Introduction to Religion
REL 2000#5822, summer, 2009
100% online
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.

Please use your UWF email account since my email program deletes most email
from free accounts such as yahoo, gmail and hotmail.

Always use the subject line and include the course number (REL2000) and the
reason for the email.

Since I teach more than one class, please identify yourself and the class you
attend. You’d be surprised how many emails I get that are not signed and have
no identifying information.

Please check your UWF email regularly because I often send important notices
through group mail.
Office Hours: I have no office hours during the summer semester since I am teaching
100% online. However, I will be on main campus two days a week on Tuesday and
Wednesday, and so appointments on those days will be available. Since this class is
online, most of our communication will be by email.
Required Texts: No textbook. We are using interactive software.
Revealing World Religions, Version 3.1 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. Once you register your CD with the software developer, you must enter a
passkey. Our course 5 letter passkey this semester is *alive* (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.
eLearning:
Our class is 100% online. I recommend that you go through the Student Orientation
Guide located on your “My Home” page of eLearning. If you encounter any
technological problems any time during the semester, please contact ITS. There is a
“request help from the ITS Help Desk” link located on your “My Home” page. There is
a quick start guide available.
Grading:
25% --participation on discussion boards and progress on the CD
25%—quizzes on individual religions
20%—religious autobiography
5%—abstract and bibliography
25%—final research paper
Religious Autobiography:
One of the first writing assignments in the course will be to write your own religious
autobiography. Papers should be 2 or 3 pages long with an average size of 2 pages
double spaced. There will be no citations (footnotes) required since this assignment is
about you. All papers for this course should be double spaced using Times New
Roman, 12 pt, and black font. Evaluation is based on content, form and style. Since this
is your autobiographical sketch of your religious development/beliefs, there are no
wrong answers. But you do need to prepare the paper in an interesting, professional
and organized manner.
Research Paper:
The research paper will be independent research and analysis of a topic related to the
academic study of religion. The topic must be relevant to our subject matter, and by that
I mean the topic should address religion from an academic stand point and not from a
religious stand point. We aren’t doing religion; we are researching and learning about
religion. The finished paper should be 4-5 pages in length. A list of appropriate topics
will be provided. You are not limited to the listed topics and may research a topic of
your own, but only after approval from the instructor. Papers are evaluated on four
criteria: (1) Style/Grammar; (2) Depth of analysis; (3) Logic and clarity of argument; (4)
Research skills including footnotes and bibliography. Students should incorporate class
materials into the research paper and demonstrate a clear understanding of the course
readings. The grading rubric is located on the file called “Writing research papers in
religious studies” located in the content section. Prior to turning in the finished research
paper, a proposed outline of research plans and a proposed bibliography will be turned
in, allowing me to give you some feedback and help.
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 a minimum of 2 log-ins per
week and active participation on the discussion boards. Active participation is defined
as at least one original posting in the discussion section of the website each week as well
as at least 1 response to another student’s comment or question. These discussion posts
must be substantive and relevant. In other words, writing “I agree with Joe!” is not
substantive.
More about Respect:
Unlike other disciplines, religious studies is unique in that students begin this class with
deeply held convictions about (and often emotional attachments to) the subject matter.
When studying mathematics, for example, it would be unusual for students to believe
that an equilateral triangle is true but an isosceles triangle is false, and yet this is often
the case with religious studies. This presents a challenge for students and so I ask you
approach these new systems of thought with an open mind (or at least a neutral mind)
in the hopes that by understanding another system of belief, you may find that you
understand your own tradition a little better. No student is asked to compromise his or
her own beliefs, and yet we must practice tolerance for beliefs other than our own. The
academic study of religion is not about ranking religions from better to worse. Each
system of belief is appreciated for its own contribution to the world.
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
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.
Plagiarism and Turnitin Notice: All written work that you turn in must be your own.
Please make sure you understand the rules of plagiarism and that you have gone
through the UWF Plagiarism Policy. The consequences for academic dishonesty are
severe and anyone caught “cutting and pasting” or downloading other research papers
or working together on quizzes will fail the course and will be referred to the Assistant
Dean for further disciplinary action. Your research paper and midterm will be scanned
by Turnitin software to evaluate it for originality. If you object to this, you have a right
to notify me within one week from the first day of class to request that I use an
alternative method of evaluating your paper.
Suggestions for success:

Keep track of the syllabus schedule. Make an appointment with yourself twice a
week to work on this class.

Be sure to keep up. It is very common in online classes for students with the best
intentions to fall behind.

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.

Be sure you have read and understood the UWF plagiarism policy. Plagiarism
ranges from minor infractions such as mistaken footnotes all the way to more
serious cases of downloading complete papers from the internet. There is a range
of infractions in between. Make sure you are turning in work in your own words.
1
Module/Dates
Topic /Sections on CD
Assignments
Orientation
May 11-17
Intro/Syllabus
Student intros
Course overview
Orientation
Read UWF plagiarism policy
or go through tutoring
module at UWF library
take Syllabus quiz
2
3
Exploring
Religions
May 18-24
Hinduism
May 25-May 31
4
Buddhism
June 1-7
5
Sikhism
June 8-14
What is Religion?
Types of Religions
Studying Religion
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
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
complete all sections in
courseware
complete all sections
Hinduism quiz
“My Religious
Autobiography” due May 31
at 11:59 PM
Complete all sections
Buddhism quiz
Complete all sections
Sikhism quiz
6
Taoism
June 15-21
7
Confucianism
June 22-28
8
Shinto
June 29-July 5
9
Judaism
July 6-12
10
Christianity
July 13-19
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
Early Japanese Religion
Shinto after Buddhism
Key Characteristics Shinto
Mythology Kami
Shinto Shrines
Shinto Worship
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
Taoism quiz
Complete all sections
Confucianism quiz
Proposed
Outline/Bibliography due
June 28 11:59 PM
Complete all sections
Shinto quiz
Complete all sections
Judaism quiz
Complete all sections
Christianity quiz
11
Islam
July 20-26
Life of Mohammad
Islamic Texts
Major Tenets of Islam
Religious Practices
History of Islam
Complete first 5 sections
Research Paper due
July 26 at 11:59 PM
12
Islam
July 27-Aug 2
Sufism
Islamic Resurgence
Islam around the World
Women and Islam
Complete these 4 sections
Islam quiz
13
Religious
Pluralism
Aug 3-7
The World’s Religions
New Religious Movements
Religion in the 21st century
Complete all sections
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.