SUFFOLK COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COURSE OUTLINE
INSTRUCTOR: Jonathan Ferrante
DEPT.: Social Sciences
SEMESTER: Fall 2010
COURSE/SEC: History of Religion
CATALOG: HIS 120
DAY/TIME: Tues & Thurs. 3:30 – 4:45
Required Readings:
 Religious Traditions of The World; edited by H. Byron Earhart
 The Hindu Tradition by Ainslie T. Embree and William Theodore De Bary
 The Buddhist Tradition: In India, China and Japan by William Theodore De Bary
Supplemental Readings:
 Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man; by U.R. Anantha Murthy and A.K. Ramanujan
 Silence; by Shusako Endo
Contact Information:
 Office: Southampton Building
 Office hours:
 Email: ferranj@sunysuffolk.edu
Objectives of the Course:
The student will be able to:
 Describe the two major religious visions of the world and the various
religious traditions which grew out of them.
 Demonstrate an “historical awareness” by citing specific examples of
continuities and change through time, such as doctrines, rituals, attitudes
toward family, government, environment and class within the various
religious traditions.
 Evaluate the important role religion has played in societies around the
world.
 Understand how religion and culture have impacted each other.
 Show the value of historical research by becoming acquainted with
primary and secondary materials.
 Practice his/her writing, thinking and comprehension skills through
reading and writing assignments.
Procedures for accomplishing these objectives:
 Lectures
 Class participation
 Writing assignments
 Reading assignments
 Exams
Class Conduct:
 In accordance with the student handbook, all cell phones and other electronic
devices, including computers, are to be turned off while class is in session.
 In order to get the full benefit of this course, students need to arrive to class on
time and ready to work. Showing up to class more than 5 minutes late will be
considered as half (1/2) an absence.
 Students are expected to participate in class discussions, ask questions and take
notes. You must be an active learner.
Student requirements for completion of the course:
 RESEARCH PROJECT (60% of final grade)
Students will be asked to write an 8 -10 page paper on some aspect of religion.
Possible research topics will be provided by the instructor. However, a student
may propose a topic they find interesting. All student generated proposals need
prior approval from the instructor. Please be aware that I will not accept late
papers (even if you are absent from class on the date the paper is due). In an
emergency you may e-mail me your reaction paper on or before the date it is
due.
 EXAMS (30% of final grade)
You are required to two (2) exams for this course. There will be a midterm and a
final exam. The final be cumulative.
 PARTICIPATION (10% of final grade)
Ten (10) percent of your grade will be based upon your attendance and
participation. I not only welcome your questions, your thoughts and your
enthusiasm – it will earn you additional points towards your final grade. If you
have less than two (2) absences, you will earn five (5) points. If you have less
than two (2) absences and share your thoughts, your questions and your
perspectives with the class you will earn a maximum of ten (10) points.

EXTRA CREDIT – Extra Credit will not be offered in this course.
Attendance Policy:
 All students are expected to attend every class session, and are responsible for all
that transpires in class whether or not they are in attendance. I consider more
than one (1) absence to be excessive, and excessive absences may lead to failure
in the course or being dropped from the roster unless you speak to me AND I
allow for extenuating circumstances.
 Also, if you stop attending class but do not officially drop the course I will assign
you and “F” not a “W” at the end of the semester.
 Furthermore, college policy states, “A student may withdraw from a course and
be guaranteed a W any time up to the mid-semester date…After the midsemester date, the designation awarded shall be at the discretion of the
instructor.” The last date to withdraw from the class and be guaranteed a “W” is
the midpoint of the semester. Please be aware that I will ordinarily grant a “W”
only until the end of the tenth week of classes.
 If you leave class early without prior permission from the instructor, it will be
counted as an absence.
Plagiarism Policy:
The college’s policy on plagiarism can be found in the Student Code of Conduct and
Student Conduct Process section of the student handbook. Please be aware that
plagiarism can result in your failure of this course. You will be asked to sign a statement
of integrity and attach it to each paper you hand in for this course.
The following is a general timeline for class lectures, and written assignments. Any
changes to it will be announced in class.
Program:
Week 1:
What is Religion?
Jerusalem and Varanasi – Peter Berger’s essay on confrontational and interior religions.
Week 2:
Judaism: From Ancient Hebrews to Modern Day Judaism
Examine the development of the religion of the Ancient Hebrews, the temple cult and its
transformation into the Jewish religion.
Religious Traditions of the World; pg. 379 – 431
Week 3:
Christianity
Discuss the historical circumstances which influenced the development of Christianity.
Medieval and Orthodox Christianity.
Religious Traditions of the World; pg. 491 – 561
Week 4:
Introduction to Islam
Historical Background – Influence of Judaism and Christianity and relationship between
the various Arab tribes and the rise of Muhammad’s community.
Religious Traditions of the World; pg. 607 – 628
Week 5:
Sunni and Shia
Use the rise of the Caliphate to explain the creation of the sects.
Islam in India and with the Turks for the rise/use of Sufi Islam.
Religious Traditions of the World; pg. 629 – 687
Week 6:
Islam and Modernity
Discuss the geographic borders of the Islamic world.
Case studies of secular and religious states in the Islamic world.
Islam in the US – Malcolm X
Religious Traditions of the World; pg. 688 – 703
Week 7:
Midterm
Introduction to Hinduism
The Indus Valley Civilization and the Indo-European invaders
Examine the Vedas and the early stories of the gods, rituals and the development of
caste
Religious Traditions of the World; pg. 719 – 753
Week 8:
Challenges to Brahmanism
Monism and the development of Hinduism
Major thinkers in this development such as Shankara
Religious Traditions of the World; pg. 754 – 806
Week 9:
Hinduism and Modernity: Two Paths
Gandhi
The Bharatiya Janata Party
Religious Traditions of the World; pg. 807 - 832
Week 10:
Introduction to Buddhism
Historical setting of the rise of Buddhism (Brahmanism, Jainism)
Early stories surrounding the Buddha and his teachings
Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
The Dharma Goes East – Chan and Zen forms
Religious Traditions of the World; pg. 853 – 920
The Buddhist Tradition; pg. 15 – 32
Week 11:
Buddhism and Modernity
Dalai Lama
Buddhism in China and Japan
Impact on the West
Religious Traditions of the World; pg. 920 – 958
Week 12:
Introduction to Confucianism
Historical role in China
Impact on social relationships and statecraft
Interaction with Daoism and Buddhism
Religious Traditions of the World; pg. 979 – 1065
Week 13:
Shintoism
History of the religion and myths
Interaction with Buddhism
Role in Japanese nationalism
Religious Traditions of the World; pg. 1080 – 1152
Week 14:
Interior and Confrontational Together
A case study using examples from Clifford Geertz’s Islam Observed
Final Exam