Religion and Culture syllabus
From Silvers
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RE 103 Religion and Culture
Fall 2006 Class Hours 3:40-5:30
Fall 2006 Office Hours Weds. 2:30-3:30
Class Description
This course will introduce the Study of Religion by examining the diverse manifestations of religious life as represented in classical and contemporary primary sources including literature and film. We will examine these manifestations through the two sides of an important theoretical dispute about the nature of religion and religious activity, Eliade and Smith of the the History of Religions school. The course will open with an introduction to Taoism arguing that "religion" is not primarily concerned with individual faith or salvation, but rather with organizing of the natural world, its people into political and social communities, and positing the most auspicious manner in which individuals might take their place in the world and in these communities. The second section of the course will introduce our theoretical sources and critique the notion of a "pure origin" of religion. The course will argue instead for religion's constant renegotiation and reinterpretation in response to historical, sociological, and environmental factors. Here will we examine the role of myth and ritual in establishing Native American self-definitions. In the third section of the class we will explore the spiritual journey in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and how that individual journey is understood with respect to communities. The course will end with close reading of Leslie Marmon Silko's novel Ceremony, through which we will bring together and consider the themes of the class.
Required Reading
Book
Leslie Marmon Silko, Ceremony
On Wiki Site
J. Needleman, "Introduction" and selections from Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
A. Huang, selections from The Complete I Ching and The Numerology of the I Ching
M. Eliade, “Sacred Time and Myths” from The Sacred and the Profane
JZ. Smith, "Map is not Territory" from Map is not Territory
P. V. Beck, A. L. Walters, and N. Francisico, chp. 1 and chp. 2 from The Sacred: Ways of Knowledge, Sources of Life
S. Ortiz, "Towards a National Indian Literature: Cultural Authenticity in Nationalism."
S. Alexie, "This is what it means to say Pheonix Arizona" and "The Trial of Thomas Builds-the-Fire" from The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
M. Buber, selections from Tales of the Hasidim
M. Ozak, selections from Love is the Wine
C.S. Lewis, selections from The Screwtape Letters (Audio CD's of John Cleese reading The Screwtape Letters will be passed out in class)
Films
These films will be shown in class on specified dates.
"The Life of Brian"
"Smoke Signals"
"A Life Apart"
"Monsieur Ibrahim"
Course requirements
- Class Participation
- 3 Midterm Papers
- Final Paper
Class Participation
Click through to read about my expectations of your Class Participation
Papers
There will be 3 midterm papers of 3 to 5 pages each. Each paper covers one topic section. I will provide you with possible paper topics for the first paper. We will have a discussion that day about what makes a good paper topic. You will devise your own topic for the following papers. In these papers you will discuss one issue of interest to you using both the primary and secondary sources in the assigned reading for that topic section. We will always discuss possible approaches to the papers in class, and you are welcome to discuss topics with my privately in office hours or in my virtual office hours.
Final Paper: The final paper of 3 to 5 pages will take one theme in the class and discuss it in the context of Silko's Ceremony.
Click through to read How I grade Papers
Click through to read Submitting Papers
Click through to read Paper Policy
Please speak to me if you do not understand anything you have read here on how I grade papers, submitting them, or my late paper policy. You are responsible for yourself. If you do not read these sections and you err in some way as a result, it is your fault. Speak to me or write me an e-mail if you have any questions. I am will be glad to hear from you.
Course Schedule
Introduction
9/7: Introduction to Course
Cosmos and Community: Taoism
9/12: No Reading: Introduction to Taoism
9/14: Reading due today: Needleman, "Introduction," selections of Tao Te Ching
9/19: Reading due today: Huang, 1-14, 17-19, 50-56, 95-109, "Qian," "Kun"
9/21: Reading due today: I Ching, cont.
9/26: First Paper Discussion: Topic distributed
Myth, Ritual, and Political Life: Native American Religions
9/28: Reading due today: Eliade, "Sacred Time and Myths"
10/3: Film: Life of Brian
10/5: Career Center Presentation on Internships
10/10: Reading due today: Beck and Walters, chs 1 and 2
10/12: Reading due today: J.Z. Smith, from “Map is Not Territory”
10/17: Film: “Smoke Signals”
10/19: Reading due today: Ortiz, "National Identity;" Alexie, "This is what it means to say Pheonix Arizona" and "The Trial of Thomas Builds-the-Fire"
Spirituality: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
10/24: No Reading: Introduction to Judaism
Paper on Part Two Due (10/24)
10/26: Reading due today: Buber, from Tales of the Hasidim
10/31: Film: "A Life Apart: Hasidism in America"
11/2: No Reading: Introduction to Christianity
11/7: Reading due today: from The Screwtape Letters (audio cds of John Cleese reading The Screwtape Letters in class on 11/2)
11/9: No Reading: Introduction to Islam
11/14: Reading due today: Ozak, from Love is the Wine
11/16: Film: “Monsieur Ibrahim"
Course Conclusion
11/21: Class Cancelled: I will be at the American Academy of Religion Conference
11/28: Reading due today: Ceremony, pages 1-113
Paper on Part Three Due (11/28)
11/30: Reading due today: Ceremony, pages 114-182
12/5: Reading due today: Ceremony, pages 114-182
12/7: Ceremony Wrap-Up
12/12: Course Wrap-Up
