REL 125 Religions of the East (CRN 60535)
Summer Session: 6/4 - 7/26, 11 AM - 12:15 AM, CC 338
Dr. Timothy Hoare, CC 342, ext. 4526
Homepage: http://staff.jccc.edu/thoare
E-mail: thoare@jccc.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Religions of the East is a detailed examination of the rich and diverse religious traditions of India, Tibet, China and Japan. Students will explore the histories, mutual influences, beliefs, and practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto, stressing the characteristics they share, as well as those that differentiate them from each other and from Western religions. Primary and secondary texts, as well as the iconographic and artistic traditions of these religions, will be examined as appropriate. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

REQUIRED TEXT

 The Hindu Tradition; Embree, Ainslee T., ed., New York: Vintage Books, 1966.
ISBN: 9780394717029, Adoption date: Spring 2009.

The Buddhist Tradition; de Bary, William T., ed., New York: Vintage Books, 1972.
ISBN: 9780394716961, Adoption date: Spring 2009.

(additional readings in Chinese and Japanese religions will be distributed as supplements to primary required texts)

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Define the basic terminology, concepts, methodologies, and issues of religious studies.
2. Describe the historical context, important individuals, and cultural development of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto.
3. Identify and compare the major textual sources and literary traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto.
4. Describe and analyze the doctrines and ritual practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto.
5. Identify and compare the artistic and iconographic expressions of these religious traditions in their diverse regional variations.

GRADING AND EVALUATION

1. The basic format of Religions of the East will be lecture/presentation sessions and discussion.  Lectures/presentations will be concerned primarily with historical development, beliefs, ritual practices, and will utilize visual materials (Vid / DVD, Powerpoint).  Discussions will focus on the assigned readings from the text (i.e., the course text and/or distributed texts). Students are expected to attend class, to participate actively in discussion, and will be graded accordingly.

2. Four exams, both objective and subjective in content (all exams are in-class).

3. Eight quizzes: taken and submitted online via ANGEL. Each quiz will be open for 24 hours, and you will have two attempts.  Quizzes will NOT be reopened after the deadline.  See schedule below and ANGEL calendar.

4. Three in-class exercises.

4. Grading will be based on the following point distributions:

TENTATIVE WEEKLY SCHEDULE

WEEK 1: THE VEDIC AND HINDU TRADITION: INDIA (text: The Hindu Tradition)

Mon (6/4): Introduction to course; overview of India; Hinduism I: The roots of the tradition (p. 3-12, 17-21, 25-26, 41-43, 48-65, 210-212)

Tues (6/5): Hinduism I: The roots of the tradition, cont.

Wed (6/6): Hinduism II: The growth of the tradition (p. 69-100, 117-132, 136-150, 180-181)

Thurs (6/7):Hinduism II: The growth of the tradition, cont.; QUIZ #1 opens online @ 6PM for 24 hours

WEEK 2: THE VEDIC AND HINDU TRADITION: INDIA (text: The Hindu Tradition), cont.

Mon (6/11): Hinduism III: The faith and devotion of the tradition (p. 227-236, 246-249, 256-260, 313-322)

Tues (6/12): Hinduism III: The faith and devotion of the tradition, cont.; QUIZ #2 opens online @ 6PM for 24 hours

Wed (6/13):  REVIEW FOR EXAM #1 (Hinduism)

Thurs (6/14): EXAM #1 (Hinduism)

WEEK 3: THE BUDDHIST TRADITION: INDIA, CHINA, AND SOUTHEAST ASIA (text: The Buddhist Tradition)  

Mon (6/18): Buddhism I: Indian origins; (p. 3-15, 20-25, 32-36, 73-81, 95-101, 110-122)

Tues (6/19): Buddhism I: Indian origins, cont.

Wed (6/20): Buddhism II: China; (p. 125-138, 139-143, 199-201, 204-207, 207-211, 225-231)

Thurs (6/21): Buddhism II: China, cont.; QUIZ #3 opens online @ 6PM for 24 hours

WEEK 4: THE BUDDHIST TRADITION: INDIA, CHINA, AND SOUTHEAST ASIA, cont.  

Mon (6/25): Buddhism III: Southeast Asia (no assigned readings)

Tues (6/26): Buddhism III: Southeast Asia, cont.; QUIZ #4 opens online @ 6PM for 24 hours

Wed (6/27): REVIEW FOR EXAM #2 (Buddhism)

Thurs (6/28): EXAM #2 (Buddhism)

WEEK 5: THE INDIGENOUS RELIGIONS OF CHINA (textual excerpts to be presented in class)

Mon (7/2): Overview of Chinese worldview and traditional religions

Tues (7/3): Daoism

Wed (7/4): INDEPENDENCE DAY; NO CLASSES, ALL JCCC OFFICES CLOSED

Thurs (7/5): Daoism, cont., QUIZ #5 opens online @ 6PM for 24 hours

WEEK 6: THE INDIGENOUS RELIGIONS OF CHINA, cont.

Mon (7/9): Confucianism

Tues (7/10): Confucianism, cont.; QUIZ #6 opens online @ 6PM for 24 hours

Wed (7/11): REVIEW FOR EXAM #3 (Chinese Religions)

Thurs (7/12): EXAM #3 (Chinese Religions)

WEEK 7: BUDDHISM AND THE INDIGENOUS RELIGIONS OF JAPAN (text: The Buddhist Tradition)

Mon (7/16): The Japanese worldview; Shinto (readings to be distributed)

Tues (7/17): Shinto, cont.

Wed (7/18): Buddhism IV: Japan- Pure Land and Zazen ( p. 255-265, 314-327, 355-363, 372-373, 393-398)

Thurs (7/19): Buddhism IV: Japan- Pure Land and Zazen, cont.; QUIZ #7 opens online @ 6PM for 24 hours

WEEK 8: BUDDHISM AND THE INDIGENOUS RELIGIONS OF JAPAN (text: The Buddhist Tradition)

Mon (7/23): Shinto in 19th-20th century Japan

Tues (7/24): Contemporary religious issues in Japan; QUIZ #8 opens online @ 6PM for 24 hours

Wed (7/25): REVIEW FOR EXAM #4 (Japanese Religions)

Thurs (7/26): EXAM #4 (Japanese Religions)

SOME ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES

1. All JCCC students are issued a college e-mail account that is accessed through MyJCCC. This account is used by the college to communicate course, grade, financial aid, enrollment and other important college information. It is your responsibility to check your JCCC e-mail account regularly for important information.

2. I am a strong proponent of the liberal arts. I approach material in a holistic and interdisciplinary manner. In this Humanities course, religion, philosophy, ethics, art, literature, theatre, psychology, the media, history, political science, et al. will inevitably come into conversation with one another. Education is about gaining proficiency with the tools to discern and explore these interrelationships, to interpret and evaluate them critically, and to continue to do so throughout your lives. In short, there's a world of people, places, ideas and books out there; after you graduate, you have to be able to go to a dinner party and talk competently about something besides your job!

3. I am not simply a lecturer who loves the sound of his own voice. Expect me to ask questions of you and to generate discussion with you. While I most certainly want you to understand my ideas and opinions on the material, I value your efforts, your opinions, your input and your reflections as well.

4. I am a gracious host who likes gracious guests. It's not enough simply to arrive, sign the register and then sit in an out-of-the-way corner. Be prepared to take part in the class.

5. We all have doctor appointments, childcare concerns, or "just one of those things" that come up now and again.  If you have to leave a session early, please inform me before the class begins.  It is simply the courteous thing to do.

6. I care about the ambience in which I teach and in which students learn. I expect you to be attentive, to turn off your cell phones, and to treat one another with respect while you are here, and to pick up after yourselves when you depart (papers, soft drink cans, etc.).

7. Last but not least, academic dishonesty, i.e., cheating on exams, intentional plagiarism on written assignments, will not be tolerated. A first offense will result in an "F" on the exam, paper, etc. concerned. A second offense will result in an "F" for the course.

LINKS TO STUDY AIDS AND GUIDES
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