RELG 110: INTRODUCTION TO RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Professor: Katja Vehlow
tel: 777-1494
email: vehlowk@mailbox.sc.edu
Rutledge 324
|
Spring 2010
TTH 2:00-3:15
GAMB 152
|
Course Description:
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the field of religious studies and to the impact of contemporary cultural, political, and social ideas on these traditions and vice versa. To this aim, we will explore a number of religious traditions in the first half of the course—indigenous, Hinduism, Buddhism, Zorastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Sikhism—before turning to a number of contemporary issues we face today. How do religious traditions encounter pressing questions of the day such as LGBT identities, ecology, euthanasia, capital punishment? What is the impact of secularism and atheism?
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this course should be able to:
- Achieve familiarity with elements of a number of religious traditions
- Analyze the impact of contemporary cultural and political ideas on these traditions as well as their responses
- Analyze primary texts in terms of their specific time-bound messages.
- Communicate effectively in written and oral work
Course Texts:
- Mary Pat Fisher, Living Religions. A Brief Introduction. Pearson. Second Edition, 2009. ISBN 020563564-4
- Reader is available from University Copy on Main Street.
Course Requirements
| homework |
10% |
| 3 (2-page) papers (10% each): |
30% |
| pop quizzes: |
20% |
| midterm: |
20% |
| final: |
20% |
Grading scale: 100-90 = A; 86-89 = B+; 80-85 = B; 76-79 = C+; 70-75 = C; 66-69 =D+; 60-65= D;
< 59 = F
Dates to keep in mind
Last day to drop/add: February 22.
Midterm: March 4.
Final: TBA
Schedule of Readings
Part I: Religions
| T, 1.12 |
Introduction: What is religion? |
| Th, 1.14 |
Introduction: What is religion? |
| T, 1.19 |
Indigenous sacred ways |
| Th, 1.21 |
Hinduism |
| T, 1.26 |
Hinduism |
| Th, 1.28 |
Buddhism |
| T, 2.2 |
Buddhism |
| Th, 2.4 |
Zoroastrianism |
| T, 2.9 |
Judaism |
| Th, 2.11 |
Judaism |
| T, 2.16 |
Christianity |
| Th, 2.18 |
Christianity |
| T, 2.23 |
Islam |
| Th, 2.25 |
Islam |
| T, 3.2 |
Sikhism |
| Th, 3.4 |
Midterm  |
 |
Spring break |
Part II: Religion and contemporary Issues
| T, 3.16 |
Religion in a new era |
| Th, 3.18 |
Religion in a new era |
| T, 3.23 |
Atheism |
| Th, 3.25 |
Rationalism and secularism |
| T, 3.30 |
Ecology |
| Th, 4.1 |
War & Capital Punishment |
| T, 4.6 |
Contemporary issues: Abortion & Euthanasia |
| Th, 4.8 |
Gender |
| T, 4.13 |
Sexual Orientation |
| Th, 4.15 |
Contemporary issues: The future of religion |
| T, 4.20 |
TBA |
| Th, 4.22 |
Review |
| |
Final |
MORE INFO… (online at http://vehlow.wordpress.com/student-info/ )
Our Teaching Assistant is Megan Gold, (megsgold@hotmail.com) who will be happy to respond to your questions.
Absence policy. Attending class on a regular basis is crucial for your success as a student. By coming to and participating in class you will further develop not only your familiarity with the material but also enhance invaluable skills such as critical reading and debating. For that reason, I take attendance and will, as is USC policy, notify the Student Success Center after 2 absences. You automatically fail the class with more than 5 absences. Religious observances are exempt, but you need to notify me within the first two weeks of class. Student athletes, too, should contact me asap. If you need a financial incentive to roll out of bed in the afternoon (!), think of the approximately $70 (according to 2008-2009 tuition rates) you and your parents lose each time you miss a class or come unprepared!
What to expect in class. Arrive for class on time, with your cell phone turned off and tucked away; be prepared to discuss your ideas! Bring the reader and/or print out the day’s readings and your notes. Be respectful of your fellow students, which means, among other things, engaging with other people’s ideas in a respectful and constructive manner. Points will be deducted from the final grade for every cell phone use. This includes texting and checking for messages–I detest texting and consider it disrespectful towards your instructor (me!) and other students.
Prepare for class: Read the assigned texts/watch the video and prepare, taking the questions on the syllabus as a guide. Every unit has key words that I expect you to be familiar with when you come to class.
Assignments: You will be expected to write 3 2-page papers (500-600 words) and you will sign up for those in the first week. No late assignments will be accepted.
Quizzes: There will be a number of (unannounced) reading quizzes, 5 of which will count towards your grade. These are usually brief and include the following: identification of key terms or concepts, identifications of author/title/context of selected passages, identification and commentary (ca. 3 sentences) explaining selected passages, etc. Anything covered in the readings or discussed in class is eligible for the test, including the reading questions.
Special needs: If you have special needs, make sure you are registered with Student Disability Services and notify me early on in the semester as well. I like to know what I can do to make this class a success for you.
If you are an out-of-state student, transfer student, scholarship recipient, sophomore or a student of color and think you need assistance, contact the Special Student Populations Office at the USC.
|