Greetings! O My Fall-Semester 2017 Students! Welcome to PHILOSOPHY 120, an introductory course in studying the WORLD's RELIGIONS.
Classes meet: T 10:30-11:45 & Th 1:30-2:45 in Bridges 357
Office: Maclean 279P (PHIL Dept.) tel. 477-4666 e-mail: czynski@mnstate.edu
Office Hours: M&W 11:00-1:30 + T 3:00-5:00 + Th 4:00-5:00 + Fri 11:00-1:00 & by appointment WebPage: web.mnstate.edu/czynski
Course Description: LASC #7 Human Diversity - 3 credits. "Study of beliefs and practices of major religions of the world." (The BULLETIN) An introduction to the centuries-old religious beliefs, basic moral teachings, and fundamental spiritual values and practices (symbolic rituals, artistic expressions of faith in painting, sculpture, ...) of Humanity's eminent faith-traditions - Eastern and Western. Significant historical figures, institutional developments, art-forms (statuary, calligraphy, architecture, ...) and sacred scriptures are examined within socio-cultural contexts, ancient and modern.
Required Book: IWR = our lavishly illustrated WORLD RELIGIONS - The Great Faiths Explained & Explored by Prof. John Bowker (pbk, DK Publishers 2006) - a book rich in informative, photographic, colorful illustrations! Also, I'll have photocopied handouts (free!) of brief extracts from various Sacred Scriptures and on diverse, pertinent subjects. This reader-friendly book with splendid pictures, plus helpful sidebars & maps, introduces us to the variety of religious experiences of global compass: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Chinese and Japanese traditions, Jainism, Sikhism, and Ancient & Native religions.
A. Course Objectives - Student Learning Outcomes: Students successfully completing this course receive 3 credits for LASC #7 Human Diversity. In our Lecture/Discussion format, we will all become reader-pilgrims, since our course intends to encourage us all to deepen our understanding of the rich diversity of religious traditions cherished by Humanity since time immemorial. With our vivid imaginations and our inquiring minds, we will journey across Space and Time to the East and the West - to India, Japan, the Holy Land in the Middle East, China, America, and elsewhere - seeking to grasp Why and How people live in faithful accord with their religious beliefs and spiritual practices - ancient "sacred ways" as well as contemporary expressions and movements. And so, WE students will gain, or deepen, our 1) OBJECTIVE KNOWLEDGE of the world's different faith-traditions and 2) SUBJECTIVE APPRECIATION of the arts and literatures, including revered holy writings, of the many paths leading to the Divine - East & West, Ancient & Contemporary. Thus, we will examine, in varying degrees, historical origins, foundational figures, views of Nature and human life, essential beliefs, fundamental ethical teachings, ritual practices & worship services (including music), sacred texts, and symbolic art-forms (painting, architecture, ...). In our semester-long journey, we will study both the unique components and the common elements of numerous belief-systems, arriving, with an open mind and a respectful attitude, at viewing them as the pre-eminent American scholar Huston Smith (d. 2016, age 97) envisioned: namely, that human beings have historically climbed different paths of ascent to the summit of the mountain of Ultimate Sacred Reality, while they have named and reverenced The Divine in many culturally different ways over the centuries.
B. LASC #7 - Human Diversity: Our course's principal goal is to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes important for living in and contributing to a Diverse World, and so, this course is intended to encourage MSUM students to develop certain intellectual COMPETENCIES leading to specific Student Learning Outcomes. These GOALS are: 1. TO articulate one's cultural heritage, knowing how it affects one's values and beliefs. 2. TO exhibit a willingness to examine one's personal worldview, assumptions, and even biases. 3. TO demonstrate knowledge of the experiences and contributions of societal groups that shape cultures, including those groups that have been historically excluded. 4. TO cultivate attributes such as open-mindedness, respect, and self-reflection that are necessary for adapting to changes in society and for interacting with diverse communities. 5. TO demonstrate intercultural communication skills for building relationships with those who are culturally different from ourselves. 6. TO critically recognize stereotypes and objectively assess cultural images.
REQUIREMENTS:
Mindful Reading-Preparation of the assigned pages for every class. Contributory participation in intellectually fruitful, courteously active class-discussion is welcomed, encouraged and duly appreciated. And ALWAYS bring your book to class. And so, Faithful Attendance is obviously obligatory. Absence is excused ONLY for a good (= justified) reason, such as illness, being out-of-town, serious family matter, or a critical circumstance beyond your control. Please contact me either beforehand or when you return - send me an e-mail or leave a phone-message - so as to avoid an UNexcused absence. Thus, any valid absence is always excusable, but only with an honest, if brief, acknowledgement. Otherwise, 3 or more UNexcused absences will lead to a lowering of the final letter-grade either in part (say, from B+ to B or B-) or in whole (say, from B to C ), depending upon the number of absences. So, just come regularly to class, and be a diligent reader and committed class-participant. And if ever you're absent, a simple, straightforward acknowledgement will suffice. (No need to share private details.) Honesty is the only policy. And you would, of course, be responsible for what was covered in class.
Typed ESSAY @ 100 pts.: Every student will compose a well-pondered and well-written, typed Essay of 3-4 pages in length (longer if you wish) with a separate Title-Page to include your name, PHIL 120, the due-date, and a descriptive/thematic TITLE which clearly tells me as your reader the topic-focus/theme of your Essay. I will distribute a handout with the names (arranged alphabetically by last-name) of all students, the due-dates, and Guideline-comments beyond the following general features = your Essay will be an Objective/Subjective Essay of 3-4 pages (minimum of 3 FULL pages), standard margins, double-spacing, standard (not enlarged) typeface (= 12-point font) - with a separate title-page - @ 100 points-potential. Your Essay will be due on the date-specified = on Thursdays (except 2 Tuesdays) over 10 weeks - generally 4 students per class (= 8) in a given week delivering to me their Essays, alphabetically staggered, beginning on Thursday 9/14 in WEEK IV. Your Essay will be half Objective/Academic and half Subjective/Personal. Be sure, of course, that you carefully proofread it before handing it in to me on the date specified. Essays will be returned the following week.
-- Thematic GUIDELINES: So, what to write about? YOUR CHOICE! But choice of what? Choose/define a topic of any nature - from beliefs, from festivals, from rituals, from pious practices, from divinities, from places of worship, etc.: for example, from the chapter on CHINESE RELIGIONS or the chapter on JAINISM as presented in our IWR book - that interests, intrigues, puzzles, challenges, or inspires YOU! You do not have to consult a scholarly secondary source (book/s or article/s) or a serious, legitimate website. But if you do consult one or another source beyond our book and incorporate information by quoting or paraphrasing, then at the end of your Essay clearly indicate what you consulted in a Bibliographical Note. Divide your Essay into 2 parts: 1) Objectively present WHAT you chose derived from our IWR book, quoting or paraphrasing as the Chapter explained it (give page-references), and 2) Subjectively present WHY you chose WHAT you chose to write about. So, it's an Exposition&Reflection (= Academic Presentation and Personal Response) Essay in your 1st-person voice. And be sure, in your opening paragraph, to specify WHICH CHAPTER-SECTION/s - WHICH TOPIC/THEME/s - you have chosen by giving the TITLE/s.
And as for FORMAT: I repeat: standard margin-spacing of 1-inch all around; double-spacing between lines; 12-point font in (preferably) New Times Roman; and the first line of your Essay should begin as an indented sentence, and so with each subsequent paragraph - all of which should be grammatically correct (spelling, too!) and clearly expressed with logic, be college-worthy in substance, and written with genuine interest - even inspiration - on your part. Points will be subtracted for lack of proofreading carefulness. So, write with mindful delight!
Exams: There will be 3 Exams @ 100 = 300 points-potential given ONLY on the dates specified. The exam-formats will vary a little and will be presented to you later on, and will most likely include Essay-Questions (= paragraph or half-page in length), Fill-in-the-Blanks, Matching Columns = Matching Names/Items with Statements, a typed topic-specified 1-page Essay. (NO Scantron Multiple-Choice.) In advance of each exam, I will make a list of selected items/themes/topics, specifying pages in IWR for review-purposes, with guiding comments on the exam-contents in Retrospective (= review) class-sessions.
-- The total points-potential for the 3 Exams + the typed Essay will = 400 pts., and the final letter-grade will be based upon the # of points attained out of the possible total, then proportioned on the basis of 100 points using + and - signs. So, for example, B+ = 89-87, B = 86-83, B- = 82-80. I will use decimals, then round it all out at the end. As already mentioned, the scope of each exam will be circumscribed by specific items (persons, places, scriptures, doctrines, ...) with pages indicated for review - given on my WebPage for PHIL 120 - Review Pages. You will work from these pages when you do your own reviewing. Needless to say, committed reading-preparation for EVERY class will assure grade-success and will propel your intellectual advancement, leading to your delight and enlightenment! (No kidding!)
Accessibility Statement: Students should contact Mr. Greg Toutges, Coordinator of Accessibility Resources (Flora Frick 154C - x4318), to make timely arrangements for exam-taking suitable to their needs. Naturally, speak to me also for any accommodation (sign-interpreter, note-taker, ...) that I most willingly will implement, especially if you already have a current Accommodation Letter.
MSUM is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. The Accessibility Resources (AR) office is the campus service collaborating with students with disabilities to provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations. For any challenge/disability (mental, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory or physical), contact the AR at 218-477-4318 (V) or 800-627-3529 or 711 (MRS/TTY) to schedule an appointment.
I wish you, o studious fire-breathing Dragons, an intellectually rewarding experience in our course PHIL 120 WORLD RELIGIONS!
Generally, our classes will be lecture-discussion days with Yours Truly leading. BUT you all are encouraged to initiate, and participate in, class-discussion in BR 357, which is a prof-student-friendly room in my experience. So, please don't hesitate in class to raise raise your hand and, while we all RESPECTFULLY listen and then COURTEOUSLY respond, you share your ideas - with declarative thoughts or pertinent questions - about what GRABS/INTERESTS/PERPLEXES/CHALLENGES/INSPIRES you.
During the semester we will, I expect, occasionally have guest-presenters from different faith-traditions (I will invite Prof. Emeritus David Myers of Fargo's Jewish Temple Beth El, and others to guest-lecture - dates to be announced), in which case we'll read as usual from the Syllabus for that day, even if the guest-speaker doesn't focus on the assigned pages as such.
SCHEDULE OF READINGS & EXAMS & ESSAYS-due
----- WEEK I - T 8/22: Introduction to our course: our Names, our book IWR & the Syllabus = reading-schedule of required assigned-pages per class, Exams with dates, Retrospectives & ReviewPages, ... and Essay due-dates *** Photocopied handout of the essential, component-features of Religion in general
- Th 8/24: Introduction cont'd: Take a little time to lOOk ahead at and appreciate the photographic illustrations, with their captions. These will visually illuminate our imaginations as we explore centuries-old faith-traditions. IWR: GLANCE at the Contents of the chapters = pages 4-5 + READ pp. 6-9: What is Religion? + GLANCE at pp.10-17: Ancient Religions & 198-207: Native Religions + READ 208-209 on "The Golden Rule - Can religions work together?"
----- WEEK II - T 8/29: IWR: Hinduism I (18-19): pages 20-27
- Th 8/31: IWR: Hinduism II: pp.28-35
----- WEEK III - T 9/5: IWR: Hinduism III: 36-43
- Th 9/7: IWR: Jainism I (44-45): 46-51
----- WEEK IV - T 9/12: IWR: Jainism II: 52-57 *** Review Pages handout & on WebPage
- Th 9/14: IWR: RETROSPECTIVE on Hinduism & Jainism *** 1st group of Obj/Subj Essays due + comments on the exam-format
----- WEEK V - T 9/19: EXAM #1 @ 100 points
- Th 9/21: IWR: Buddhism I (58-59): 60-65 *** 2nd group of Obj/Subj Essays due
----- WEEK VI - T 9/26: IWR: Buddhism II: 66-73
- Th 9/28: IWR: Buddhism III: 74-81
----- WEEK VII - T 10/3: IWR: Chinese Religions (96-97): 98-109
- Th 10/5: IWR: Japanese Religions: 110-121 *** 3rd group of Obj/Subj Essays due *** RevPp handout & on WebPage
----- WEEK VIII - T 10/10: RETROSPECTIVE on Buddhism & Chinese & Japanese religions + comments on the exam-format
- Th 10/12: EXAM #2 @ 100 pts.
----- WEEK IX - T 10/17: IWR: Judaism I (122-123): 124-129
- Th 10/19: IWR: Judaism II: 130-135
---- WEEK X - T 10/24: IWR: Judaism III: 136-141
- Th 10/26: IWR: Judaism IV: 142-147 *** 4th group of Obj/Subj Essays due
----- WEEK XI - T 10/31: IWR: Christianity I (148-149): 150-155
- Th 11/2: IWR: Christianity II: 156-161 *** 5th group of Obj/Subj Essays due
----- WEEK XII - T 11/7: IWR: Christianity III: 162-167
- Th 11/9: IWR: Christianity IV: 168-172 *** 6th group of Obj/Subj Essays due
----- WEEK XIII - T 11/14: IWR: Islam I (174-175): 176-181
- Th 11/16: IWR: Islam II: 182-187 *** 7th group of Obj/Subj ESSAYS due
----- WEEK XIV - T 11/21: IWR: Islam III: 188-195 *** 8th group of Obj/Subj ESSAYS due
- W-Th-F 11/22-24: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
----- WEEK XV - T 11/28: IWR: Sikhism I (82-83): 84-89
- Th 11/30: Sikhism II: 90-95 *** RevPp handout & on WebPage *** 9th group of Obj/Subj ESSAYS due
----- WEEK XVI - T 12/5: RETROSPECTIVE: on Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism + comments on the exam-format *** 10th group of Obj/Subj ESSAYS due
- W 12/6: STUDY DAY
- THURSDAY 12/7: EXAM #3 for the 10:30-class at 11:30am & Course Evaluations
----- WEEK XVII - WEDNESDAY 12/13: EXAM #3 for the 1:30 class at 11:30am & Course Evaluations
O Studious Students of Mine! I wish you ALL THE BEST in your curricular and extra-curricular activities this semester at MSUM. Be committed to all your studies! And you are always WELCOME at my office!
As stated above, I will seek to invite guest-presenters who could speak with authority from within her/his own religious tradition - with experiential knowledge that will bring the subject alive. And in our class-meetings, YOU ALL, Fellow Students, are encouraged to share your experiences of your own religious traditions as we journey across the pictorial landscape of World Religions as presented in our book IWR..
Boldly go, like Buzz Lightyear, "To Infinity and Beyond!" = where your mind has never explored before!
*** PLEASE be sure that your name appears on the Essay Due-date Schedule in the ESSAY-GUIDELINES handout. It has all the info you'll need about what your OBJECTIVE/SUBJECTIVE Essay-topic could be. If your name does NOT appear typed there, TELL ME and we'll choose a date. ALSO please take note on p. 2 above of the Syllabus regarding the LASC #6 Competencies - with instructions for your concluding paragraph - and see also #8 on p.4 of the ESSAY-GUIDELINES.
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