Introduction to the Study of Religions

(REL 100) University at Albany, SUNY

Class Time and Place: MWF, 9:20AM-10:15AM ES241 Professor: Aaron P. Proffitt, PhD (aproffitt@albany.edu) Office Hours Time and Place: MWF, 10:30-11:30AM, HU241 COURSE DESCRIPTION This course will introduce students to the historical-critical approach to the study of religion. Students will gain a basic understanding of the theories and methodologies employed in the academic study of religion, and acquire foundational cultural literacy about various “World Religions” such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism, as well as the indigenous religions of North and South America, Oceania, and Africa. Themes to be considered include the development of Religious Studies as an academic discipline and the role of Religious Studies within the Humanities and higher education; the relationship between theological and the academic approaches to the study of religion; studying religion in relation to politics, culture, and questions of power and influence; the way religion as an object of study was constructed under Colonialism; and race, class, and religion in the US. This is an introductory course, and there are no prerequisites. All are welcome. REQUIRED TEXTS

• Craig Martin, A Critical Introduction to the Study of Religion, 2nd Edition (2017) ISBN: 9780415419932

• Stephen Prothero, God is Not One (2011) ISBN: 978-0061571282 • All other readings will be available through the course Blackboard site.

GRADING SCHEME COURSE REQUIREMENTS A 94 A- 90 B+ 88 B 84 B- 80 C+ 78 C 74 C- 70 D+ 68 D 64 D- 60 E 50

Attendance & Participation 25% Online Journals 25% Four Mini-Exams 50%

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION (25%) Attendance is required, and counts toward 25% of the final grade. If you must miss a class, please see the University at Albany Medical Excuse Policy: http://www.albany.edu/health_center/medicalexcuse.shtml

• Note Cards: Each student should purchase a pack of 3x5 note cards and bring them to class. At the end of class, students will write their names on the card and answer the following two questions: (1) What was the most interesting thing you learned today? (2) What question would you like to ask? In the next session the instructor will select three or four questions to discuss. Note cards not only count for attendance but also gauge level of engagement.

• Computer and Technology Rules: This class is built around active listening and participation in lecture and discussion. Laptop computers, cellphones, smartphones, iPads, and other electronic devices are distracting and therefore prohibited. Students are required to purchase a notebook for taking notes by hand in class. Excluded, of course, are those who for medically documented reasons must use assistive technology.

JOURNALS (25%)

• For each reading assignment or film, students must complete one journal entry on Blackboard. These “journals” are essentially your notes you take while reading a text or watching a film. If you are using your in-class notebook for reading notes, please feel free to scan or upload an image of these notes to Blackboard. These are not graded for content, or style, or length (though they should be substantial: 250 words or more…). Journal posts are not public, and only the instructor will read them. All journal entries should be done before coming to class. These journals will serve as a resource for our in-class discussion and will greatly help you as you prepare for the exams.

EXAMS (50%)

• Rather than a standard mid-term and final exam, in this class we will have four short (25 multiple choice questions) “take home” exams that you must complete through the Blackboard link. Exams will open at 12:00am and close at 11:59pm on the day noted on the syllabus. Once you begin, you will have one hour to complete the exam.

ACCOMMODATION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OR OTHER NEEDS

• I request that any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations speak with me during the first two weeks of class. All discussions will remain confidential. For more information, please visit Disability Resource Center: http://www.albany.edu/disability/index.shtml

PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

• “Every student has the responsibility to become familiar with the standards of academic integrity at the University. Faculty members must specify in their syllabi information about academic integrity, and may refer students to this policy for more information. Nonetheless, student claims of ignorance, unintentional error, or personal or academic pressures cannot be excuses for violation of academic integrity. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the standards and behaving accordingly, and UAlbany faculty are responsible for teaching, modeling and upholding them. Anything less undermines the worth and value of our intellectual work, and the reputation and credibility of the University at Albany degree.” (University’s Standards of Academic Integrity Policy, Fall 2013) http://www.albany.edu/undergraduate_bulletin/regulations.html

GETTING STARTED

• Here are a few essays I recommend you read before class. I’ll be talking about these texts on the first day.

o What is the Academic Study of Religion?: https://religion.ua.edu/links/the-students-desk/what-is-the-academic-study-of-religion/

o Religious Studies: A Part of the Human Sciences: https://religion.ua.edu/links/religious-studies-a-part-of-the-human-sciences/

o Theses on Method: https://religion.ua.edu/links/theses-on-method/ CLASS SCHEDULE Mon. Wed. Fri. 08/28 08/30 09/01 • Welcome!

• Martin, Intro. and Chapter 1

• Martin, Chapter 2

09/04 09/06 09/08 No Class: Labor Day

• Martin, Chapter 3

• Martin, Chapter 4

09/11 09/13 09/15 • Martin, Chapter 5

• Martin, Chapter 6

• Martin, Chapter 7

09/18 09/20 09/22 • Martin, Chapter 8

• Martin, Chapter 9 Classes Suspended at 2:35 pm: Rosh Hashanah

No Class Classes Resume at 12:35 pm

09/25 09/27 09/29 • Martin, Chapter 10 and

Conclusion

• Prothero, Intro. • Test 1

• Prothero, Judaism Classes Suspended at 2:35 pm: Yom Kippur

10/02 10/04 10/06 Judaism Biale, “Judaism: Israel Among the Nations” (Blackboard)

Christianity • Prothero, Christianity

Christianity • Cunningham, “Christianity:

The Words and the Word Made Flesh” (On Blackboard)

10/09 10/11 10/13 • Finish up Cunningham… Islam

• Prothero, Islam

Islam • McAllife, “Islam:

Introduction, Submission to God” (Blackboard)

10/16 10/18 10/20 Islam • Finish up McAllife….

Hinduism • Prothero, Hinduism

Hinduism • Doniger, “Hinduism, Zen

Diagram of Hinduism” • Test 2

10/23 10/25 10/27 Hinduism • Finish up Doniger…

Buddhism Prothero, Buddhism

Buddhism • Lopez, “Buddhism, In the

World of the Buddha” (On Blackboard)

10/30 11/01 11/03 Buddhism • Finish up Lopez…

Sikhism • Sikhism (Blackboard)

Early Chinese Religion • DeBary, “Oracle Bones” (On

Blackboard

11/06 11/08 11/10 Confucianism • Prothero, Confucius

Daoism • Robson, “Daoism, Daoism

Lost and Found” (Blackboard)

Daoism • Finish up Robson… • Test 3

11/13 11/15 11/17 Indigenous North America (TBD) Indigenous South America (TBD)

Hawaii and the Pacific (TBD)

11/20 11/22 11/24 Africa • African Religions

(Blackboard)

No class: Thanksgiving Break

No class: Thanksgiving Break

11/27 11/29 12/01 Africa • Prothero, Yoruba

• African American Religions

(Blackboard) • Martin Luther King

(Blackboard)

• Malcolm X (Blackboard)

12/04 12/06 12/08 • bell hooks (Blackboard)

• Dalai Lama (Blackboard)

• Prothero, Atheism

12/11 Course Wrap-up • Test 4