RELG 110: Introduction to
Religious Studies
Professor: Hal W. French
tel: 777-2178(o)/ 256-2866(h)
email: frenchh@sc.edu
Office: Preston 107.
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this is a generic syllabus
current syllabus available on Blackboard
Course Website: http://blackboard.sc.edu
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(In most afternoons, 1-4,
or MWF mornings, 8:30-11; drop by or by appt.)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course will offer, at the introductory level, an exploration of different ways of being religious. We will examine questions concerning faith, God, human nature and destiny, ethics, etc., and the directions in which answers are sought. A comparative approach will be followed, exploring the dynamics of traditional Eastern and Western approaches to religion in the first half of the course: in the second half, contemporary non-transcendent models will be pursued.
In addition to content, students will have the opportunity to articulate their own value systems. This will be primarily through a journal, which should contain dialogue with course materials, class sessions, fellow students and the professor of the course. Relevant personal experience should also be part of the journal. Journals will be kept for any four of the eight major sections of the course, following the format of the Ways of Being Religious text. You may choose which four sections you wish to respond to regularly, and you will submit your journal after any two are completed and again after the next two. Each part of the journal will count as 20% of the course grade. Two exams and a final will be given, and each exam will count 20% toward the final grade, also.
Each journal should include:
- Responses to two articles from each of two chapters in the text
- Responses to extra materials or discussion from some class sessions
- Reflections on your experiences related to religious and spiritual practices and beliefs
- Reflections on a visit to some religious group with which you're not familiar
- Thoughts on anything that's in the news about religion and spirituality that's of interest to you
Begin your first journal with a statement of who you are religiously/spiritually
(But don't (please) make your journal too long- I have to (get to) read them!)
Individuals will be asked to read some of the selections from the readings listed below for each section. You are invited to relate as desired with the professor, the graduate assistant, Brett Esaki, and with other students regarding course concerns. Each student should regard others as course resources, and each should help to make the course work for others.
TEXTS:
Ways of Being Religious, edited by Streng, Lloyd, and Allen. The text is an anthology of over 100 selections from Eastern and Western and contemporary non-traditional religious expressions.
Zen and the Art of Anything, by Hal W. French. (To be obtained from the professor at $5 per copy -deep discount!). This may assist you in reflecting on spiritual aspects of your everyday lives.
CLASS SCHEDULE:
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Introduction
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Intro., cont., pp. 1-22; Zen, Chapter 1 (My Story and This Book)
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Personal Encounter, 23-43; 43-47
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47-71
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Zen, Chapter 2 (Breathing and Speaking)
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Myth and Ritual, 97-132
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American Civil Religion, etc., 132-141; 160-180
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Handouts: "Dialogue Between Two Space Travelers" and "In the Egg"
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FIRST EXAM |
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Cosmic Law, East Asia, Selections 1,2,7
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Zen, Chapter 3 (Waking and Sleeping); Slides of China
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South Asia, Selections 9, 10 Slides of India
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Western Selections, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12
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Mysticism, 269-280; 286-290; 310-314; Zen, Chapter 4 (Moving and Staying)
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296-299; 314-319; 325-331
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Transition Section, 333-358
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Creative Interaction, 359-378
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379-398, Zen, Chapter 5 (Eating and Drinking)
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399-415
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SECOND EXAM
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Human Rights, 417-435
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446-461; Zen, Chapter 6 (Playing and Working)
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435-441; 461-477
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Technocracy, 481-497
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497-519; Zen, Chapter 7 (Loving and Caring)
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Sensuous Experience, 543-570
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570-589; 605-612
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Conclusions; Zen, Chapter 8 (Thriving and Surviving)
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READING DAY
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FINAL EXAM |
Note: The course is on Blackboard (online), reachable via the login screen at: http://blackboard.sc.edu . (To log in and proceed to your "My USC" screen you will need your userid and password). At the "My USC" screen click on the number: title of this course. Initially, I have put this syllabus up, and the site will develop as interest and need dictate. My web site is also listed.
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