Heartland Community College
Humanities & Fine Arts
Course Syllabus for Students
Course Prefix and Number: RELI 215
Course Title: Major World Religions
Days and Times the Course Meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00-9:15
Catalog Description:
An introduction to comparative religious study, this course will examine the basic tenets, beliefs, and
practices of major world religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism,
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and some forms of religions of pre-literate societies, using
historical intra-paradigmatic, psychological, sociological, and phenomenological approaches.
Instructor Information:
Rick Allbee, Master of Arts
(309) 268-8635; e-mail: Rick.Allbee@heartland.edu
Faculty office hours: Available by appointment; ICB, Rm # 2000.
Textbooks Required:
Matthews, Warren. World Religions. 4th ed. Belmont, California: Wadsworth Publ. Co.,
2004.
Van Voorst, Robert E. Anthology of World Scripture. 5th Rev ed. Belmont, California:
Wadsworth Publ. Co., 2005.
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer:
This course is intended for those students who wish to fulfill a Humanities credit in the A.A. Degree
or the A.S. Degree, as well as those wishing to come to a better understanding of the world’s major
religions. This course also satisfies an IAI general education requirement.
Beliefs About the Discipline:
The major world religions (and religion in general) have historically provided (and continue to
provide for many) a framework for order, meaning, and significance for many societies of the world.
Further, they have had a profound and pervasive influence on many cultures of the world, and on the
humanities (art, literature, music, etc) as well. The study of the major world religions studies in
historical context the phenomena of man’s various manifestations as a homo religious species.
Beliefs About Student Learning:
Students who wish to succeed in this course will need to participate attentively and actively in class
and seek with intention and effort to understand the class material. It is hoped that thereby you will
enlarge and enrich your personal and intellectual horizons.
Beliefs About Instructors Role:
My role is to inform and educate you with regard to the major world religions. Further, I will seek to
present the material in such a way as to meet you the college student at your present level of
understanding, be interesting and relevant, and encourage you to stretch your horizons of
understanding and appreciation.
Course Objectives (Learning Outcomes):
Students who successfully complete RELI 215 should be able to:
1.
Define the basic tenets of Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam,
Judaism, Daoism, and religions of pre-literate societies.
2.
Compare and contrast the ways in which different religions provide answers to
certain fundamental questions.
3.
Engage and demonstrate an understanding of the style and content of selected
primary source sacred writings for each of the religions studied.
4.
Explain the historical origins and development of each major religion studied.
5.
Identify key figures in the origins and development of each major religion.
6.
Describe various rituals and liturgical practices associated with each of the major
world religions.
7.
Compare and contrast the moral and ethical precepts advanced by each of the
religions studied, as well as the problems addressed and the proposed solutions these
precepts offered to their various historical social contexts.
8.
Analyze the social and political factors associated with the practice of the religions
studied.
Course Outline:
1.
Religions of Pre-Literate Societies
2
2.
Judaism
3.
Islam
4.
Christianity
5.
Hinduism
6.
Buddhism
7.
Confucianism
8.
Daoism
Description of Learning Format:
The student should follow this procedure for each class:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Read the assigned material
Attend the lecture
Participate in the class discussions and activities
Review and study the material
Method of Evaluation (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Course grades will be determined by the total number of points accumulated during the semester.
Points will be assigned as follows:
4 Section Tests
1 Take Home Exercise Test
2 Text Book Quizzes
1 Short Research Assignment
6 Discussion Questions
=
=
=
=
=
The grading scale used to determine the course grade will be:
92 to 100%
83to 91%
74to 82%
65to 73%
Below 65%
=A
=B
=C
=D
=F
3
400 points
50 points
50 points
50 points
450 points
Class Participation:
Full class participation (attentiveness to the lecture, contributions to the discussions, active
involvement in any group work) is encouraged and required. Class questions are encouraged.
Policies on Attendance:
The following requirements should be met:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Regular class attendance each week
Steady progress in the readings and course work
Completion of all assignments and exams
If you miss class do not call; arrangements will be made upon your return
Students with repeated and frequent absences may be dropped at the instructor’s
discretion. Also, absences before a test may result in the student not being allowed
to take the test.
Incompletes:
Instructor will follow the college policy on incompletes as outlined in the HCC student handbook.
Extra Credit:
Extra credit is not generally available, but is reserved for special cases on an individual basis.
Missing an Exam and Assignments Policy:
Exams are to be taken, and assignments handed in when they are due. The only allowances for
making up exams and/or accepting late assignments are pre-arrangements made between the
instructor and student, and/or excused absences (serious illness or death in immediate family).
Required Writing and Reading:
All readings from the textbook(s) should be completed prior to class in order to facilitate classroom
discussion. Consult the course assignment and reading calendar below for specific readings.
Assignments:
The course assignments are: A) 4 Section Tests, B) 1 Take Home Test Exercise C) 2 Text Book
Quizzes, D) 1 brief Library Research Assignment, and E) 6 Discussion Questions. All assignments
are to be developed and completed independently by the individual student. None of them are
in any way to be considered group work. Group study for the exams is okay. Cheating may
result in failure of the assignment or of the course; the determination to be made by the instructor.
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ASSIGNMENT AND COURSE READING CALENDAR
1.
Religions of Preliterate Societies
-
Read: Matthews, pp. 1-75;
Voorst, pp. 1-25.
Text Book Quizzes Due
2.
Judaism
-
Read: Matthews, pp. 273-324;
Voorst, pp. 201-244.
EXAM 1
1st Discussion Question Due
3.
Islam
-
Read: Matthews, pp. 377-420;
Voorst, pp. 285-322.
2nd Discussion Question Due
4.
Christianity
-
Read: Matthews, pp. 325-376;
Voorst, pp. 245-284.
EXAM 2
3rd Discussion Question Due
5.
Hinduism
-
Read: Matthews, pp. 77-122;
Voorst, pp. 27-67.
TAKE HOME EXERCISE 3
4th Discussion Question Due
6.
Buddhism
-
Read: Matthews, pp. 123-170;
Voorst, pp. 68-108.
EXAM 4
5th Discussion Question Due
7.
Confucianism
-
Read: Matthews, pp. 203-205, 215-230;
Voorst, pp. 139-162.
8.
Daoism
-
Read: Matthews, pp. 206-214;
Voorst, pp. 163-176.
FINAL EXAM (Tues, 8:00, May 16, 2003)
6th Discussion Question Due
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