REL 125 Syllabus

REL 125 Religions of the East
TR 3:30PM - 4:45 PM 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

Van Voorst, Robert E. Anthology of World Scriptures: Eastern Religions,
Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2007, ISBN: 0-495-17060-7, Adoption date: Spring 2007.
(additional readings may be distributed as supplements to primary required text)

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.
4. Describe the historical context, important individuals, and cultural development of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto.
5. Identify and compare the major textual sources and literary traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto.
6. Describe and analyze the doctrines and ritual practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto.
7. 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 visual materials (videos, slides). Discussions will focus on the assigned readings from the text (i.e., the course text and/or distributed texts). Students are expected to participate actively in discussion, and will be graded accordingly.

2. Four exams (quarterly), both objective and subjective in content.

3. Twelve weekly quizzes.

4. A paper that provides an analysis of a specific aspect of any one of the religious traditions that are presented in class. This paper must be typed, double-spaced, either 10 or 12 point font, and at least five pages in length. This paper must also utilize at least two textual sources, other than our textbook or other primary scriptural source. You may choose from the following:

Site visits-- for guidelines, click here (also available from homepage)

The Hindu Temple and Cultural Center (Lenexa, KS)

The Laotian Buddhist Temple (Olathe, KS)

The Zen Center (Lawrence, KS)

The Rime Buddhist Center (Kansas City, MO)

Other suggested topics

fine arts traditions (visual, literary, performative)

historical figure or event

moral/ethical/gender issues

rituals, festivals, traditions

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

Attendance: 25 points. I will allow a maximum of 3 "no questions asked" absences; I will deduct 2 points for each absence beyond this

Twelve weekly quizzes @ 10 points each = 120 points

Analysis paper: 50 points.

Four exams @ 65 points each = 260 points.

Total: 455 points.

If the student deems it necessary, he/she may submit an extra credit paper for a maximum of 25 points (three page minimum). Due by the last day of the class-- PRIOR to Finals Week.

No assignments, extra credit papers, etc. whatsoever will be accepted following the last day of scheduled classes (i.e., prior to Finals Week)

TENTATIVE WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Dates in parentheses refer to Monday of the given week,
except for WEEK 1, as the JCCC semester begins on Thursday, January 17.

Pages numbers refer to the required text for this course

On occasion, supplementary texts will be distributed.

WEEK 1 (1/17): Introduction to class and ways of approaching religious studies, text, p. 1-20

WEEK 2 (1/21): "Religious studies;" the nature of myth, ritual, and symbol

WEEK 3 (1/28): The Indian worldview; Vedic religion and Hinduism, text., p. 23-68

WEEK 4 (2/4): Hinduism, cont

WEEK 5 (2/11): REVIEW, EXAM

WEEK 6 (2/18): Buddhism - Intro, text, p. 71-126

WEEK 7 (2/25): Theravada Buddhism in Southeast Asia

WEEK 8 (3/3): Mahayana Buddhism in China and Tibet

WEEK 9 (3/10): REVIEW, EXAM ON THURSDAY

WEEK 10 (3/17): SPRING BREAK

WEEK 11 (3/24): The Chinese worldview; Daoism, text, p. 195-219

WEEK 12 (3/31): Confucianism, text, p. 165-192

WEEK 14 (4/7): REVIEW, EXAM

WEEK 14 (4/14): The Japanese worldview; Shinto; text, p. 221-231; PAPER DUE BY FRIDAY

WEEK 15 (4/21): Shinto, cont.

WEEK 16 (4/28): Buddhism in Japan- Zazen, Pure Land, and other sects

WEEK 17 (5/5): REVIEW

WEEK 18 (5/12): FINAL EXAM WEEK
THE EXAM TIME FOR THIS CLASS IS: Thursday May 15 @ 3PM

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