REL 200
Christian Vocation and the Search for Meaning II
What We Believe Matters
Augsburg for Adults Winter Term 2013
Saturdays 8:00 a.m.-11:59 a.m
Please refer to Records & Registration on the Inside Augsburg page (http://augnet.augsburg.edu) for the
latest information on room assignments for your classes.
Prerequisite: REL 100, Christian Vocation and the Search for Meaning I
Instructor
Dr. Russell C. Kleckley
Office: Memorial 227 Phone: 612-330-1348 E-mail: kleckley@augsburg.edu
Course Description
REL 200 builds on the basic knowledge of vocation, Bible, and Christian theology from
REL 100. The overall theme of the course is, “What we believe matters.” Students will
explore the connections between beliefs and interpretation of religious texts, cultural
views, intellectual and social beliefs, and encounters with people of other faith traditions.
Emphasis will be place on enabling students to examine and articulate their own
theological questions and positions.
Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of REL 200, students will be able to:
 Identify and articulate their own theological positions;
 Describe the relationship between religious beliefs and selected issues of social,
cultural, and intellectual significance;
 Evaluate theological claims made by others;
 Recognize the use of religious symbols in non-religious cultural settings.
Required Texts
Eck, Diana L. Encountering God: A Spiritual Journey from Bozeman to Banaras.
Boston: Beacon Press, 2003 (1993).
Gomes, Peter J. The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart. New York:
William Morrow and Co., 1996.
Hesse, Hermann. Siddhartha. Trans. Hilda Rosner. New York: Bantam Books, 1971.
Marsh, Charles. God’s Long Summer: Stories of Faith and Civil Rights. Princeton, NJ:
Princeton University Press, 1997.
You will also need a study Bible for this course.
Course Requirements
Please note: In order to receive the maximum possible points for any assignment, the assignment
must be submitted when it is due. A minimum of 2 points will automatically be subtracted from
any individual assignment submitted late. As appropriate, more specific instructions and criteria
will be given in a separate hand-out for the requirements below.
1. Class Preparation and Participation (10% of the course grade). Adequate preparation,
including the completion of assigned reading and other pre-class work, is essential for
achieving the desired outcomes of this course. For your work in the course, you will be
assigned to a team of fellow students for in-class discussion and activities as well as on-
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line discussions in preparation for the coming class session. Your work in these groups
will be critical not only for your own learning in the course but to the benefit of your
fellow students as well. In preparation for class sessions, the instructor will frequently
post questions for discussion using on-line forums using Moodle. Students should review
these questions and prior to class and offer responses for on-line discussion with other
students and the instructor. An orientation will be given at the first class session to
Moodle and the process for these discussions.
2. Cumulative Reflection Papers on the Units and the Course (90% of the course grade).
Students will write a series of papers, one per unit for the course, that:
o Reflect on the relationship between the readings, class discussions, and
themes of the course;
o Demonstrate the student’s knowledge, comprehension, and application of
the content of the respective units;
o Engage the student’s own thoughts and reactions to course content and
themes.
These papers will not function as stand alone assignments, however. Rather, each paper
will build on the previous ones, leading to a final paper that demonstrates coherence
across the themes and issues we encounter in the course. As we move through the
course, students will continue to work with their previous papers to revise, edit, correct as
needed, and work them into the developing narrative. For that reason, the papers will
percentage each paper contributes toward the final course grade will increase from paper
to paper to reflect the development of the work toward the final, fourth paper. The
percentage of the course grade will be distributed among the papers as follows:
Paper 1: 15%
Paper 2: 20%
Paper 3: 25%
Paper 4: 30%.
Specific guidelines will be given well in advance of the due dates for each paper. The
guidelines will include specific criteria for the issues the student is to address for the unit
as well as for relating the particular paper to the others in the cumulative project.
There are no tests or exams in this course.
Grading Scale
Grades for individual assignments and requirements will calculated on a point basis, with
points distributed as indicated in the Course Requirements section below. Final course
grades will be determined as follows:
4.0 = 90-100 earned points
3.5 = 85-89 earned points
3.0 = 80-84 earned points
2.5 = 75-79 earned points
2.0 = 70-74 earned points
1.5 = 65-69 earned points
1.0 = 60-64 earned points
0.5 = 55-59 earned points
0.0 = below 55 earned points.
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Grading Criteria
Grades that correspond to 4.0 (A): Achieves the highest standards of excellence.
Excellent work distinguishes itself in some way—for example, beauty of expression,
depth of insight, original thinking, superior depth of thought and quality.
Grades that correspond to 3.5-3.0 (B+ to B): Achieves basic course standards. Good work
meets all the criteria and contains clear writing; above average in depth of thought
and quality of expression.
Grades that correspond to 2.5-2.0 (C+ to C): Meets basic standards for the course and
meets expectations in depth of thought and quality of expression.
Grades that correspond to 1.5-1.0 (D+ to D): Performs below basic course standards;
work needs improvement in quality of thought and depth of expression and/or does
not meet at least some of the stated criteria.
Grades that correspond to 0.5-0.0 (below D): Unacceptable performance.
Course Policies and Procedures
Policies and procedures outlined in the Augsburg College Student Handbook concerning
attendance, academic honesty, and other relevant issues will be followed in this course.
Students are expected to be punctual and regular in their attendance in order to facilitate a
positive learning environment for everyone.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Unit I: Searching for Meaning
January 12
Topic: The Search Meaning and the Search for Self
To read: Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha
Additional assignments: Consult the Moodle site for this course
for a study guide for Siddhartha. Complete any information you
are asked to provide on the guide and bring it with you to class.
Note: I also will e-mail this study guide to you in advance.
Unit II: What We Believe Affects Our Vocation in Relation to Culture
January 26
Topic: Conflicting Experiences, Conflicting Beliefs, and
Conflicting View on Civil Rights
To read: Charles Marsh, God’s Long Summer, Introduction,
Chapters 1-2.
Additional assignments: A study guide for Marsh’s book is
posted on Moodle under “Assignment” for this session for your
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use in preparing for this session. See also Moodle forums for
discussion topics.
Note: Paper 1 due; see information and criteria distributed
in class.
February 2
Topic: Continuation of Conflicting Experiences, Conflicting
Beliefs, and Conflicting View on Civil Rights
To read: Charles Marsh, God’s Long Summer, Chapters 3-4.
Additional assignments: A study guide for Marsh’s book is
posted on Moodle under “Assignment” for this session for your
use in preparing for this session. See also Moodle forums for
discussion topics.
Unit III: What We Believe Shapes How We Read Sacred Texts
February 14
Topic: The Interpretation and Use of the Sacred Texts
To read: Peter Gomes, The Good Book, chapters 1-2, 5,6
Additional assignments: Consult Moodle for discussion
questions and forums as well as additional texts.
Note: Paper 2 due; see information and criteria distributed
in class.
March 2
Topic: Interpretation, Sacred Texts, and Culture
To read: Peter Gomes, The Good Book, chapters to be
determined by students.
Additional texts from various religious traditions to be
determined.
Unit IV: Deepening Our Beliefs in a Culture of Religious Pluralism
March 16
Topic: Encountering Other Religions
To read: Selections from the Bhagavad Gita and the
Dhammapada, available through the links on Moodle for this
session.” Also, Diana Eck, Encountering God, Preface 2003,
Preface 1993 and chapter 1, “Bozeman to Banaras”
Note: Paper 3 due; see information and criteria distributed
in class.
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March 23
Topic: Examining Our Own Beliefs Through the Lens of
Others’ Beliefs
To read: Diana Eck, Encountering God, chapters 3-4, 6-7.
Consult Moodle under “Assignment” for this session for a study
guide with specific page numbers and other information related
to the assignment for this session. Look also for discussion
forums related to this topic.
Note: Paper 4 due by 9:00 a.m., Monday, April 1st; see
information and criteria distributed in class. Papers may be
submitted electronically via Moodle.