Description: An introduction to major themes, sacred texts, and practices of at least three religious traditions: Hinduism, Islam, and Ojibway (Ojibwa, Chippewa).
Course requirements include a 4 page paper on Hinduism; a 90 minute times midterm, a 2 hour timed take-home essay. Also so required is a weekly one-page presentation of one or two questions encountered in the reading, along with attendance and constructive class participation. Class format includes lecture and discussion of primary texts in class.
Discussion groups led by upper class religion majors will meet the second half of each Thursday class. TA.s will also be available outside of class time to help prepare for papers and the final exam. A one-page response paper is due for most discussion sessions, with a summary question or issue at the top of the page.
Syllabus of First Half Semester (subject to revision) |
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| Date |
Topic |
Reading Assignment Due for the Day |
Written Work Due |
| 1/20 |
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| 1/22 |
Vedas and Hinduism |
Veda Selections and Hopkins 1-16, 17-28 (28-34 recommended) (R) Rec: Smith, The World's Religions 1-81, |
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| 1/27 |
Upanishads and Yoga |
R Katha Upanishad, Hopkins 45-51 (R) (Rec Knott 1-39) |
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| 1/29 |
Gita and Three Yogas |
Gita 69-101, Hopkins 64-73 (electronic reserve) |
response: sample |
| 2/3 |
Gita and Three Yogas 2 |
Gita 69-105, Hopkins 64-73 (electronic reserve) |
|
| 2/5 |
Hindu Devotion, Bhakti |
Gita 101-121, Hymns to Krishna (electronic reserve) . |
Guest Lecture: Prof. Anne McGuire response: sample |
| 2/10 |
Image, Darshan, Puja |
Samskara 1-50. Eck, Darsan 33-57 (R), (Rec Knott 50-66) |
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| 2/12 |
Gandhi, Justice, Peace |
Gandhi's Gita Commentary (R) , Samskara 50-88, Embree, 85-93,175-176 (R), (Rec Knott 67-79). |
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| 2/17 | Tradition, Modernity, and Irony | Samskara 88-138, Readings from the Yogavasistha (R) | 4 page Close Reading due, Mon 2/18 Noon |
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| 2/19 |
The Growth of Islam |
Smith 221-270, AQ 1-31 |
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| 2/24 |
Muhammad and the Qur'an |
AQ 35-73, Sura 18 The Cave, Sura 19 Mariam (beginning) |
|
| 2/26 |
Qur'an and Sunna |
AQ 74-141 Suras 12, 18, 19, |
response |
| 3/2 |
Shi`ism |
Martin 169-199 Shaykh al-Mufid, "The Passion of Husayn," from The Lives of the Twelve Imams, Amirshahi, "End of the Passion Play" (P) |
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| 3/4 |
Islamic Ritual |
Readings from Richard Martin |
response |
| Spring Vacation | March 8-14 Spring Holidays | ||
| 3/16 |
Sufism |
Sources of Islamic Mysticism, Rabia, Cragg on the prophets (blackboard). |
|
| 3/18 |
Return to the Qur'an |
Readings on the Prophets, Suras 12, 18,
19. |
response |
| 3/23 |
Tradition and Modernity |
Saleh, "The Doum Tree," The Wedding of Zein.
Reread the Martin section from Islamic Studies (on blackboard),
with special attention to the practice of ziyara, pp. 180-183. |
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| 3/25 |
Malcolm and the Nation of Islam |
Zaabalawi (on blackboard); Hajj sections from The Autobiography of Malcolm X 323-347 (on blackboard), "A Handful of Dates" from "The Wedding of Zein." |
response. Midterm Timed Essay Exam: Distributed 3/25. |
| Midterm Timed Take-Home Due 3/29 noon | |||
| 3/30 |
Ramadan Video |
Video in Class. Attendance required. |
Response groups after video. |
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| 4/1 | Introduction to the Ojibway tradition. Love Medicine 1-85, Vecsey, Traditional Ojibwa Religion 1-58 | |
| 4/6 | Love Medicine 1-122 | |
| 4/8 |
Love Medicine review 1-122; Vecsey, Traditional Ojibwa Religion 58-100 |
response |
| 4/13 |
Love Medicine 122-230 |
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| 4/15 |
Love Medicine 230-275; Vecsey, Traditional Ojibwa Religion 100-118, Casebook 53-84 |
response |
| 4/20 |
Love Medicine 276-367 |
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| 4/22 |
Vecsey, Traditional Ojibwa Religion 121-159; Casebook 85-154, Reports by Promise and Gwen on the Trickster. Assignment: write a response on the Trickster for Tuesday. |
no response due |
| 4/27 | Casebook 211-220, Traditional Ojibwa Religion 160-205;
Reports by Jessica on Ojibwa story telling and Kira on Objiwa song. |
paper topics on 3/5, plus 1 question. response due on 4/22 |
| 4/29 |
Final exam distributed (21/2 hour take home (optional, in lieu of paper). Final discussion of papers. |
response on 4/27 discussions |
| 5/5 |
Noon (final exam due, Gest Center) for those who choose the exam option. Printed copy required! |
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10 page Final Paper Due (non-seniors) in the Gest Center,
2nd Floor, May 11, 4PM. Printed Copies Required! |
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Some resources.
On shamans. From this site: "Post-Shamanic: While shamanism may be readily identified among many hunding and gathering peoples and in some traditional herding societies, identifying specific groups of individuals who might be called shamans is a difficult task in more stratified agricultural and manufacturing based societies. A society may be said to be Post- Shamanic when there are the presence of shamanic motifs in its traditional folklore or spiritual practices indicate a clear pattern of traditions of ascent into the heavens, descent into the nether- worlds, movement between this world and a parallel Otherworld, are present in its history."
Against the application of "shaman" to American Indians
A short pithy remark on an Ojibwa Coyote tale
Wile Coyote and Tricksters from other Traditions
A bibliography on the Trickster figure in various cultures
Fools and Tricksters World Over
A Note on Departmental Policy: There are no extensions for exams and papers, except in cases of severe illness or family tragedy, when the instructor has been notified by the dean. In all other cases late papers and exams will be penalized.
On papers and exams: Papers should be numbered. Papers should not be folded. Papers should be stapled. Otherwise they come loose, shuffle in the pack, and get dealt around the blackjack table. Papers and exams should be handed in at the Gest lounge bench, second floor, and should be picked up in the same place.
Michael Sells Home Page (http://www.haverford.edu/relg/sells/home.html)