.htm www.world.std.com/~metta/index.html www.buddhanet.net/

 

 

 

 

Religion, Persecution, and Modernity: The fate of Tibetan Buddhism in Exile. Thursday, November 29th: The Dalai Lama, A Policy of Kindness, pp. 9-73. Film: Tibet. Tuesday, December 4th: The Dalai Lama, A Policy of Kindness, pp. 74-143 Thursday, December 6th: Wrap up day.

Religion and the Challenge of Pluralism
Thursday, December 6th:
Eck A New Religous America, Chapters 6, 7

"Final Exam":

Final exams are due to the religion office in Hascall Hall, no later than 5 p.m.,
Examination period: 8th to 14th ? Hand the papers to our secretary, Jeanie Newlun.
They must be typed, stapled, with your name on top.
They should also feature page numbers at the bottom.
No late papers will be accepted.

Special Dates for musical and dance performances:

As you will gather, a key focus of this class is an attempt to go beyond the textual and theological definitions of a narrowly defined "religion" and recognize many holistic experiences as integral part of humanity's religiousness. One way to do so is by embracing the sacred aesthetics of each religious tradition. We are truly blessed this term to be having a number of sacred musical performances, and your attendance is humbly required at all of the following events.

1. Demonstration of Indian dance (Bharata Natyam, Brehmer theatre)

Approximate due dates for Essays:

Remember that these essays are due at the beginning of the class. If you miss the class in order to finish the assignment, not only will you miss the material discussed on that day; you will also have a letter grade deducted from your grade. It is to your advantage to finish the assignments on a timely fashion, before the deadlines. These assignments do not lend themselves to "all-nighters." If you are looking for an opportunity to show me your ability to synthesize the class discussions, the readings, and your own reflections, you are strongly urged to start these assignments well before the due dates.

First Essay:
Second Essay:
Third Essay:
Final Essay:

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