UNDERSTANDING RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE AND EXPRESSION
RELIGION 15 A - Dr. Rennie
Schedule of Classes
The schedule of classes, quizzes, etc. remains negotiable until Thursday,
March 27th . Changes must be made before this date.
The class will meet Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:20 to
11:20 in Old Main 210.
I will be available in my office in Old Main 223 on Mondays from 12:30
to 2:30, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12:30 - 1:30, and by
arrangement.
Week 1 - Introduction
What are we studying?
Wed. 02/05 Introduction to the course, handbook, and textbooks. Smith's "point of departure," pp. 8 - 15, Novak's collection of texts.
Fri. 02/07 Definitions, terms and categories of the study., the phenomenology of religion.
Week 2 - Hinduism
Novak chapter One.
Mon. 02/10 Video, 330 Million Gods, and discussion.
Wed. 02/12 Video: Huston Smith on Hinduism and discussion.
Fri. 02/14 The Four valid aims and the Four Yogas. Smith 17-39.
Temple Visit at a time to be arranged.
Week 3 - Hinduism cont.
Smith 40 - 46
Mon. 02/17 The Four stages of life.
Wed. 02/19 The Four Vedas.
Fri. 02/21 QUIZ #1 (Phenomenology and Hinduism)
Week 4 - Buddhism
Novak chapter Two
Mon. 02/24 Video, Footprints of the Buddha, and discussion.
Wed. 02/26 The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Smith 59-97.
Fri. 02/28 Video, Huston Smith on Buddhism and discussion.
Week 5 - Chinese Religion
Novak chapters Three and Four
Mon. 03/03 Video and discussion.
Wed. 03/05 The San Chiao; China's three religions. Smith 99 - 143.
Fri. 03/07 QUIZ #2 (Buddhism and Chinese Religion)
Note that your research paper MUST be determined by this time.
Week 6 - Judaism
Novak chapter Five, Smith 179 - 203.
Mon. 03/10 The History.
Wed. 03/12 The Texts.
Fri. 03/14 The Ideas.
Week 7 - Christianity
Novak chapter Six. Also read: Matthew 1 - 3; Mark 1; Luke 1 - 3; John 1; Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20; Acts 9, 22, Galatians 1; I Corinthians 13; Revelations 17.
Mon. 03/17 The History of Christianity.
Wed. 03/19 The Jesus of history and the Christ of faith. Smith 205 - 216.
Fri. 03/21 Christianity: history or faith? Exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism.
Spring Vacation: Saturday March 22nd through Sunday March 30th
Week 8 - Christianity continued and midterm assessment
Mon. 03/31 The liturgy of Christianity. Handout. Visit to Planetarium to discuss the solar year?
Wed. 04/02 The Church and the churches. The texts of Christianity. Smith 217 - 229.
Fri. 04/04 Midterm assessment. Discussion of the course so far.
Week 9 - Islam
Novak chapter Seven
Mon. 04/07 Visit from Dr. Ahmad Abul-Ela.
Wed. 04/09 The History of Islam.
Fri. 04/11 The Prophet and the Book, Smith 145 - 159.
Week 10 - Islam continued
Mon. 04/14 The Five Pillars of Islam. Smith 160 - 177.
Wed. 04/16 Discussion of Islam.
Fri. 04/18 QUIZ #3 (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam)
Week 11 - The Non-Literate Religions
Novak chapter Eight
Mon. 04/21 Birth, Death, and Human Experience. See especially
Sacred Writings on the creation myths of non-literate peoples.
Wed. 04/23 The Australian Experience and the Symbolic Mind. Smith 232 - 243.
Fri. 04/25 The classification of "non-literate religions."
Week 12 - Understanding Religious Experience
Mon. 04/28 Any conclusions? Where have we got so far? Smith 245 - 249.
Wed. 04/30 History, Time, and the Sacred.
Fri. 05/02 Mysticism.
Week 13 - Religion as a Study
Mon. 05/05 Dimensional Models of religion.
Wed. 05/07 Comparative Religion, Religious Studies, or the History of Religions: A brief introduction to the academic study of religion.
Fri. 05/09 QUIZ #4 (Primal religion, dimensional models etc.)
Week 14
Mon. 05/12 The last class. Student Assessments. Time to hand in your research paper and to discuss your final impressions and understandings. You can hand in your research paper today or on Wednesday (Reading Day). I will hand out the Take-home quiz today at the latest. It is due in on Monday 19th between 11:30 and 12:00, but if you give it to me personally you can hand it in earlier.
