RELS 100 – INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS
Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies
FALL, 2005
Instructor: Steve Spina
Office: HHH 606 Department Office: HHH 632
Phone: Office: 836-2932; Home: 831-0145 Dept. Phone: 836-2545
Hours: TTH: 3:30-4:30pm; W:2-4pm
…or by appointment. Academic Department Associate:
Email: spinasj@uwec.edu Joanne Erickson: erickjoa@uwec.edu
Sections of the course:
401 (* FYE) HHH607 TTH 9:30—10:45 am
402 (* FYE) HHH607 TTH 11:00 a.m.—12:15 p.m.
701 (Bridge program)HHH321 TTH 2:00—3:15 pm
004 HHH101 Wednesdays 6:00—8:45 pm
FYE (First Year Experience) : Please note that sections 401 & 402 are for incoming freshmen
only, being limited to 20 members. Students in these sections will also be engaging in
social and educational activities outside of class time--a required expectation for those
enrolling in an FYE course experience.
COURSE DESCRIPTION & ORIENTATION:
This course will introduce students to the nature of religion and its academic study, tracing
the major indigenous and classical religious traditions of the world. After an overview of the various
global forms of oral or primal religion, we will look to the South and East Asian traditions of
Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Next we will survey those monotheistic religions
with roots in the Middle East: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. A short conclusion will examine the
contemporary state of religious expression in the modern world. Religions will be viewed as “maps”
orienting individuals and societies toward the Sacred enabling them to navigate their way through
the complexities and mysteries of the world.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
To discover the patterns of shared similarities as well as significant differences between religious
and spiritual traditions.
To grow in understanding, appreciation and respect for the authenticity of religious expressions
within varying cultures throughout time and space.
To blend the scholarship of religious academics with wider meaningful experience of religious
adherence.
To enlarge one’s perspective by exposure to the diverse contexts and multifaceted expressions of
religious community, code, creed and cultic practice.
RESOURCES: Text is Experiencing the World’s Religions, by Michael Molloy
* There IS an online study guide referenced on the back of Molloy’s text:
* ALL other course material is on the “W:drive” for your easy access.
BACCALAUREATE Goals and Portfolio Fulfillment
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire baccalaureate degrees have eleven goals. General
Education courses (such as this one) are designed to meet some (but not all) of these goals. Each
student is supposed to keep a portfolio of class assignments, projects, and other materials that
demonstrate how they have met these goals through her/his courses. This course will most directly
address the following goals:
#3 Ability to inquire, think, analyze
#6 An historical consciousness
#7 International and intercultural experiences
#10 An understanding of values
#11 An understanding of human behavior and human institutions
Saving the following assignments in your portfolio will demonstrate work toward these goals:
Your final “Personal Spirituality Essay” CAN address #3 & #6.
Your two “Direct Experience” reflections CAN address #’s 7, 10 & 11.
EXPECTATIONS:
While weighted toward lecture/presentation, class experience will include other learning modes:
small group discussion/processing, Audio/Video clips, CD-ROMS, and the World Wide Web.
Student preparation and participation in class is both expected and essential. e.g. ASK QUESTIONS!
Students are encouraged to schedule an office visit, for the benefit of both student and instructor.
Late work must be justified and approved by the instructor, or not allowed. Timely response is
REQUIRED… NOT to exercise professorial sadistic inclinations, but to prevent masochistic and
codependent ones… allowing you the dignity of facing the consequences of your own choices
Any student who has a disability and is in need of classroom accommodations, please contact the
instructor and the Services for Students with Disabilities Office in Old Library 2136 at the beginning
of the semester
Academic misconduct will be treated as a serious offense, and the strongest penalties incurred for such behavior. The disciplinary procedures and penalties for academic misconduct are described in the UW-
Eau Claire Student Services and Standards Handbook (http://www.uwec.edu/sdd/publications.htm) in the section titled, "Chapter UWS 14-Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures."
GRADING REQUIREMENTS
I. EXAMS: 400 POINTS.
Four Unit Exams (Three plus Final) 100 pts. each.: mostly objective (Multiple choice, True/False,
Matching, Fill-in-the-Blank) with a few short answer. Exam content includes both text and class
information. Final exam content will be partially comprehensive/cumulative.
II. DIRECT EXPERIENCE REFLECTIONS: 60 POINTS
Unit reflections, 20 pts. each: Two reflections on two different religious traditions and
experiences. One page description, two page response. Instructions included with syllabus.
Personal Spirituality Essay, 20 pts.: Minimum four pages, showing interaction with the traditions
studied. (See instructions at the end of this syllabus). Due the last week of classes.
III. ASSIGNMENTS, PARTICIPATION: 40 POINTS.
Short, practical, take-home exercises will be assigned. These will be worth 5 pts each, and
will be considered along with class attendance and participation.
Attendance Policy: Absences must be presented IN PRINT AND APPROVED to be excused.
Please do not expect to be excused for tropical vacations, faulty alarm clocks, hangovers…
or anything remotely resembling a Ricky Martin concert.
More than one full week of unexcused absences will result in loss of points.
Allowed: TTH = 2 absences; WED. night = 1 absence;
After which points will be subtracted: 3 pts/75 minutes; 6 pts/150 minutes
* You do not gain points for attendance, but LOSE them for absences.
FINAL GRADE CALCULATION: Percentages are translated to points (100% = 500 pts)
Final grade will be based on the cumulative total of points and standard percentages:
92.5% or 463 points = A 77.5% or 388 points = C+
90.0% or 450 points = A- 72.5% or 363 points = C
87.5% or 438 points = B+ 70.0% or 350 points = C-
82.5% or 413 points = B 67.5% or 338 points = D+
80.0% or 400 points = B- 62.5% or 313 points = D
* Instructor may adjust content schedule throughout the semester
WEEK ONE: September 6-9
Ts: Introduction to the semester
Th: Chapter 1: Understanding Religion, pp.1-27
WEEK TWO: September 12-16
Assignment #1: Spiritual Map/Timeline
Ts: Chapter 1 continued…
Th: Chapter 2: Oral Religions, pp.29-69
WEEK THREE: September 19-23
Chapter 2: Oral Religions continued…
WEEK FOUR: September 26-30
Assignment #2: Alternative Wisdom – “Soulfood”
Chapter 3: Hinduism, pp. 70-117
WEEK FIVE: October 3-7
Assignment #3: Darshan
Ts: Unit Exam I
Th: Chapter 4: Buddhism, pp.118-183 (omitting 154-167)
WEEK SIX: October 10-14
Assignment #4: Anatman
Chapter 4: Buddhism continued…
WEEK SEVEN: October 17-21
First reflection due
Chapter 6: Taoism pp. 206-226
WEEK EIGHT: October 24-28
Assignment #5: Wu Wei
Ts: Ch. 6 continued, Confucianism pp. 227-253
Th: Chapter 4: Japanese (& Zen) Buddhism (pp. 154-167)
WEEK NINE: October 31-November 4
Ts: Unit Exam II
Th: Chapter 8: Judaism, pp. 282-339
WEEK TEN: November 7-11
Assignment #6: Torah
Ts: Chapter 8 Judaism continued…
Th: Chapter 9: Christianity, pp. 340-429
WEEK ELEVEN: November 14-18
Assignment #7: Prayer
Chapter 9: Christianity continued…
WEEK TWELVE: November 21-23
Ts: Unit Exam III
* Thanksgiving week, vacation begins Wednesday, 5 pm.
WEEK THIRTEEN: November 28-Dec. 2
Second reflection due
Chapter 10: Islam pp.430-487
WEEK FOURTEEN: December 5-9
Assignment #8: Prostration
Personal Spirituality Essay DUE
Ts: Ch. 10: Islam continued…
Th: Chapter 12: The Religious Search in the Modern World, pp. 522-561
WEEK FIFTEEN: December 12-14
Ts: Chapter 12 continued…
FINAL EXAM WEEK: Friday 12/16- Thurs. 12/22
[ Please plan to take the exam as scheduled ]
Section 401 (TTh 9:30 am) -- Monday, December 19 10:00 a.m.
Section 402 (TTh 11:00 am) -- Friday, December 16 10:00 a.m.
Section 701 (TTh 2:00 pm) -- Thursday, December 22 2:00 p.m.
Section 004 (Wed. 6:00 pm) -- Wednesday, December 21 7:00 p.m.
DIRECT EXPERIENCE -- REFLECTION GUIDELINES
A) GOALS: To gain the perspective of a practitioner, adherent, follower, disciple, member;
…through a more direct and empathetic approach.
1. USE a TITLE page, including the following information:
a. List: Your NAME and SECTION number (401, 402, 701 or 004)
b. Number REFLECTION: First reflection, Second reflection.
c. Label clearly, to which RELIGIOUS TRADITION this is related
d. Indicate whether communal/group experience, or individual interview.
e. Clearly label the particular RESOURCE utilized for the reflection
(including: name/who/title, what, where, when)
EXAMPLE: Steve Spina – Section 004
Second reflection
Religion: “Judaism”
Communal experience (or Personal Interview)
Temple Shalom, Sabbath service
1223 Emery Street, Eau Claire
Friday, October 14, 2005
2. The remainder of the reflection:
a. Content should be: Typed, double-spaced, no larger than size 12 font, 1” margins
b. Length of paper should be kept to a maximum one page of “description of experience”
with TWO additional pages, minimum, of personal reflection UPON the experience.
1. Source Options for reflections:
a. direct participation in or observation of a communal religious practice.
b. interview an adherent of a tradition different than your own.
Your two reflections may include only one interview.
* A RESOURCE LIST is included on the “W drive” to assist in choosing your reflection sources.
2. You must choose TWO DIFFERENT religious traditions for your experiences;
AND NOT a tradition you’ve been raised or familiar with; example: Those raised Christian must
choose other religions, OR a Christian context which is extremely different from your background.
3. Ideally, you will choose an experience RELATED TO a tradition already studied
as you will then know more about the background of what you are encountering. But you may
experience a tradition outside the present unit, as the most important element of the assignment is
experiencing two different traditions during the semester. When experiencing a tradition not
yet discussed in class, you bear the burden of reading/studying about it ahead of time!
4. You may “experience” the resource alone or with another person, or in a small group.
BUT the personal response MUST be your own.
D) CONTENT of personal reflection:
1. Limit a separate DESCRIPTION of the experience WHAT happened) to a maximum of one page;
2. Write 2 more FULL pages, minimum, of personal REACTION to and REFLECTION
upon what happened.
In other words, do NOT simply recount/restate the details of the experience itself…
Rather, emphasize YOUR resultant thoughts, feelings, preferences, insights/confusion….
What did the experience say and do for YOU?
Ask yourself and ANSWER these (and other similar) QUESTIONS:
Do I see in this experience, the religion’s characteristics discussed in the text and class?
e.g. Did I discover a concrete expression of this spiritual path’s general creed,
code, cult, communities, trans-rational experiences, and concepts of
Ultimate Sacred Reality? (Or what did NOT fit with class/text teaching?)
What do I most appreciate or value? What seem to be strengths/gifts?
What do I most dislike or not understand? What seem to be weaknesses?
What might I envy (or wish I could believe, practice, value, have, etc.)?
What might “scare” me or make me afraid?
How does this compare to or contrast with my own religion?... or “way of life”?
What new perspectives, questions or issues does this raise for me?
Are there any changes or additions to my spirituality that I would consider after this experience?
Am I now able to more easily, or less easily, tolerate, respect and celebrate the followers of such
a tradition? AM I ABLE OR NOT ABLE, TO SEE HOW THIS “MAKES SENSE” ON
THEIR TERMS OR FROM THEIR FOUNDATIONAL VIEWPOINT?
* Your grade will not be based on “right/wrong” answers, but whether you followed these instructions and
answered these questions; that is, whether you adequately engaged, reflected upon and thoroughly
processed the experience. THINK,THINK,THINK….
** Beware of imposing your own view (“auto- or ego-centricity”) or the view of your own group
(“ethno-centricity”) upon the experiences you have. The goal is to experience and thus understand
a tradition “on its own terms”. Remember the aim of “empathy”.
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REFLECTION GRADING GUIDELINES
POINTS
PER
ITEM
FORMAT:
2 Separate title page
1 Description limited to one page
1 * Appropriate separation between description of the experience
and personal processing of, or reflecting UPON it.
2 Length of reflection at least two full pages
CONTENT (i.e. answering the reflecting questions)
3 a. make connections to class & text data
i.e. show that you are processing your experience NOW through
the lenses of the new information you have read and we’ve discussed
3 b. evaluation of these beliefs & practices (like/dislike, agree/disagree)
3 c. compare/contrast with your own spirituality
3 d. new insights or questions/confusion
2 e. summary estimation of this tradition and its practitioners
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20 TOTAL POINTS
** Your ability to engage the lived experience of the above traditions should and will be reflected in
your final “Personal Spirituality Essay”, which will be a summation of your present convictions and
practices AFTER having been exposed to those of others
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Due the last week of classes
Chapter 12 presents the ideas of secular religion and eclectic spirituality.
Those two ideas speak of non-traditional sources of spirituality AND individuals drawing from many sources for their spirituality, both traditionally religious and non-traditional.
As I state all semester, if we define “spiritual” most simply as “a way of being”, then everyone of us is spiritual…all humans have a “spirituality”, or way of being, whether or not it reflects anything traditionally religious. We all have “qualities of spirit” permeating every dimension of who we are.
This means that much like a formal, traditional religion, our own spirituality also takes 6 common forms:
A creed…or belief system.
A code…or standard of behavior or moral/ethical conduct.
A community…or group of people who reflect and reinforce our “way”.
A cult…or “means of cultivating” this spirituality through story, song,
symbol, special spaces (sites), persons and patterns of activity.
A notion of the “Sacred”…or concept of the ultimate (the divine/absolute)
An experience of “sacred” emotion and temporarily altered states of consciousness
(moments of wonder, awe, reverence, peace, joy, love, etc.)
The QUESTION(S) to you as this kind of contemporary spiritual person …and
AFTER being exposed to the optional answers given by religious traditions throughout history…
is this:
What IS the nature of YOUR spirituality, and why?
(What IS your creed, code, community, cult, notion of the Sacred,
and experience of sacred states of consciousness?)
How have the spiritual paths explored affected my responses to question #1?
How do I evaluate the general role of religious behavior and institutions
in human culture and history?
1. I want you to write about your own “religious or spiritual” life to date, referencing the six formal
characteristics. Use whatever sources are authentic for YOU…traditionally religious categories, or
secular/cultural sources, to describe your life in “religious/spiritual” terms.
2. Then reflect on how, if at all, this class/semester has impacted that religious/spiritual
life you’ve just described (How has your exposure to the major historical religious traditions
changed or transformed, reinforced, augmented, deepened, challenged, etc…, that spirituality?)
3. And finally, briefly express how this class has affected your view of religion in
general, within human history and society….(your awareness and evaluation of it’s
nature, role, function, value, limitations, contributions, etc…. for individual and
collective human life)
HERE AGAIN, for the third time (!) are the questions rephrased,
to be answer on this your final reflection:
1. How do I describe/understand my own religious or spiritual experience?
What is my understanding/concept of “the Sacred”? (my conviction about what is
ultimate, divine, God, my pivotal value, or primary reference point in life)
What is my “creed”? (some of my other primary beliefs about existence, about what is true
and real and what is of greatest value)
…e.g. about time and space, life and death, personal identity, origin and destiny,
meaning and purpose.
What is my “code of conduct”? (the primary principles guiding my moral behavior)
What is my “cult”? (the primary stories/texts, songs, rituals or repeated patterns of
action, “sacred” people, places and symbols, that order my life
and CULTIVATE my way of being)
Who constitutes my “community”? (my primary relationships w/ those of similar orientation…
who reinforce my way of being, and with whom I “belong”)
What moments of sacred emotions or states of consciousness have accompanied the above?
(my feelings e.g., of awe, wonder, reverence, peace, joy, love, rebirth, awakening,
unity/connection)
2. (How) has my own religious life or spirituality been affected by this semester’s
exposure to the major religious traditions of the world? Why and how?
3. How has this course’s study impacted my general appreciation for the role of religion
in human existence? (How significant is it for people--past/present/future?)
* Remember the baccalaureate goals of understanding human behavior, institutions,
values and cultures.
* This should easily take four full pages; …double-spaced, size 12 type.
This isn’t about study and research. Just sit down at the computer and do
some serious personal reflection,…
NOW HAVING TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION OR PROCESSED SOME OF THE VARIOUS
POSSIBILITIES OFFERED BY THE WORLD’S SPIRITUAL PATHS.
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** This final “Personal Spirituality Essay relates to the requirements for your
BACCALAUREATE PORTFOLIO PROJECT.
1. If you’re a freshman, Submission Paper #1 “Evaluating Diverse Points of View”
or Submission Paper #2 “Synthesizing Information”
2. If you’re an upperclassman, Submission Paper #12 “Evaluating Diverse Points of View”
or Submission Paper #8 “Synthesizing Information”