Course Outline: 2014-15
Religious Studies 2130
Location:
HUC W 116
Day(s):
M, T, W, Thurs.
Time:
9:30am-noon
Instructor(s): W. Acres
Contact info: wacres@uwo.ca, bacres@gtn.net
Phone: 519-438-7224 x 608 (email is preferable).
Course Syllabus:
Purpose of the Course:
The purpose of the course is to develop students’ understanding of the living
religions of the world with a major emphasis on their origins, historical
development, teachings and practices. The current practices of these religions,
both within their region (country) of origin, and abroad, will be discussed.
Religions are not “linear” or logical. Much of the material will be presented in
a linear fashion, but there are thematic areas of some complexity—of special
note are the concepts of Brahman-Atman in Hindu Upanishads; Anatta in
Buddhism; Sacraments and the Trinity in Christianity; but, otherwise, the
materials are accessible. There are great similarities between religions but in
this course there is no attempt to homogenize them. Canada is a thriving
multicultural society and the study of religions is a part of Canadian culture and
society.
Course Content:
The course provides a detailed analysis of the major beliefs and practices of
Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto,
Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Bahai.
Schedule: Intersession 2015, May-June:
Course Schedule:
May
11: Intro: Acres
12: The Indian religions overview
and Hindu I
13: Hinduism II
14: Hinduism III and Buddhism
18: Victoria Day—no class
19: Buddhism II
20: Jain
21: Sikh
25: 2130:Term Test no 1. In-class,
one hour, Introduction to China
26: Confucianism
27: Taoism
28: Shinto
June
1: Zoroastrianism
2: 2130: Test no. 2, one-hour;
intro to monotheism
3: Judaism I
4: Judaism II
8: Christianity I
9: Christianity: Site visit, TBA
10: Islam: Site visit, TBA
11: Christianity II (Lecture)
15: Islam I (Lecture)
16: Islam II (Lecture)
17: Islam III and Bahai (Lecture)
18: Review
Examination period 2015: 22-23
June. The final examination is a
combination of scantron and
essay.
The above is the general pattern for the lectures: much of the material will
overlap into the following week. Not all of the material on the following sheet
will be covered in class. Each student must, therefore, read the appropriate
required text in addition to the lecture material.
Course Delivery:
It is a very good policy to attend all lectures—history shows that the highest grades
follow nearly perfect attendance. Attendance is mandatory; any material presented
is testable. These speakers have been brought in to enrich your learning experience
by allowing students to encounter and dialogue with someone from within the
faith.
Course Materials:
The course materials are the textbook (as below) and all materials are available to
students on Sakai: Lecture notes, background notes, interviews with experts,
review questions and answers, and other materials as needed (directions to visits).
Please note: site visits are mandatory.
Required Text
1. A Concise Introduction to World Religions, ed. W. G. Oxtoby & A. F.
Segal. New York: Oxford University Press. 2013.
Assignments & Method of Evaluation of Assignments:
Assessments:
Two term tests of Scantron questions (40 and 20% , respectively) May 25 and June
2, as well as a final examination of 40% during the examination period, June 22 or
23, 2015. Please note: Scantrons will not be reviewed as part of the assessment
process. Scantrons will be processed as filled in. Reviews for each test, review
questions and answers will be provided on Sakai. Lectures are mandatory in this
course, so please make sure you are in attendance. Intersession moves very quickly
and absences will have a serious effect on your grades.
Additional Statements:
1.
Statement on Use of Electronic Devices during Tests and Exams
It is not appropriate to use technology (such as, but not limited, to laptops, PDAs, cell phones) in the
classroom for non-classroom activities. Such activity is disruptive and is distracting to other students
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and to the instructor, and can inhibit learning. Students are expected to respect the classroom
environment and to refrain from inappropriate use of technology and other electronic devices in class.
2.
Statement on Academic Offences: Scholastic offences are taken seriously and students are
directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic
Offence, at the following web site: http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2014/pg113.html.
3.
Plagiarism-detecting Software/Computer Marking:
All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the
commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection
of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents
in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently
submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently
between The University of Western Ontario and Turnitin.com ( http://www.turnitin.com ).
B) Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams may be subject to submission for
similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that
may indicate cheating.
4.
5.
Support Services:
 UWO Registrar’s Office: http://www.registrar.uwo.ca

Huron’s Faculty of Theology, Office of the Dean:
http://www.huronuc.on.ca/faculty_of_theology/info_for_current_students

Faculty of Theology office: srice@uwo.ca, 519-438-7224, ext. 289

Huron’s Writing Skills Centre: http://www.huronuc.on.ca/student_life/writing_services

UWO’s Mental Health website: http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ Students who are in
emotional/mental distress should refer to this website for a complete list of options about how to obtain
help.

UWO Student Support and Development Services:
http://communications.uwo.ca/current_students/student_services.htm
Accommodation for absences:
If documentation is required for either medical or non-medical academic accommodation, then such
documentation must be submitted by the student directly to your Faculty’s Dean’s office (or academic
counselor), and not to the instructor. For the Faculty of Theology, all such documentation must be
submitted to room A227. It will be the Dean`s office that will determine if accommodation is
warranted.
a) Medical absences: See also the Policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness
—Undergraduate Students, at http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/medical.pdf)
[For work representing 10% or more of the overall grade for the course, a student must
present documentation indicating that the student was seriously affected by illness and could not
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reasonably be expected to meet his/her academic responsibilities. Documentation must be
submitted as soon as possible to your Faculty Dean’s office (Huron Arts & Social Science
students should take their documentation to the Academic Counsellor, through the Academic
Services Centre at Huron), together with a Request for Relief specifying the nature of the
accommodation requested. The request and documentation will be assessed and appropriate
accommodation will be determined by the Dean’s office in consultation with the instructor(s.)
Academic accommodation will be granted ONLY where the documentation indicates that the
onset, duration and severity of the illness are such that the student could not reasonably be
expected to complete his/her academic responsibilities.
The UWO Student Medical Certificate (SMC) and Request for Relief are available at the Student
Centre website (https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/index.cfm), Huron University College
Academic Counselling website (www.huronuc.on.ca) or from the Dean’s Office or Academic
Services Centre at Huron.