Required Texts:
Title: A History of the Irish Church: 400-700ad.
(Dublin: The Columba Press,
1991)
Author: John R. Walsh, and Thomas Bradley
Title: Celtic Gods and heroes. (New York: Dover
Press, 2000)
Author: Marie-Louise Sjoestedt
Title: The Tain:
From the Irish Epic ÒTain Bo Cuailnge. (New York:
Oxford University Press, 2000)
Author/Translator: Thomas Kinsella
Recommended Texts:
Title: How the Irish Saved Civilization.
Updated 2nd Edition. (New York: Doubleday Press, 1995.)
Author: Thomas Cahill
Course Goals:
This course is designed as a survey of the history of religion in Ireland. Besides learning about the divinities and ritual practices of the Irish people from the Neolithic to the early Modern Period, we will focus on the historical and cultural development that provides the necessary background to understanding the complex religious history of Ireland. At the end of the course students should be able to:
1)
Identify the major religious themes of Neolithic Irish culture;
2)
Explain the difficulties associated with identifying the Celtic Culture;
3)
Identify the major deities and ritual practices of Celtic religion in Ireland;
4)
Identify the origins of Christianity in Ireland
5)
Explain the role of monasticism in the conversion Ireland to Christianity
4)
Describe and critically evaluate the role of Irish Christianity in early
Medieval Europe;
5)
Explain the role of mythology in the ÒCeltic RevivalÓ;
6)
Identify examples of religious transformation and syncretism in Ireland.
Course Requirements:
Attendance - students are required to attend class as scheduled. Absences are excused in the case of illness (standard proof of illness is required) or other College sanctioned activities (see student handbook for details). If you know you will be absent on an exam day please make arrangements to take the exam early. There will be no make-up exams for unexcused absences. If you miss an exam for any reason, please contact me immediately!
Tardiness Ð I am not particularly offended by tardiness (after all, you are paying for this course). I understand that sometimes factors beyond our control conspire to make us late. If you are late to class, come on in and find a place to sit. However, please be courteous to your classmates and do not make a disturbance if you are late. Finally, please do not allow tardiness to become a habit.
Grades - will be figured on the following basis:
1.
Exams: Midterm and Final each
worth 100 points.
Grade Scale and Symbols: based on five hundred total points, below is the percentage scale used to determine your final course grade and an explanation of the grade symbols used.
180-200 (90%-100%) A Excellent
160-179 (80%-89%) B
Above Average
140-159 (70%-79%) C
Average
120-139 (60%-69%) D
Minimal Passing
0-119 F Failure
Y
Withdraw Failing
W
Withdraw Passing
I
Incomplete
Statement on Plagiarism/Academic Misconduct Ð Due to the proliferation of academic material available on the internet, plagiarism is on the rise in American academic institutions. Plagiarism is the use of two or more consecutive words from someone elseÕs written work without proper citation, or passing off someone elseÕs words as your own. Plagiarism includes paraphrasing someone elseÕs work without giving proper citation of the source material. Plagiarism is theft of intellectual property and WILL NOT BE TOLLERATED.
Academic misconduct is a more general term for cheating of any variety. Obviously, the assignments you turn in should reflect YOUR OWN work, and any attempt to circumvent this process is harmful. Therefore, any plagiarized, or otherwise academically inappropriate assignment will receive an automatic 0 (or F), and the assignment cannot be made up or replaced. If two or more assignments are plagiarized or the product of academic misconduct in the course of a semester, the offending student may receive an automatic F for the course.
Dropping/Withdrawal - It is part of a studentÕs academic responsibility to decide whether or not to drop or withdraw from a course once enrolled. If you find this course does not meet your needs or that you need to withdraw for other reasons you must secure a Drop/Add slip from the RegistrarÕs Office, fill out the appropriate information, and bring it to the professor. If you need to withdraw but are unable to come to campus please contact me via telephone or email. I will assume that all students who enroll in the course intend to finish. I will not automatically withdraw you from this course if you simply stop coming to class!
Students with Disabilities Ð
It is the policy of Mesa Community College, in compliance with the Americans
with Disabilities Act, to offer reasonable accommodations to students with
disabilities. If you are disabled
and need accommodation you should contact the MCC Student Disabilities Office
in the Student Services Village before any assignments are due. It is the studentÕs responsibility to
contact the Student Disabilities Office with any request for special services.
Cell Phones/Pagers Ð All phones and pagers should be placed in the ÒoffÓ, or ÒstandbyÓ position, or your ringer should be silenced.
Phone: Office/voicemail: 480-461-7620
Email: bfvaughan@mail.mc.maricopa.edu (the most reliable and fastest way to get in touch with me)
Website:
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/~bfvaughan/. On the course website you will find a large amount of
useful information including a complete set of course notes, study guides, an
electronic library of classic texts in Philosophy, an interactive dictionary,
syllabi (just in case you loose this one), a forum area for your class, as well
as links to other philosophy web sites.
We will discuss and demonstrate how to access this material in class for
those of you not already familiar with the World Wide Web.
TOPIC Assignment
A.
Tuesday (6/1) Who were the
Celts? Celts
A.1, (C 3-31)
B.
Wednesday (6/2) Ancient
Sources on Celtic Religion: S.
xiii-xxi, 1-37, Celts B1
C. Thursday (6/3) The ÒCyclesÓ of Irish Mythology: S.
38-95, K. 1-50, A2
D. Friday (6/4) visit Loughcrew
II. Pre-Christian Irish Religion: ÒTain
Bo CuailngeÓ (The cattle raid of Cooley)
A. Monday (6/7) Part 1 Ð The cause of the raid K.
50-100, Celts A3
B. Tuesday (6/8)Part 2 Ð The war deeds of Cuchulainn K.
100-156 Celts B3
C. Wednesday (6/9) Part 3 Ð Single Combat K.
156-205
D. Thursday (6/10) Part 4 Ð The Rising of Ulster and the
Death of Cuchulainn K.206-253
E. Friday (6/11) visit Clonmacnois
MIDTERM
III. The Introduction of Christianity to
Ireland;
A. Monday (6/14) St. Patrick C 101-144
B. Tuesday (6/15) Dublin
C. Wednesday (6/16) Dublin
D.
Thursday (6/17) Dublin
E. Friday (6/25)
IV. The Monasticism in Ireland:
A. Monday (6/21) Columcille and Monastic Ireland C
147-196 (B 17-56) Celts
A4
B. Tuesday (6/22) Columbanus and the Irish Missionaries C
199-218 Celts B4
C. Wednesday (6/23) Sacred Space B
57-82 (85-114) Celts B5
D. Thursday (6/24) The Power of
the Cloth B
145-172 Celts B6
E.
Friday (6/25) visit
Clonfert/Kilconnell Friary
V. The Celtic Revival: Religious Syncretism in Modern/Post
Modern Ireland
A. Monday (6/28) Saints, Gods, and Fairies Film: ÒThe Fairy FaithÓ
B. Tuesday (6/29) Magic and the Irish Identity Film: ÒThe Secret of Roan InishÓ
C. Wednesday (6/30) Wrap-up
D. Thursday (7/1) Wrap-up
Friday (7/2) Bar-B-Que
FINAL
Ancient
Irish Religion:
Monday
(6/6) - Bank Holiday
Tuesday
(6/7) Basic Concepts in Religious Studies Celts A.1, (C 3-31)
Wednesday
(6/8) Pre-Celtic Religion S. xiii-xxi, 1-37
Thursday
(6/9) The Coming of the Celts S. 38-95, K. 1-50
Friday
(6/10) Loughcrew
Hiberno-Celtic
Religion: "Tain Bo Cuailnge" (The cattle raid of Cooley)
Monday
(6/13) Part 1 - The cause of the raid K. 50-100
Tuesday
(6/14) Dublin - National Museum
Wednesday
(6/15) Dublin - St. Patrick's Cathedral
Thursday
(6/16) Dublin - Bloomsday Festival
Friday
(6/17)
The
Introduction of Christianity to Ireland;
Monday
(6/20) Part 2 - The war deeds of Cuchulainn K. 100-156
Tuesday
(6/21) Part 3 - Single Combat K. 156-205
Wednesday
(6/22) Part 4 - The Rising of Ulster and the Death of Cuchulainn K. 206-253
Thursday
(6/23) Concluding the Celtic tradition
Friday
(6/24) Dunamase/Emo Court
MIDTERM
The
Monasticism in Ireland:
Monday
(6/27) Early Christianity
Tuesday
(6/28) Christianity in Ireland: St. Patrick C 101-144
Wednesday
(6/29) Columcille and Monastic Ireland C. 147-196 (B. 17-56)
Thursday
(6/30) Columbanus, Brendan and the Irish Missionaries C. 199-218
Friday
(7/1) Clonmacnoise
The
Celtic Revival: Religious Syncretism in Modern/Post Modern Ireland
Monday
(7/4) Sacred Space B. 57-82 (85-114)
Tuesday
(7/5) The Power of the Cloth B. 145-172
Wednesday
(7/6) Saints, Gods, and Fairies Film: "The Fairy Faith"
Thursday
(7/7) Magic and the Irish Identity Film: "The Secret of Roan Inish"
Friday
(7/8) Clonfert/Kilconnell Friary
1. I shall refrain from making personal attacks upon fellow interlocutors; likewise, I will not mistake an attack upon an argument I present as a personal attack.
2. I reserve the right to disagree with any argument on any subject regardless of whether or not it reflects my own, or the majority opinion. In like manner, I will not assume that an argument presented by a classmate or the professor necessarily represents their personal opinion.
3. I hereby agree to disagree agreeably so as to avoid personal injury or vendettas.
4. I reserve the right to participate in class discussions and arguments, and I shall endeavor to engage ideas and opinions that differ from my own thus enhancing my academic pilgrimage.
5. I hereby agree not to pout about or refrain from engaging arguments that seem weak or problematic. I accept as part of my academic responsibility the obligation to speak up whether I agree or disagree.
6. I reserve the right to take all classroom grievances to the person with whom I have the grievance, regardless of whether it is a student or the professor (if we cannot work out the problem there is an official grievance process which we can follow Ð details are in your student handbook).
7. I shall attempt to be open to, and respect all persons in the classroom even when we disagree.
8. I shall, to the best of my ability, respect and incorporate the maxims of this covenant and endeavor to uphold my end of all agreements made herein.
If you do not feel that you can live up to the terms of this agreement, you should drop this course immediately!