REL243 World Religions (INTERNET all sections)

 

Blair A. Gadsby, M.A. (1992, University of Toronto, Canada)       Curiculum Vitae.xml

 

Welcome to the class!

 

World Religions REL 243

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Objective of the course: Provide an overview of the development of the world's various religions in their historical, geographical, political, economic and cultural contexts. The religions to be examined are: prehistoric, traditional-oral, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the role of religion in the modern world.  We will also examine various theories scholars have held and the historical development of the academic study of religion. Here is the link to the official course description by the Maricopa County Community College District: Maricopa Community Colleges  REL243   19972-99999 .

 

A further Statement about Religious Studies at MCC:

The Philosophy & Religious Studies department at MCC offers courses in religious studies, as distinguished from religious education. Whereas religious education seeks to strengthen a person in his/her particular tradition, religious studies seeks a perspective from outside all traditions in pursuit of an understanding of the historical, cultural, political and economic dimensions of various traditions. While the beliefs of religions are taught in our classes, our instructors do not evaluate the truth claims of these traditions, nor do we privilege or denigrate any particular religion.

 

Course requirements:  Readings of web page and textbook to be completed week of the scheduled topic.

 

 

Grading:    5% 1st Quiz

5% 2nd Quiz --material since Exam #1

30% *Points Here Essays (PHE); You must do five

30% Assignments--15% each

15% Exam #1

15% Exam #2--Final Exam--material since Exam #1

 

-------CALCULATING AND TRACKING YOUR FINAL GRADE---------

 

 

 

Q1

E1

A1

Q2

E2

A2

PHE

Total

 

.05

.15

.15

.05

.15

.15

.3

1.0

A 

.2

.6

.6

.2

.6

.6

1.2

4.0

A-

.18

.55

.55

.18

.55

.55

1.11

3.7

B+

.16

.49

.49

.16

.49

.49

.99

3.3

B

.15

.45

.45

.15

.45

.45

.9

3.0

B-

.13

.4

.4

.13

.4

.4

.81

2.7

C+

.11

.34

.34

.11

.34

.34

.69

2.3

C

.1

.3

.3

.1

.3

.3

.6

2.0

C-

.08

.25

.25

.08

.25

.25

.51

1.7

D

.05

.15

.15

.05

.15

.15

.3

1.0

F

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

 

Total your point value:_______________

 

The college requires instructors to give whole grades for the final grade:

                                                                                                          

A=3.5-4.0     B=2.5-3.4     C=1.5-2.4     D=0.5-1.4     F=0.0-0.4     

 

 

 

                                                            Textbook: textbook details.doc

                                                                                                                            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quizzes and Exams:

 

There are 2 Quizzes and 2 Exams. The method for testing is at the designated time click the Instruction link below. I will leave the test link active for only a specified time and then remove it. You must have your completed quiz or exam returned to me as an email attachment within the stated time. Of course there is flexibility with the times and at least four timeslots are used. We will be in communication as the semester progresses regarding specific times for each test, but generally the times at the links below stand.

 

When seeking to take a quiz, either #1 or #2, go here: Quiz-Taking Instructions.doc

 

When seeking to take an exam, either midterm or final, go here: Exam-Taking Instructions.doc

 

 

Assignments: There are two “major” assignments in this course: These two written assignments can be sent to me as file attachments. I can read and correct them and send them back to you online.

 

2 written assignments: follow the links to each:    

 

Assignment #1 REL243Assignment 1.doc

 

Assignment #2 REL243Assignment 2.doc

 

When you see *PHE* these are the Points Here Essays which are brief essays (one-page, double-spaced, roughly 250-300 words in a 12pt script, do a Word Count under the Tools menu at the top of your screen if you have any question) commenting upon the content of that week’s material. They can be written based upon the posted material and textbook readings or with additional web research. There are fifteen (15) weeks of material and you need to write only five (5) PHEs in the course so you don’t have to write one each week, but I recommend you pace yourself and don’t let them slide to the end. The important thing to remember is that PHEs can only be turned-in in the current week; so, if we are in WEEK TWO, let’s say, then you may turn-in that week’s PHE. This establishes a rhythm and pace for the course. These essays are separate from your two (2) other written assignments which are longer research papers.

 

Note: when calculating your final grade for your five PHEs, simply total up your five letter grades of the PHEs (the numerical value of your letter grades is in the right hand column of the above chart: A=4.0, B+= 3.3, for example) and divide by 5 and multiply by .3

 

 

Extra Points: when you see these words follow the instructions if you want to make extra points that can be applied to Exams.   

 

Extra Credit Movie assignment: you also have the possibility of making extra points if you watch a movie that has a religious theme and write a paper on it. Follow the link to the instructions. One note however, you must be in good-standing in the course, you cannot use this to replace a quiz or exam or other mandatory assignment such as Points Here Essays or Assignment 1 or 2. REL243Assignment Extra Credit  Movie.doc

 

 

Weekly Readings: You are responsible for the readings as they are listed in the Course Schedule below. In addition to the textbook readings, you MUST read the information at the lecture-links provided each week. These are where I get much of the information for the quizzes and exams. Being an online class I don’t get to talk to you face to face, and I really like to do that, so you’ve got to read the lecture material that I would normally discuss with students. In addition there are external links provided in the lecture pages that I expect you to at least visit and surf. Now, I will not necessarily test you on material found at external links, but if I make mention of something specific in the lecture material instructing you to read something at a link, then I may use that on quizzes or exams.

 

In the lecture pages the color codes mean the following:

RED:          key terms/ideas; sub-headings within lecture notes; pay special attention

BLUE:        book titles, other bibliographic information, external links.

GREEN:    “Points Here Essays”, extra credit opportunities, or miscellaneous significant information

 

 

 

COURSE SCHEDULE:

 

 

Week

Weekly Reading Assignments

1

Introduction; Topic: Background to the study of religion/theories of religion READING: Partridge, Preface, and Part One, pgs. 9-37; REL243 Week 01 lecture Intro-Background Study of Religion.doc

2

Topic: Prehistoric "religion", "primitive" religion, oral-indigenous religions Part Two, pgs. 38-49 & Part Three, pgs.100-104 and Case-Studies 1,3,6,7,9,10,11; REL243 Week 02 lecture Prehistoric-Indigenous.doc

3

Topic: Hinduism Part Four, pgs. 134-164; REL243 Week 03 lecture Hinduism.doc     

4

Topic: Hinduism (same as above); Buddhism Parts Four and Six, pgs. 134-164 & 188-215; REL243 Week 04-05 lecture Buddhism.doc        Quiz #1

5

Topic: Buddhism Part Four, pgs. 188-215; (same as above)REL243 Week 04-05 lecture Buddhism.doc

6

Topic: Jainism and Sikhism Parts Five and Seven, pgs. 165-187 & 216-241;REL243 Week 06 lecture Jainism and Sikhism.doc

7

Topic: Taoism, Confucianism Part Twelve, pgs. 394-407; (Assignment #1 Due)REL243 Week 07 lecture Taoism-Confucianism.doc

8

Midterm Exam; go to link above “Exam-Taking Instructions”

9

The Ancient Near East, Archaeology and History: Predecessor to the World's Western Religions Parts Two and Eight, pgs. 57-88 & 242- 264; REL243 Week 09 lecture Ancient Near East.doc

10

Topic: Biblical Religion Part Nine, pgs. 265-310;REL243 Week 10 lecture  Biblical Judaism.doc

11

Topic: Rabbinical Judaism Part Nine, pgs. 265-310;REL243 Week 11 lecture Rabbinical Judaism.doc

12

Topic: Islam; Part Eleven, pgs. 356-393; REL243 Week 12 lecture Islam.doc   Quiz #2

13

Topic: Christianity I: New Testament Period, Early Christianity Part Ten, 311-355; REL243 Week 13 lecture Christianity 1.doc

14

Topic: Christianity II: Church History Part Ten, 311-355;REL243 Week 14 lecture Christianity 2.doc  (Assignment #2 Due)

15

Topic: Religion and the Modern World Parts Thirteen and Fourteen, pgs. 421-434 & 435-455; REL243 Week 15 lecture Religion Modern World.doc

16

Final Exam = go to link above “Exam-Taking Instructions”

 

 

 

 

Motion map of world religions: Motion map of world religions.wmv.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have been approved for or are interested in taking this course for Honors credit, go to this link: HonorsStudentsContract.doc.

 

If you’ve enjoyed this class and would like to know more about the courses I teach at Mesa Community College, you can visit the links below.

In addition to REL243 World Religions, I teach:

 

REL205 Religion and the Modern World, link to the MCCCD course description: Maricopa Community Colleges  REL205   19986-99999 ; and a link to the syllabus: REL205 Syllabus.doc.

&

REL211 Introduction to Islam, link to the MCCCD course description:  Maricopa Community Colleges  REL212   20064-99999  and a link to the syllabus: REL212 Syllabus.doc.

 

Hope to see you in one of my classes. Blair

 

If you are looking for the Power Point presentation for Mombasa, Kenya in Africa, go here: POWER POINT    Mombasa, Kenya EAST AFRICA.ppt. ENJOY!

 

If you are in one of my face-to-face classes at MCC and I’ve asked you to check out links at my webpage, here’s where to start Links to external websites.doc.

 

Have a terrific holiday!

 

 

 

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