INTRODUCTION TO RELIGION REL2000
REL 2000 #5862, summer Term C, 2010
100% online eLearning course
Instructor: June D. Watkins
Contact information:
Email: Junewatkins@uwf.edu
Mail: 53/221, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL 32514
Phone: (850) 474-2918
It is easiest to reach me by email.
Office Hours: I have no office hours during the summer semester since I am teaching
100% online. However, I will be on main campus on Tuesday and Wednesday of each
week, and so appointments on those days will be available. Since this class is online,
most of our communication will be by email or in the discussion forum.
Required Texts: We are using interactive software.
Revealing World Religions, Version 3.3 by Cynthia Eller, PhD, Thinking Strings L.L.C.,
Available through the college bookstore or www.thinkingstrings.com
You must register your copy of the CD-Rom. CD’s will not work without a serial
number. The bookstore has listed a used price, which is incorrect. Since this is software,
it cannot be installed on more than one computer and so it is not reusable. Once you
register your CD with the software developer, you must enter a passkey. Our course 5
letter passkey this semester is AGAMA (not case sensitive).
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to world religions and the academic study of religion. It
examines the historical evolution, the fundamental doctrines and beliefs, the practices,
institutions, and cultural expressions of the major religious traditions. Students will
explore Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam in order to understand the essential differences and similarities
of these traditions. The course partially satisfies the Gordon Rule requirement for
writing (3 credit hours).
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students successfully completing this course should be able to:
1. Differentiate between the major world’s religions by acquiring a basic knowledge
of their histories, sacred stories, founders, and worldviews.
2. Understand the historical context in which these worldviews emerged.
3. Recognize the methods that religious scholars use in the critical analysis of
religious phenomena.
4. Refine communication skills and express ideas clearly and concisely.
5. Improve time/project management skills by preparing assignments and meeting
deadlines.
6. Demonstrate proficiency in academic writing using Turabian and the Chicago
Manual of Style.
Technology:
Our class is 100% online. I recommend that you go through the eLearning Student
Orientation Guide located on your “My Home” page of eLearning. There is also a quick
start guide available. If you encounter any technical problems related to the eLearning
website any time during the semester, the instructor can’t help you. Instead please
contact ITS. There is a “request help from the ITS Help Desk” link located on your “My
Home” page.
However, if your technical problem is with the software itself, “Revealing World
Religions”, then those questions should be directed to the software developer at
support@thinkingstrings.com
Questions about religion and the world’s religions that we are studying are directed to
the instructor. Please post the question in the discussion forum since all students will
benefit from the answer. If the question is personal in nature, then please email the
instructor. I respect your privacy and so there is no need to post personal information
in the discussion forum.
Participation:
Each course develops its own “class culture” and so participation is vital to the success
of the course. An “A” for participation in this class requires students to log in a
minimum of 2 times per module and engage in active participation on the discussion
boards. Active participation is defined as at least one original posting in the discussion
section of the website for each module as well as at least 1 response to another student’s
comment or question. These discussion posts must be substantive and relevant. I have
a grading rubric posted under “Important course information”.
More about Respect:
Unlike other academic disciplines, religious studies is unique in that students begin this
class with deeply held convictions about (and often emotional attachments to) the
subject matter. This presents a challenge, and so I ask you to approach students holding
different beliefs with an open mind (or at least a neutral mind) in the hopes that, by
understanding others, you may clarify your own position. No student is asked to
compromise his or her own beliefs, and yet we must learn to practice tolerance for
beliefs other than our own. The purpose of higher education is to expand your
experiences and your intellect. This class will perhaps challenge some misconceptions
and prejudices that you may have. You should expect to gain a deeper appreciation and
respect for the world’s religions. The United States is thought by many scholars to be
one of the most religiously illiterate countries in the world (Prothero 2007). The irony in
the findings of that research is that the United States is also one of the most diverse
countries in the world with every single major world religion represented. That
diversity continues to grow and so it is important that citizens learn as much as possible
about these growing systems of belief.
Grading Scale:
Grade
Description
Range
Grade Points
A
Outstanding
94-100
4.0
A-
Outstanding
90-93
3.7
B+
Above average
87-89
3.3
B
Above average
84-86
3.0
B-
Above average
80-83
2.7
C+
Average
77-79
2.3
C
Average
74-76
2.0
C-
Average
70-73
1.7
D+
Below average
67-69
1.3
D
Below average
64-66
1.0
F
Failure
0-63
0.0
Grades determined by successful completion of:
33% participation on discussion boards
33% essays and progress on Revealing World Religions software DVD
34%—quizzes on individual religions
Student Code of Conduct
The Student Code of Conduct sets forth the rules, regulations and expected behavior of
students enrolled at the University of West Florida. Violations of any rules, regulations,
or behavioral expectations may result in a charge of violating the Student Code of
Conduct. It is the student’s responsibility to read the Student Code of Conduct and
conduct him or herself accordingly. You may access the current Student Code of
Conduct at http://www.uwf.edu/judicialaffairs.
Suggestions for success:
 Keep track of the syllabus schedule. Make an appointment with yourself daily to
work on this class. This is an accelerated class and we will be crunching 16 weeks
into only 6 weeks. And so you will have 3 times the amount of work each week
as compared to a regular fall or spring semester.
 Be sure to keep up. It is very common in online classes for students with the best
intentions to fall behind. We will be completing each module in approximately 4
days. So that is roughly 2 modules per week.
 Take notes on the modules, and jot down any questions you have and ask for
help.
 Frame your comments and questions to classmates in respectful language.
Notice to Students with disabilities:
The Student Disability Resource Center SDRC at the University of West Florida
supports an inclusive learning environment for all students. If there are aspects of the
instruction or design of this course that hinder your full participation, such as time
limited exams, inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos and
podcasts, please notify the instructor or the SDRC as soon as possible. You may contact
the SDRC office by e-mail at sdrc@uwf.edu or by phone at (850) 474-2387. Appropriate
academic accommodations will be determined based on the documented needs of the
individual.
Schedule:
1
Module/Dates
Topic /Sections on CD
Orientation
June 23-25
3 days
Intro/Syllabus
Student intros
Course overview
Orientation
Assignments




2
Exploring
Religions
June 26- 29
4 days
What is Religion?
Types of Religions
Studying Religion



3
4
Hinduism
June 30 to July 3
4 days
(Note that no
work is
expected from
July 3-4 for the
holiday)
Buddhism
July 6 to July 9
4 days
Defining &Finding
Hinduism
Birth of Hinduism
Hinduism after Vedas
Philosophy of Hinduism
Yoga
Schools of Hindu Philosophy
The Hindu Pantheon
Puja and Pilgrimage
Hinduism in the West
Life of the Buddha
Philosophy of Buddhism
First 400 years
Theravada Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism
Vajrayana Buddhism
Mahayana in China
Mahayana in Japan
Buddhism in the West






Introduce yourself in
the discussion forum
Familiarize yourself
with the website
Register your software
and enter the passkey
AGAMA
take Syllabus quiz
complete all sections in
courseware DVD
participate in
discussions
take Exploring
Religions quiz on
eLearning
complete all sections in
DVD
participate in
discussions
Hinduism quiz on
eLearning
Complete all sections
on DVD
participate in
discussions
Buddhism quiz on
eLearning
5
6
7
8
Sikhism
July 10 to July
13
4 days
Taoism
July 14- July 17
4 days
Confucianism
July 18 to July
21
4 days
Shinto
July 22 to July
25
4 days
Emergence of Sikhism
Life of Guru Nanak
Sikh Theology
The Ten Gurus
The Khalsa
Sikh Scripture
Sikhism in India and
Diaspora
Rituals and Rites of Passage
Sikh Holidays
Ancient Chinese Religion
Beginnings of Taoism
Philosophy of the Tao
Taoism as a Religion
Taoist Pantheon Second
Millennium CE
Meditation & Medicine
Taoist Ritual Practices
Taoism in the Modern Era
Life of Confucius
Fundamentals Confucianism
Confucian texts
Early Confucian history
The Modern Era


Complete all sections
participate in
discussions

Sikhism quiz


Complete all sections
participate in
discussions

Taoism quiz


Complete all sections
participate in
discussions

Confucianism quiz
Early Japanese Religion
Shinto after Buddhism
Key Characteristics Shinto
Mythology Kami
Shinto Shrines
Shinto Worship


Complete all sections
Shinto quiz
9
10
11
Judaism
July 26 to July
29
4 days
Christianity
July 30 to Aug 2
4 days
Islam
Aug 3- 6
4 days
Basic Principles
Cultural Context
Hebrew Scriptures
Ancient History
Jewish Diaspora
Judaism in America
The State of Israel
Jewish Practice
Jewish Holidays
Jewish Rites of Passage
Women in Judaism
Jesus/Early Christianity
Christian Scriptures
After the Fall of Rome
Medieval Christianity
Protestant Reformation
Christian Practices
Christian Holidays
Christianity in 21st century


Complete all sections
participate in
discussions

Judaism quiz


Complete all sections
participate in
discussions

Christianity quiz
Life of Mohammad
Islamic Texts
Major Tenets of Islam
Religious Practices
History of Islam
Sufism
Islamic Resurgence
Islam around the World
Women and Islam


Complete all sections
participate in
discussions

Islam quiz
Please note: All make-up work or late work must be completed and turned in no later
than the last day of classes for the semester. Incomplete grades will convert to zeros
at that time.