Description: An introduction to major themes, sacred texts, and practices of Hinduism and Islam. The focus is upon the classical sacred texts, with attention also to the portrayal of religion in modern fiction.
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 response paper due each Thursday, two written one-sentence questions to be brought to class every class period (not to be turned in), faithful 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.
Recommended: Thomas Hopkins, The Hindu Religious Tradition
Richard Martin, Islam: a History of Religions Approach
Approaching the Qur'an (AQ) will be distributed either as print
handouts or as electronic files.
Syllabus (subject to revision) |
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| Date |
Topic |
Reading Assignment Due for the Day |
Written Work Due |
| 1/18 |
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| 1/20 |
Vedas and Hinduism |
Veda Selections and Hopkins readings H Selections A 1-16 and pp. 17-28 from H Selections B. (28-35 recommended, on print reserve). Over the first three weeks: Smith, The World's Religions 1-81. Note, from 1/20 to 3/03 you should be reading in the Illustrated Guide Hinduism section at your own pace. |
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| 1/25 | Upanishads and Yoga | Chandogya Upanishad, pp. 64-78 in The Upanishads (translated by Prabhavananda and Manchester). Hopkins on the Upanishads 36-51 | _______________ |
| 1/27 | Katha Upanishad, pp. 14-28 in The Upanishads. | response | |
| 2/01 |
Gita and Three Yogas |
Bhaghavid Gita 69-105, and Hopkins chapter on New Brahmanical Synthesis 64-73. |
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| 2/03 | Review of Gita 69-105, New Brahmanical Synthesis 74-85. | response: sample | |
| 2/08 |
Gita and Bhakti |
Gita 101-121 |
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| 2/10 | Hopkins 87-107 on the Epics and Puranas | 4 p. paper on Upanishads or Gita due 2/11 PM Gest Center and Blackboard Groups electronic inbox. | |
| 2/15 |
Hindu Devotion, Bhakti |
Hymns to Krishna. Diana Eck, Darshan Darsan 33-57 |
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| 2/17 | response: sample | ||
| 2/22 |
Image, Darshan, Puja |
Samskara 1-88. Eck Darshan review. Illustrated Guide to World Religions Hinduism readings. |
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| 2/24 | Hopkins 108-130 Samskara 88-138. | response (both last week's and this week's) | |
| 3/01 |
Gandhi, Justice, Peace |
Gandhi's Gita Commentary (R) , Embree, 85-93,175-176 |
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| 3/03 | Readings from the Yogavasistha | response | |
| 3/08 | Spring Break | ||
| 3/10 | Spring Break | ||
| 3/15 |
Non-Dualism and Play |
SP First Question
of Midterm distributed. Due Friday 3/18 at 4:30PM |
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| 3/17 | Yogavasistha finale. | Second Question of Midterm Distributed. Due Friday 3/18 4:30 PM | |
| 3/22 | The Growth of Islam | Smith 221-270, AQ 1-31, AQ 42-81. EIM 29-46. | |
| 3/24 |
Early Arabic Love Poetry EIM
56-75 |
response |
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| 3/29 |
Muhammad and the Qur'an |
Cragg's Qur'an selections, Sura 18 The Cave, Sura 19 Mariam (1-40); Tabari on Isaac. |
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| 3/31 | Miraj EIM 47-56, Sura 19 41-98. Recommended: Peter Brown, "The Apocalypse of Islam." | response | |
| 4/05 |
Shi`ism and Ta'ziya |
Martin 169-199 Shaykh al-Mufid, "The Passion of Husayn," from The Lives of the Twelve Imams, Amirshahi, "End of the Passion Play" (P) Also read Richard Martin on Islamic Communal Practices. The Azah Ritual: The Language of Tears.
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| 4/07 | Intro to Sufism | EIM Introduction to Sufism 11-26, Rabia 151-170. | response |
| 4/12 |
Qur'an and Sunna |
Suras 2: 122-167. Juan
Campo on the Hajj in Modern Egypt. Sura 14: 35-41. Gest instructor:
Professor Barbara von Schlegell. |
The Qur'anic readings concern Abraham, Ishmael, and Hagar (Ishmael's mother). Please reveiw also Tabari on Isaac. |
| 4/14 | Surat al-Rahman (Sura 55) Hallaj Poems (EIM 302-303), Niffari (284-301); Rumi, and Hafez Selections. Rahman Word. | ||
| 4/19 |
Popular Islam |
Saleh, "The Doum Tree of Wad Hamid," The Wedding of Zein. Reread the Martin on Islamic Communal Practices (linked above), pp. 180-183 and Fred Denny On Popular Islam. |
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| 4/21 | No regular class. Film will be shown. Ramadan: Fast of Faith. Reading for this day: Illustrated Guide to World Religions, pp. 90-123. BE ALERT FOR EMAIL ON WHERE THE VIDEO WILL BE SHOWN. | no discussion group this day. Each student will write a 1-2 page response on the film and hand it in to me on Tuesday, April 26. | |
| 4/26 |
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Review Wedding of Zein for Discussion of Wedding
and Call to Prayer Scenes. Naguib Mahfuz "Zaabalawi";
"Zaabalawi" Last
Page; Hajj sections from The Autobiography
of Malcolm X. Discuss poems one more time. Malaly Popal, Experiencing
the Hajj (Personal Reflections). |
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| 4/28 | Final Class Overview. Discussion. Class Evaluations |
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| 5/12 |
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Final 7 page paper or timed take home essay exam due. |
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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.
Updated 6 Mayl 05