Comparative
Religion in America (RS 101A)
Spring Semester 2005
Instructor:
Frank Farrell, Senior Associate Professor of Religion
Class meetings: 1/26/05 4:30-6pm Room 23
3/23/05 Mid term 4:30-6pm room tba
Final TBA during finals week
Phone:
215-885-2360 ext 251
E-mail: ffarrell@manor.edu or Frankfjr@aol.com or
web site http://apps.manor.edu/faculty/ffarrell/rs101/index.htm
Office Hours: By Appointment Mon: 1-2 Wed: 1-2
VIdeos: Tuesday morning 3a.m. PBS channel 12, or in the library
Course
Description:
This course will
be an examination of the history, creed and cultic expression of the major
world religions as experienced in the United States of America. Students will
be exposed to a wide range of religious phenomenon, beliefs, and practices with
focus on the impact that the American experience has had on each religious
tradition.
Philosophy
of the Course:
The goal of
this course is not only to study the nature of the religious tradition but also
to discover the depth of faith offered there. The course challenges the student
to analyze the religious experience from both the micro (individual) and macro
(organized world religions) perspective of community and faith development. The
course begins with the Individual development of faith, then proceeds through a
historical reflection of the development on a societal level from the early
tribal developments in the fertile crescent through the Judeo/Christian
traditions of western civilization. Given the diversities and the relationships
of these traditions, students will be encouraged to develop and articulate an
understanding of the core tenets and questions of these religious traditions as
they are encountered in American culture, while at the same time gaining a
knowledge and respect of others.
Goals and
Objectives:
1. Students
will exhibit a basic understanding of religion in America, the beliefs,
contemporary practices, and historical developments.
- Competency
will be reflected through papers and examinations
2. Student
will demonstrate the ability to retrieve information regarding the contemporary
practice of religion from varied information sources i.e. Internet, periodicals
and current texts).
- Competency
in Information literacy will be expressed through the students ability to
Identify, Evaluate and Utilize information gathered from at least two of these
sources.
3. Students will be able to provide
reflective analysis of the 5 dimensions of Religion as presented in the course
(mythic, ritual, doctrinal, ethical, social).
- Competency
will be reflected through reflection papers and examination questions
4. Students will be able to identify
significant contributions and contributors to the development of the worlds
major religious movements and their impact on the American experience.
- Competency
will be reflected through exam essays
5. Students will conduct a critical media
analysis of a dimension of religious activity incorporating information
literacy techniques that utilize varied information access systems.
- Competency
will be reflected through the practical integration of research materials
within the media analysis.
6. Students will hopefully exhibit a more
open and positive attitude toward their own tradition as well as the tradition
of others.
Grading:
1. 2
Reflection Papers (2 Pages typed) 10%
2. 10 Study Guide
Assignments 50%
3. Media
Analysis 10%
4. Mid -Term
15%
5. Final Exam
15%
Required
Textbooks:
Approaches
to Teaching:
This course uses a combination of video technology and traditional teaching
methods to transmit information usually provided in the lecture environment.
The student must make a consistent effort to watch the videos as scheduled and
maintain a reading schedule.
The
instructor will also provide handouts and study guides. These resources will be
available through the mail and on the internet at the assigned web site http://apps.manor.edu/faculty/ffarrell/rs101/index.htm or the Manor learning
cortex.
Links
to study Guides for the text will also be at the above site. These study guides
will include sample true/false, Multiple choice and Essay questions. There will
also be links to sample reflection papers
Attendance: While there is no class to attend, consistent submission of work is expected. Students must make PRIOR arrangements with instructor if unable to attend mid-term or final.
Academic
Honesty:
Academic honesty is expected. Plagiarism will be dealt with according to the
policies outlined in the student handbook. Cheating on a test will result in a
grade of zero.
Procedure
for Grading:
Reflection
papers
will be graded on a scale of 1-5 on a basis of content and clarity of thought.
Papers must be typed and no longer than two pages in length. Please be sure to proof
read all material before you submit it. Consistent errors in grammar, spelling,
and punctuation could result in a lower grade. Papers that are submitted past
due dates will be penalized 2 pts for each class day they are late. Papers are
to reflect an understanding of any of the Dimensions of Religion (Experiential,
Mythic, Ritual, Doctrinal, Ethical, and Social) as outlined in the Tapes and
Text. Each paper should focus on a different dimension. More information will
be provided for the student through handout. The first paper is due March
9th and the final one April 13.
Study
Guide:
you need to complete 10 of 11 chapter study guide projects throughout the
semester(5 pts each). These are accessed through the web site and linked to the
text book. They should be submitted through e-mail. Students need to complete 2
of the 4 sections of the study guide for each chapter (i.e. Fact finder, true
or False, Fill in the blank, or Reflect and Respond). I will send a
confirmation E-mail when I receive the study guide. If you do not get a
confirmation, please resend or contact me. These should be completed within two
weeks of assigned date in syllabus. Study guides submitted more than three
weeks after assigned date will not be counted.
Media Analysis Project Will be worth 10 pts. Through any of the following media: Film, Art, Music, Literature, Poetry, develop an analysis of a topic relating to Cultus celebrations of religion. Topics need to be approved by instructor during the fourth week of class. You may do a comparison and contrast of two or more works, or you may choose to do an in-depth analysis of one work. Please follow either Hult, Christine A. The new century pocket guide for writers. New York: Longman/Pearson, 2004. REF PE1408 .H85 2004 for proper citation style and check Manor Library http://library.manor.edu/wr/user/citations.htm . Check the website for samples of past Media Analysis papers. This will be due April 27
Mid-Term
Exam will
be worth 15 points and will consist of a comprehensive overview of the course.
Questions will be developed directly from the texts covered and video lecture
notes. The exam will be open index note, and you will be given a study guide
one week prior to the exam. The exam will involve short essays, as well as
other standard testing questions.
Final Exam will be worth 15 points and will consist of a comprehensive overview of the course. Questions will be developed directly from the texts covered and video lecture notes. The exam will be open index note, and you will be given a study guide one week prior to the exam The exam will involve short essays, as well as other standard testing questions.
|
Date
|
Topic
|
|
Tape # |
|
Week
1 |
Understanding
the Worlds religious heritage |
Ellwood:
Ch 1 study
guide for Chapter One |
Tape:
1 |
|
Week
2 |
Six
World Views |
Tape:
2 |
|
|
Week 3 |
Religious
Experience- Rites
of Passage |
Elwood:
|
Tape3 |
|
Week 4 |
Religious
Experience |
Ellwood: Ch 6, |
Tape
4 |
|
Week 5 |
Eastern:
Mystics
and Meditation |
Ellwood:
Ch 4 |
Tape:
5 |
|
Week
6 |
Hinduism |
Ellwood:
Ch 3 |
Tape:6 |
|
Week 7 |
Mythic
Dimension Midterm
March 23 |
Ellwood:
Ch2 |
Tape:
7 |
|
Week 8 |
The Religious Quest |
Ellwood
Ch7 |
Tape:
8 |
|
Week 9 |
Doctrinal
Dimension – Christianity The
Dimensional Triangle |
Ellwood
Ch 8 |
Tape:
14 |
|
Week 10 |
Doctrinal
Dimension - Islam part 1 |
Ellwood: Ch 10 |
Tape:
17 |
|
Week 11 |
Doctrinal
Dimension - African American Islam |
Elwood
Chapter 9 |
Tape:
18 |
|
Week 12 |
Ethical
Dimension The
|
Elwood
Chapter 9 |
Tape:
20 |
|
Week
13 |
Social
Dimension – New Religions Final - week of May 1 (tentative) |
Ellwood:
11 |
Tape
23 |
All
tapes are also available in the Manor College Library, but must be viewed
there.
Objectives,
Measures and Standards:
1.
Students will exhibit a basic
understanding of religion as practiced in
-
Competency will be reflected through papers and examinations
Measure: Students will be
asked to develop an outline of significant developments in religion on the
Mid-term and final.
Standard: To achieve competency
(a grade of C) students should be able to note at least four significant events
or persons in the history of religion and describe in detail the significance
of contribution.
80%
of Students should achieve competency.
2.
Student will demonstrate the ability to retrieve information regarding the
contemporary practice of religion from varied information sources. i.e.
Internet, periodicals, TV and Video, and current texts).
-
Competency in Information literacy will be expressed through the students
ability to Identify, Evaluate
and Utilize information gathered from at least two of these sources.
Measure: Through the media
analysis paper, students will be asked to gather information on a topic
relating to religion in
Standard: To achieve competency
(a grade of C) students should be able to present a media analysis paper using
and properly citing at least two different sources.
80%
of Students should achieve competency.
3. Students will be able to provide
reflective analysis of the 5 dimensions of Religion as presented in the course ( mythic, ritual, doctrinal,
ethical, social).
Measure: Through reflection
papers, students will be asked to answer: “How do you see this dimension enacted in the
world today?”
Standard: To achieve competency
(a grade of C) students should be able to note at least one reflective
connection with each of these dimensions.
80%
of Students should achieve competency
4.
Students will be able to identify significant contributions and contributors to
the development of the worlds major religious movements and their impact on the
American experience.
-
Competency will be reflected through exam essays
Measure: Through exam essays,
students will be asked to identify and describe significant contributions of
the various major world religions on the American experience.
Standard: To achieve
competency, students should be able to achieve a score of at least 14 pts on
the midterm and final exams. 80% of students should achieve competency.
5.
Students will conduct a critical
media analysis of a dimension of religious activity incorporating information
literacy techniques which utilize varied information access systems.
-
Competency will be reflected through the practical integration of research
materials within the media analysis. Students should be able to properly note
two varied sources in their paper.
Measure: An acceptable project
will have the student choose a selected piece from a type of media ( film,
music , literature, poetry, or art) and utilizing critical methods covered in
handouts and videos analyze this media for the content of religious themes.
Standard: 80% of students
should be able to achieve competency as reflected through a grade of C or
better for project.