Required Texts:
Title: The Tain: From the Irish Epic "Tain Bo Cuailnge". (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000)
Author/Translator: Thomas Kinsella
Title: A History of the Irish Church: 400-700ad. (Dublin: Columba Press, 2001)
Author: John Walsh and Thomas Bradley
Title: Celtic Gods and Heroes. (New York: Dover Press, 2000)
Author: Marie-Louise Sjoestedt
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 pre-Celtic Irish culture;
2) explain the difficulties associated with identifying the Celtic Culture;
3) Identify the major deities and ritual practices of pre-Christian
Celtic religion in Ireland;
4) Describe and critically evaluate the role
of Irish Christianity in early Medieval Europe;
5) Explain the relationship between the Anglo/Norman invasion of Britton and Ireland
and the development of Medieval Christianity in Ireland;
6) Explain the causes of the Protestant Reformation;
7) Describe the impact of the Protestant Reformation on Irish Religion and Culture;
8) Explain the role of mythology in the "Celtic Revival";
9) Explain the relationship between the socio-economic environment and the development of religion
in Ireland;
10) Explain the causes 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 - 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:
- Exams: Midterm and Final each worth 100 points.
Grade Scale and Symbols: based on three 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 - 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 elsešs written work without proper citation, or passing off someone elsešs words as your own. Plagiarism includes paraphrasing someone elsešs 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 studentšs 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 Registraršs 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!
Phone: Office/voicemail: 480-461-7620
Email: bfvaughan@mail.mesacc.edu (the most reliable and fastest way to get in touch with me)
Tentative Course Outline
Ancient Irish Religion:
- Monday (6/5) - Bank Holiday
- Tuesday (6/6) Basic Concepts in Religious Studies
- Wednesday (6/7) Pre-Celtic Religion in Ireland S. xiii-xxi, 1-37
- Thursday (6/8) The Coming of the Celts S. 38-95, K. 1-50
- Friday (6/9) Loughcrew
Hiberno-Celtic Religion: "Tain Bo Cuailnge" (The cattle raid of Cooley)
- Monday (6/12) Part 1 - Cause of the raid; war deeds of Cuchulainn K. 50-156
- Tuesday (6/13) Part 2 - Combat; The Rising of Ulster K. 156-205
- Wednesday (6/14) Part 3 - The Final Conflict K. 106-253
- Thursday (6/15) To Dublin
- Friday (6/16) Dublin - Bloomsday Festival/Scavenger Hunt
- Saturday (6/17) Dublin - Scavenger Hunt
MIDTERM
The Introduction of Christianity to Ireland:
- Monday (6/19) Early Christianity; Christianity in Ireland: St. Patrick W 9-53
- Tuesday (6/20) Early Irish Monasticism W 69-93
- Wednesday (6/21) Columcille and Monastic Ireland W 94-105
- Thursday (6/22) Columbanus, Brendan and the Irish Missionaries W. 118-138
- Friday (6/23) Clonmacnoise
Early Medieval Christian Ireland:
- Monday (6/26) The end of the Irish Church W. 156-179
- Tuesday (6/27) Irish Folklore/Irish Religion Cont.
- Wednesday (6/28) Cont.
- Thursday (6/29) Cont.
- Friday (6/30) Trim Castle (The Anglo-Norman Pale)
FINAL
COVENANT ON CLASS DECORUM
- 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.
- 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.
- I hereby agree to disagree agreeably so as to avoid personal injury or vendettas.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 details are in your student handbook).
- I shall attempt to be open to, and respect all persons in the classroom even when we disagree.
- 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!
Back to Phi 250