Religious Studies 198  course description   Fall 2005
The Religious Studies Berry Scholars Seminar

See below for:  
Purpose,   Objectives,  Course Content,  Teaching Methods,   
Evaluation procedures,  Texts and Readings.

Course Description
Class Calendar   
Assignments, Exams
Paper & Presentation
    Due Dates  
Readings Link
Essay Questions  
Paper Topics 
HowToWritePapers 
Extra Credit Links 
Chapter Outlines
Quickplace
Barnes' Homepage

Link to outlines
 of chapters of 
 the textbook 

Link to the Student
Handbook
on plagiarism: 
(go to the "Academic
Information" section,
pp. 35-37.  Look for
section entitled
"Academic Dishonety).

This course is not mainly an introduction to religion but to the study of religion.  Anyone who has taken a course in world religions or high school courses on some particular religious tradition may have studied religions or a religion.  This course will do a fair amount of that.  But the further purpose of such study in this course is to take a step back from religion to ask questions about what it reveals about human needs and practices and aspirations, to ask questions about how religion functions in human life.  You may find this approach helpful for making your own analyses and choices about religion.

Course Objectives
By the end of the course each student will have demonstrated abilities to

1) identify and characterize religions in terms of developmental categories, as well as in standard categories for major aspects of religion (e.g., code, creed, cult, canon, community); 

2) recognize and describe major differences among at least some of the great classical religions of history, such as the Western monotheisms, Hindu and Buddhist traditions, Taoism, and others, including their practices, beliefs, and value systems; 

3) enter into the perspectives of religions other than their own; 

4) summarize and critically evaluate many of the several major theories of the nature, origin, and function of religion; 

5) read and analyze some primary texts relevant to various religions; 

6) use and evaluate web-based sources relevant to religion, including new religious movements (NRMs); 

7) share in the work of 4-person team of students to develop a presentation for class; 

8) identify and use resources relevant for a research paper on a topic related to religion.

Course Content [See the Calendar of Classes for the order of contents.]

Aspect I: Patterns in Religion

A. Developmental sequence of basic beliefs in sacred powers  

1. Primitive culture and animism and magic
2. Archaic civilizations and the rise of polytheisms
3. Classical civilizations and the search for a single Ultimate
4. Forms of critical perspectives, ancient and recent, West and East.

1. Primitive beliefs about sources of suffering and life after death.
2. Polytheistic beliefs about gods and about death
3. Classical beliefs about the causes of suffering and the ultimate destiny of humankind
4. Modern skepticism: secular, existential, or nihilist interpretations of life

1. Provides social structure, community, tradition
2. Provides individual identity through participation in a community and/or through direct relation to an Ultimate Reality or Condition
3. Provides narratives, rituals, and symbols to express and reinforce a way of life
4. Provides both general visions of the good and specific moral norms.

1. Enlightenment rationalism and deism
2. Materialism and atheism
3. Critical consciousness and ultimate questions
4. Religion and science in tension
5. Islamic and Hindu resurgences and/or "fundamentalism"
6. New Religious Movements in the U.S. vs. the secularization thesis.

A. Religious Theories about Religion.

1. Religion as a response to revelation or inspiration: Judaism, Christianity, Islam; Hindu rishis and the Vedas.
2. Religion arising from enlightenment or insight into reality: Buddhism, Taoism;
3. Rational arguments, deistic or from fundamental theologies.
4. Religious experience, of the Holy or the Sacred, as the basis of religion:  Otto, Eliade;  Rahner.

1. Religion as primitive superstition (Comte, Tyler, Levy-Bruhl)
2. Manifestation of economic or social reality (Marx, Durkheim)
3. Expression of psychological needs or development (Freud, Maslow)
4. Response to a charismatic leader or visions (Weber, James)
5. Cultural by-product of evolutionary psychology (Wilson, Wenegrat)

C.  The Problem of Evaluating Religions

Teaching Methods
The course will feature three guest professors, for additional perspectives on two topics.
Most classes will be seminar-style discussions of texts or student presentations, occasionally in small groups.
The students will prepare presentations for some classes based on their research papers.
(For other aspects of the learning context see Evaluation Procedures below)

Evaluation Procedures.   The first four are each worth up to 100 points.
   See the page titled  "Assignments, Exams"  for more details.   

1.  An exam,  Sept 14, Wed., with both multiple choice and essay questions.   The essay questions will be posted on the Assignments,Exam page prior to the exam.  On the day of the exam each student will answer the essay question selected by a draw of a card, plus any other essay question.  The questions will ask the student to review stages of religious evolution and theories of the origin and function of religion.  They will also ask the student to use some of the class readings for illustration.

2.  Another exam Fri., Oct. 21 with both multiple choice and essay questions, following the same procedures as the first. The essay questions will ask the student to discuss several of the major functions and aspects common to religions everywhere.

3.  A final exam, Thur. Dec 15 or 13, like the first two exams.  The essay questions will ask the student to describe modern (and postmodern) developments in religion, the current status of religion in the West (and in Muslim countries), and to discuss the problem of evaluating religions.

4.  A brief research paper, of 7-8 pages, will prepare the student to join in a group presentation.   The paper should be based on sources not used in the course, on some currently significant religious realities, analyzing it according to the categories and the theories discussed in the course. (This could include such topics as the growth of new religions or a specific new religion, U.S. anti-evolutionism or Islamic fundamentalism, the role of religion in cultural changes in South America or Africa, syncretism today, religion-based conflicts etc.)  The paper will normally be due 9 days in advance of the presentation.  The due date will depend on when each student's group will make its presentation. For more on the paper and on the presentation described below, go to the "Assignments, Exams" pages (see the link above at the left), which will have a link to a list of possible topics for the papers and presentations.  The first set of papers will be due Monday, Oct. 17, for the presentation on Oct. 26.

5.  Each student, as part of a three four person group, will make a presentation to the class, using lecture, electronic media, and texts, either comparing specific religious traditions or analyzing specific theories about the nature of religion. They will be expected to draw some of their materials from the web, and to make clear how they evaluate its reliability.  These presentation will take place on consecutive Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 26 .  This will be worth up to 50 points for each participant.

6.  There will also be four "Reading Guides" assigned on the "common readings" [See below as well as the Humanities Base page for more on these.]  Each will be worth up to 10 points. 

7.  Every student should attend at least one special event occurring at UD or in Dayton that has some relation to religious studies, and write a two-page report.  Every student may also attend a second special event and write a report for extra credit.  A list of possible events will be provided to you on these webpages.  See the link  Extra Credit Links  on the left above to find a list of events. You may suggest other events to the teacher.

Texts and Supplementary Materials
[Use the "Readings"Portal to get to the main Readings page]

The major text includes a survey and analysis of developmental history of major aspects of religions and of critical theories of religion.   This text is  Michael Barnes, In the Presence of Mystery: An Introduction to the Story of Human Religiousness, 2003. Note the year of publication.  Do not buy the 1990 or 1994 editions.  The UD Bookstore will have the 2003 edition.  The cover is shown in the left column on this page.]
 [If you find outlines of chapters useful, use the link just above the image of the book cover in the left column to get access to outlines prepared for a version of Rel 103.  The links on those pages, however, will not get you back to Rel 198 pages.  You will also be given a link to PowerPoint presentations on each chapter, in case you find visual images particularly useful in your learning.

The 4 "common readings" for REL 103. (Gen. 1-3, the Buddha's Sermon at Benares, Mark’s Gospel, and Phyllis Tribble’s commentary on Gen. 2-3)  These "common readings" have Reading Guide assignments connected to them.  They are part of all introductory Religious Studies courses at UD; hence the name "common readings." You can find these common readings by going through "Portfolio.udayton.edu.   But more helpful versions, with introductory material and background, can be found through the "Readings" links at the upper left of this page.

Numerous selections from primary sources, almost all of it available through the "Readings" page.  The student will need to get a password to gain access to this page.  These are the readings the students should use to illustrate their answers on the essay exams.  They will be discussed in classes prior to the relevant exams.

Sources selected by students for their individual research papers and for the group presentation, from both the library and the internet.

Specific Policies: 
    Late exams: except in unusual circumstances all exams should be taken at the assigned time. If you miss one call or email me at once.  If you call leave word and your phone number at 229-2034  [give your name and number slowly and clearly, please]; or email me at   barnes@udayton.edu  to make arrangements for a make-up exam.
    Missed classes: you are responsible for everything that takes place in class, including any announced change in exam or other dates. (Class attendance is required, with a maximum of 6 absences allowed for MWF classes. Hoard your allowed absences; you may need them.) 
    Special needs:  please inform the instructor if you have any special problems or needs.
    Plagiarism: check the section in the Student Handbook on this.  [See the link at the left.  Go to "Academic Information,"  pp. 35-37.]  Make sure you understand what counts as plagiarism.  The basic rule is this:  never present as your own what you have taken from another source.  You must cite your sources.  The normal minimum penalty or any case of plagiarism or cheating is an "F" on the assignment.  Serious plagiarism or cheating, such as copying an entire essay or exam can even result in an "F" for the entire course, not just for that essay or exam

This page last changed August 14, 2005