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Barnes' Homepage
| August |
|
| 22 Mon | INTRO
class. For next class [FNC] read the Intro in the text, pp., 1-8, and the selections from Chagnon
and Werner found through the Readings Link page (get the password
from Barnes) Be ready to discuss [BRTD] whether primitive beliefs and practices
constitute real religion. [Begin thinking about your paper topic.] |
| 24 Wed | Preliminary
discussion about primitive religion and the nature of religion.
For next class [FNC] read Ch. 1, pp. 10-28, as well as Genesis 1-3. Next class turn in typed response to the Reading Guide (RG) #1. |
| 26 Fri | Discuss differences between animism and polytheism, as well as RG#1 on Gen 1-3, FNC read Ch. 2. & the brief selection from Freud [Readings] Be ready to discuss [BRTD] whether reductionism is correct. |
| 29 Mon | Discuss Ch. 2. Do the skeptics undermine religion successfully? FNC read Ch. 3, pp 45-57. BRTD a) the "Theodicy" reading, b) the nature of God. |
| 31 Wed | Discuss Ch. 3: The History of God in the West; Theodicy. FNC finish Ch. 3 & read selections from the Hindu Tradition AND the Tao Te Ching. |
| September | |
| 2 Fri | Finish Chapter 3. FNC BRTD the nature of the Ultimate! Is such a concept religiously adequate or too abstract? [Thinking about your paper topic yet?] |
| 5 Mon | [Labor Day, no classes] |
| 7 Wed | Finish Ch. 3. Discuss the nature of the Ultimate and religion, and readings from Hindu and Taoist tradition. FNC read the Sermon at Benares and hand in RG #2. FNC also read Ch. 4. Issues: our capacity for the infinite and our ultimate purpose. |
| 9 Fri | Discuss Ch. 4 and the Sermon at Benares. |
| 12 Mon | Review for exam DECIDE ON PAPER AND PRESENTATION TOPICS AND DATES |
| 14 Wed | EXAM #1. (See the web page on exams and assignments.) FNC read intro to Part II in the text, plus the readings "After Death" -- 4 Bible excepts + background. BRTD views on life after death |
| 16 Fri | .Discuss intro to Part II and readings. FNC read Ch.5. FNC (Wed) read the C. S. Lewis and Huxley page. BRTD whether this earth is your true home |
| 19 Mon | Discuss Ch. 5 & reading. Theme: from worldliness to world-rejection. FNC Ch. 6. Be ready to give current examples of sacred groups. |
| 21 Wed | Discuss Ch. 6. FNC read Ch. 7; Read notes on Berger BRTD issues of identity and belonging as part of what it means to be human. |
| 23 Fri | Discuss Berger, Ch. 7, FNC read 1 page on Kohlberg and the page "On Different Types of Morality" Begin Ch. 8, pp. 153-164. |
| 26 Mon |
Discuss Kohlberg
page and Heinz+ stories. Review 1st 1/2 of Ch. 8.
FNC finish Ch. 8. BPTD how you know what is good. |
| 28 Wed |
Discuss Ch. 8 and current moralities. For
Fri.
read Mark's Gospel -- all
of it -- and do RG#3 to hand in Friday. |
| 30 Fri | Vincent Branick, PH.D, STD, guest lecture. Synoptic detective work. |
| October |
|
| 3 Mon | Discuss RG on Mark's Gospel. FNC read Ch. 9 and the reading "Islam-Bida." |
| 5 Wed | Discuss Ch. 9, and Islam-Bida reading. Connect problem of bida in Islam to Berger's ideas. FNC read Ch. 10. Be ready to provide interesting examples of ritual & symbol that define reality for people. |
| 7 Fri | Discuss Ch. 10, FNC begin Ch. 11, pp 221-225 |
| 10 Mon | Semester Break today and tomorrow. |
| 12Wed | Discuss beginning of Ch. 11, FNC read the section of Ch. 11 which fits with the Ppt, Part II, pp. 225-37. Read selections from Anselm and Aquinas. |
| 14 Fri | Discuss mid-section of Ch. 11, as well as readings from Anselm and Aquinas. FNC read William James. BRTD 1) the hidden logic of blind faith, faith as commitment and 2) whether James makes sense. Read this in relation to Ch. 11, pp. 237-243. We will discuss William James' argument, as well as Faith and Reason in general. |
| 17 Mon | Discuss end of Ch. 11 + James. For Friday read the introduction to Part IV of the text and pp 249-257 in ch. 12. BRTD whether deism, naturalism, humanism, and tolerance are good aspects of "modern" thought. . Group #1 papers due! |
| 19 Wed | Discuss "modern" thought. FNC -- after the exam -- , read Boyle and Paley Review for exam #2. |
| 21 Fri | EXAM #2. Chs. 5-11 plus related readings. Big Exam!! |
| 24 Mon | Discuss selections from Boyle and Paley. Background lecture on theory of evolution. For Friday read the selections from Darwin and from Marx. Be ready to discuss Darwin's reasons for his agnosticism. Group #2 papers due! [Presentation Group #1 previews for Barnes] [Mid-term grades due today by 4:00] |
| 26 Wed | PRESENTATION #1 |
| 28 Fri | Discuss selections from Darwin and Marx. Finish ch. 12. Be prepared to discuss secular evolutionary humanism as a quasi-religion, as well as the general status of religion today. FNC read 269-79 in Ch. 13, on method of science. Be ready to discuss whether science is based on faith. [Presentation Group #2 previews for Barnes] |
| 31 Mon | Discuss first part of Ch. 13. For next class finish ch.13 plus Sartre. Be ready to discuss human autonomy and responsibility. For Fri: 288-303 in Ch. 14. Group #3 papers due! |
| November | |
| 2 Wed | PRESENTATION #2 |
| 4 Fri | Discuss Sartre and autonomy and morality: who sets the moral rules?
For Wed begin Ch. 14. Be ready to discuss: current religious options, and relations
between religion and science. [Presentation
Group #4 previews for Barnes] Over this weekend watch the film, The Color of Paradise. Be sure to read the notes inside the cardboard jacket the VHS tape is in. |
| 7 Mon | Group #4 papers due! Leave them in HM Room 300. Barnes is in MN for his mother's 90th birthday. For Friday: bring a brief written paragraph with you to class which identifies your favorite theologian or theory on pp. 295-303 and explains why. |
| 9 Wed | PRESENTATION #3 |
| 11 Fri | Compare paragraphs on theologians. Discuss: current religious options, and relations between religion & science. For next class finish Ch. 14, pp. 303-310.[Presentation Group #5 previews for Barnes] |
| 14 Mon | Religion and science; this-worldliness. For Fri., read the assignment from Kelly Johnson, Ph.D. on social justice. Basic question: Is social justice a religious obligation? |
| 16 Wed | PRESENTATION #4 |
| 18 Fri | Guest lecture on religion and social justice. Prepare to discuss the secular and progressivist aspects of liberation theology. For next class do RG #4 on Trible. |
| 21 Mon | Discuss Tribble. Also discuss, time allowing, Dr. Johnson's presentation, as well as the film, The Color of Paradise. For the first class after Thanksgiving read Gutierrez |
| 23-25 W-F | Thanksgiving VACATION |
| 28 Mon | Discuss Gutierrez and his claim that the gospels demand that Christians try to change the social order to create a new kind of person. Finish Ch. 14. For Wed read Ch. 15, pp 311-322. Be ready to discuss Fowler's types or stages of religion, and to give concrete examples of people at each stage or type. |
| 30 Wed | Discuss the continuing vitality of religion (ch. 15). Also discuss Fowler's stages. FNC read the rest of Ch. 15. Be ready to explain to what extent you might be a post-modernist. Be ready to explain what is meant by: the social construction of knowledge; cultural relativism; anti-accommodationism and anti-secularism; limits to science; and how all this might relate to Fowler's stages. |
| Dec |
|
| 2 Fri | Discuss your responses to post-modernism. FNC read Epilogue to p. 341. Be prepared to discuss the legitimacy of evaluating religions and the question of which criteria should count, |
| 5 Mon | Discuss the first half of the Epilogue. FNC finish the Epilogue. Be prepared to discuss which of the four defenses against rationalist skepticism make sense to you. |
| 7 Wed | Discuss 3 types of religious truth-claims, & the 4 defenses. Discuss final exam |
| 9 Fri | Study Day |
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| 12-16 | FINAL EXAMS
10:00 a.m. class, Thurs. Dec. 15. 12:20-2:10 11:00 a.m. class Tues. Dec. 13. 2:30-4:20 |
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