Sacramento City College
Courses by Television
Fall 2007
PHILOSOPHY 352
Instructor: Dan Restaino
Introduction To World Religions
3 Units
16807
Auditorium A 14
This is an introductory level course that examines belief structures. These "worldviews" exist in such entities as traditional religions or as ideologies such as feminism or environmentalism.
In this course, presentations from and about a variety of “worldviews” will help the student develop a basic o understanding of what individuals believe and why they believe it. The student will gain some initial exposure to major world religions -- Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity,
Islam -- as well as systems of belief such as new age, neo-paganism, and civil religion."
Telecourse Activities o ATTEND Orientation Session and TEN (10) Other Class Meetings :
(No one will be added to nor retained in the class if they have not attended the orientation.)
Auditorium A 14 Saturday September 1 8:00 am - 10:00 pm
View 24 (60 minute) telelesson programs titled Beliefs & Believers o Read and review the STUDY GUIDE and 2 other books
Traditionally, a plurality of religions and secular worldviews in any given society has resulted in tensions -- sometimes leading to violence. What the world needs is a religiously literate people, individuals who have learned to respond to religious differences, not with fear and violence, but with interest and understanding.
Course Objectives
The overall objective is to engage the subject of religious diversity in a thought-provoking manner.
The student is expected to recognize the need for religious tolerance in a pluralistic society.
The student will be able to identify cultures that influence and are influenced by various worldviews.
The student will be able to identify major religions and describe them according to the following dimensions
-- mythic, experiential, doctrinal, ritualistic, ethical, and social.
The student must set aside time & energy during the semester to complete reading & writing assignments.
The student must take responsibility for covering material & asking questions in class or privately when confused.
The student must demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge to contemporary issues.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Beliefs & Believers Study Guide 2 nd edition. Simmons, John.
Governors State University.
Worldviews : Crosscultural Exploration of Human Beliefs. Smart, Ninian.
Charles Scribner's Sons.
Ethics of World Religions. Hunt, Arnold & Crotty, Robert.
Greenhaven Press.

Lecture and Review Sessions
These sessions will provide an opportunity to review course assignments and answer student questions.
Lectures will reinforce pertinent material from the text, but will rarely be a repetitious of the video programs.
Sessions will be held at SCC
Orientation Sat Sep 1
Auditorium Room A 14
Class Hours
SCC 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Lecture Sat Sep 15 SCC 8:30 am - 10:00 am
Office Hours
(none)
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{ all other Saturdays
Lecture
Exam #1
Lecture
Lecture
Sat
Sat
Sat
Sat
Sep 29
Oct 13
Oct 20
Nov 3
SCC 8:30 am - 10:00 am
SCC 8:30 am - 10:00 am
SCC 8:30 am - 10:00 am
SCC 8:30 am - 10:00 am
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8:00 am - 8:25 am
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Exam #2
Lecture
Sat Nov 17
Sat Dec 1
SCC 8:30 am - 10:00 am
SCC 8:30 am - 10:00 am
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Lecture
Exam #1
Sat Dec 8
Sat Dec 15
SCC 8:30 am - 10:00 am
SCC 8:30 am - 10:00 am
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Instructor
Mr. Daniel Restaino received an M.A. in Christian Ethics and a Master of Divinity from St. Patrick's
Theologate, Menlo Park, California. He also attended California State University, Sacramento and received an M.A. in Communication Studies. He has taught Philosophy, Speech and Library Science classes in the
Los Rios College District. His evaluations consistently reflect an acknowledgment of strongly organized and informative presentations as well as a distinctly student-centered atmosphere in his teaching method.
SCC Dean :
Dan Restaino
Chris Iwata 916-558-2552
Mail box : SCC Humanities & Fine Arts Office
3835 Freeport Boulevard, Sacramento CA 95822-1386
Voicemail : (24 hour service)
Email : restaid@scc.losrios.edu
Local
Auditorium A 19 a
916-568-3100 ext. 13575
Long Distance 1-800-468-8156 ext. 13575
Website : http://www.scc.losrios.edu/~restaid
Student Requirements
Each student will be expected to spend approximately nine (9) hours per week on this class.
This includes class time, video presentations, reflection, reading, reviewing & preparation of assignments.
The point system is designed to give the student a grade based on his or her own effort and competence.
Each person completing sufficient points will receive the corresponding grade.
Students are encouraged to work together for study and research.

Include your NAME, and ASSIGNMENT TITLE at the top of each paper.
GRADING
270+ = A
240+ = B
210+ = C
180+ = D less than 180 = F
Source Reviews
Three (3) exams
Belief / Faith Definition
Library Worksheet
Program Reviews
One (1) Study Paper
(2 @ 10 each)
(40 points each)
(2 @ 10 each)
Attendance (7 sessions @ 5 each)
(make-up: up to 3 papers @ 5 each)
20
120
20
15
20
40
35
Visit Report extra credit Calendar Date (2 parts @ 5 points each)
30
Exams -- multiple choice & based primarily on Study Guide and 2 Texts; need ScanTron 880 or 882
Attendance -- 1 Orientation & 6 Lectures & 1 Review session @ 5 points each
Format for all written assignments : typed, single-spaced, 1 inch margins (top, bottom & sides) no cover sheet, nor report cover. If handwritten, double space, no right margin.
BELIEF / FAITH DEFINITION : Two parts equal one assignment. (Due Sep 15) 350 - 400 words total.
Part 1) about 175-200 words on what you think of when you hear the word "belief", keep it personal "I take the position that...", "My reasons are...", Do not use quotes nor references to other sources.
Part 2) about 175-200 words explaining a "researched" (list author & title of source) definition of "faith" from a SINGLE source not a dictionary nor the Study Guide nor texts for this class; no more than one sentence quote. Tell me what they said; "He/she, the author said...", No personal statements.
LIBRARY WORKSHEET : (Due Sep 29) Complete an exercise handed out in class.
FOR PROGRAM & SOURCE REVIEWS : YOU MUST LIST
WORLDVIEWS AND DIMENSION FOR PART A & B
Two SOURCE REVIEWS : (Due #1 Sep 29 and #2 Nov 3) 200-250 words same format as Definition.
EACH SOURCE REVIEW MUST HAVE PART A AND PART B
A) about 100-125 words on the explanation from a non class book (list author / title) of a concept from one dimension of one worldview; identify worldview and dimension.
B) about 100-125 words on your experience/meaning of dimension listed in Part A from your worldview.
Two PROGRAM REVIEWS : (Due #1 Oct 20 and #2 Nov 3) 200-250 words same format as Definition.
EACH PROGRAM REVIEW MUST HAVE PART A AND PART B
A) about 100-125 words on the explanation of one TV guest's position from one of the video programs.
B) about 100-125 words on your experience/meaning of dimension listed in Part A from your worldview.
WORLDVIEW ANALYSIS / VISIT ESSAY : (Due Dec 1) 1000 words
A report based on first-hand observations, deliberately avoiding the use of secondary sources, so do not use footnotes and bibliography. Handout with outline will be provided in class.
STUDY PAPER : (Due Dec 8) 900-1000 words; you will receive an outline and explanation in class.
Worldview, Dimension & Element. Research from two non-class sources, comparison & personal position. extra credit -- CALENDAR DATE : (Due Dec 8) 70-80 words & 5 points for each Part. (Do one or both.)
Part A) What is the Gregorian Calendar and what is your date of birth using this calendar.
Part B) What is another calendar and how would your date of birth be identified using that calendar.
LAST DAY TO TURN IN ALL WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS IS -- Dec 8
Late assignments will have 1 point per week deducted from the total possible score.

WEEK DATES
CLASS/CHAPTER
SCHEDULED MATERIAL
1
2 - 4
1
Aug 25 to
Sep 1
2-4
Sep 2 to
Sep 22
5 – 6 Sep 23 to
Orientation / Introduction to Philosophy / History of Philosophy
Course goals and objectives. Characteristics of academic discipline
Religious studies and approaches to the study of religion.
Methodology & fundamentals. Challenges of language, interpretation and culture in describing extraordinary or parapsychological events
Sep 15 Belief / Faith Paper due
Effect of religious experience on believers, force for change in the
7 - 9
5-7
Oct 7 to
Oct 6
Sep 29 world. Present Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
Source Review # 1 and Library Worksheet due
Oct 13 Exam # 1
First dimensional triangle : experiential, mythic, and ritual.
8-11 Oct 27 Profound life questions answered and guide ritual activity of believers.
Explores the power of myth as "paradigmatic narrative," functions of myth, types of myths and "civil religious" myths.
Oct 20
10 - 11
12-16
Oct 28 to
Nov 10
Program Review # 1 due
Relationship between myth and ritual; Primal religion.
Varieties and functions of symbols on religious & secular levels.
Doctrinal dimension and its interrelation to other dimensions.
Explore the key functions and boundaries of doctrine.
Nov 3
Nov 3
Source Review # 2 due
Program Review # 2 due
Nov 17 Exam # 2
12 - 13
17-20
Nov 11 to
Nov 24
14 - 15 Nov 25 to
21-23 Dec 7
Dec 1
Explores how believers use doctrines; beliefs about the sacredness of reality. Second dimensional triangle - doctrinal, ethical and social. behavior, cross-cultural look at religion-based ethical stances.
Explores the relationship between religion and politics, the nature of sects, cults, churches & denominations, Protestant roots of America.
Visit Report due
16
24
Dec 8 to
Dec 14
Dec 8
Summary and review of major themes of the course and how this may have changed students perception on religion and religious diversity.
Dec 8
Study Paper due
LAST DAY TO TURN IN ALL WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS.
17 Dec 15 to
Dec 20
SCC Call Number for
Dec 15 Exam # 3 videocassettes : BL 80.2 .B45
and program number
558-2362 -- SCC Learning Resource Center Room 144 -- for HOURS call 558-2671