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Course Objectives
By the end of the course each student will have demonstrated abilities to

1) identify and characterize religions in terms of developmental categories, as well as in standard categories for major aspects of religion (e.g., code, creed, cult, canon, community); 

2) recognize and describe major differences among at least some of the great classical religions of history, such as the Western monotheisms, Hindu and Buddhist traditions, Taoism, and others, including their practices, beliefs, and value systems; 

3) enter into the perspectives of religions other than their own; 

4) summarize and critically evaluate many of the several major theories of the nature, origin, and function of religion; 

5) read and analyze some primary texts relevant to various religions; 

6) use and evaluate web-based sources relevant to religion, including new religious movements (NRMs); 

7) share in the work of 4-person team of students to develop a presentation for class; 

8) identify and use resources relevant for a research paper on a topic related to religion.

Course Outline [See the Calendar for the specific order of contents.]

Part I: Patterns in Religion

A. Developmental sequence of basic beliefs in sacred powers  

1. Primitive culture and animism and magic
2. Archaic civilizations and the rise of polytheisms
3. Classical civilizations and the search for a single Ultimate
4. Forms of critical perspectives, ancient and recent, West and East.

1. Primitive beliefs about sources of suffering and life after death.
2. Polytheistic beliefs about gods and about death
3. Classical beliefs about the causes of suffering and the ultimate destiny of humankind
4. Modern skepticism: secular, existential, or nihilist interpretations of life

1. Provides social structure, community, tradition
2. Provides individual identity through participation in a community and/or through direct relation to an Ultimate Reality or Condition
3. Provides narratives, rituals, and symbols to express and reinforce a way of life
4. Provides both general visions of the good and specific moral norms.

1. Enlightenment rationalism and deism
2. Materialism and atheism
3. Critical consciousness and ultimate questions
4. Religion and science in tension
5. Islamic and Hindu resurgences or "fundamentalism"
6. New Religious Movements (NRMs) in the U.S. vs. the secularization thesis.

A. Religious Theories about Religion.

1. Religion as a response to revelation or inspiration: Judaism, Christianity, Islam; Hindu rishis and the Vedas.
2. Religion arising from enlightenment or insight into reality: Buddhism, Taoism;
3. Rational arguments, deistic or from fundamental theologies.
4. Religious experience, of the Holy or the Sacred, as the basis of religion:  Otto, Eliade;  Rahner.

1. Religion as primitive superstition (Comte, Tyler, Levy-Bruhl)
2. Manifestation of economic or social reality (Marx, Durkheim)
3. Expression of psychological needs or development (Freud, Maslow)
4. Response to a charismatic leader or visions (Weber, James)
5. Cultural by-product of evolutionary psychology (Wilson, Wenegrat)

C.  The Problem of Evaluating Religions

Teaching Methods

The course will feature some guest professors, to provide different perspective on various topics.

Most classes will be seminar-style discussions of texts or student presentations.

The students will prepare presentations for some classes.

(For other aspects of the learning context see Evaluation Procedures below)

Evaluation Procedures.   Each will be worth up to 100 points.
   See the page titled  "Assignments and Exams"  for details.   

1.   A two-part exam, Fri., Sept 20.  The first brief part will be a few multiple choice questions to confirm that the student has studied the textbook.  The second part will be a set of four or five essay questions, about the materials covered in the first section of the course.  The teacher will choose one of these for everyone to answer; each student will choose whichever other question the student wants.  The questions will be handed out in a class prior to the exam.  They will ask the student to review stages of religious evolution and theories of the origin and function of religion.

2.  Another two-part exam Fri., Oct. 25, following the same procedures as the first. The essay questions will ask the student to discuss several of the major functions and aspects common to religions everywhere.

3.  A final two part exam, again with both multiple choice and essay questions.  The essay questions will ask the student to describe modern (and postmodern) developments in religion, the current status of religion in the West (and in Muslim countries), and to discuss the problem of evaluating religions.

4.  A brief research paper, of 7-8 pages, will prepare the student to join in a group presentation.   The paper should be based on sources not used in the course, on some currently significant religious realities, analyzing it according to the categories and the theories discussed in the course. (This could include such topics as the growth of new religions or a specific new religion, U.S. anti-evolutionism or Islamic fundamentalism, the role of religion in cultural changes in South America or Africa, syncretism today, religion-based conflicts etc.)  The paper will normally be due 9 days in advance of the presentation.  The due date will depend on when each student's group will make its presentation..

5.  Each student, as part of a four person group, will make a presentation to the class, using lecture, electronic media, and texts, either comparing specific religious traditions or analyzing specific theories about the nature of religion. They will be expected to draw some of their materials from the web, and to make clear how they evaluate its reliability.  These presentation will take place on consecutive Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 23.

6.  There will also be four "Reading Guides" assigned on the "common readings."  Each will be worth up to 20 points.  There will be an additional brief report due, on some university event, worth up to 10 points.  An additional extra credit report may also be handed in.

Texts and Supplementary Materials
   [See the "Readings" page for many readings selections]

The major text includes a survey and analysis of developmental history of major aspects of religions and of critical theories of religion.   This text is  Michael Barnes, In the Presence of Mystery: An Introduction to the Story of Human Religiousness, 1990.

The common readings for REL 103. (Gen. 1-3, the Buddha's Sermon at Benares, Mark’s Gospel, and Phyllis Tribble’s commentary on Gen. 2-3)

Numerous selections from primary sources, almost all of it available through the "Readings" page.  The student will need to get a password to gain access to this page. 

Sources selected by students for their individual research papers and for the group presentation, from both the library and the internet.