RELI101 - Introduction to the Study of Religion

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Introduction to the Study of Religion
RELI101 SP

This course will examine the many ways in which religion is understood and practiced by a variety of communities as well as the ways it is understood by scholars in the field of religious studies. The three divisions of the curriculum of the Department of Religion (religious traditions, religion in society, and critical theory) will be represented in the course's examples and approaches. Topics covered in this course include the roles of ritual, the significance of myth and narrative in providing schemes of meaning, the transmission of traditions through texts and objects, religious conflict.

MAJOR READINGS

Elaine Pagels, THE ORIGIN OF SATAN
Rudolph Otto, THE IDEA OF THE HOLY
C.G. Jung, PSYCHOLOGY AND RELIGION
Victor Frankl, MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING
William James, THE VARIETIES OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE
Mary Daly, QUINTESSENCE
Paul Tillich, THE COURAGE TO BE
and reading packet.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Assignments include a fieldwork report (5 pages), midterm and final take- home essays (4-6 pages each), and periodic quizzes on readings.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Students must attend lectures and are responsible for the material covered in lectures and films.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS RELI Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Smyers,Karen A.

Times: ..T.T.. 10:00AM-11:20AM; Location: SCIE58

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 60)

SR. major: 3 Jr. major: 3

SR. non-major: 4 Jr. non-major: 5 SO: 20 FR: 25

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Ethical Reasoning, Reading Non-Verbal Texts

Last Updated on MAR-24-2000