RS 1301 (17200)
Introduction to Religious Studies
Fall 2004
MWF 1030-1120 a.m. QUIN 202
Ken Ducré, S.T.L.
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the study of religion which explores the nature of religious experience. This course will probe the universal forms of religious experience in an attempt to understand what religion is and what forms a religious world view; it will also investigate the immense diversity of religion in its historic manifestations. Using the student text as a commentary and source material from various religious traditions we shall examine the notion of religion from historical, anthropological, sociological, psychological, philosophical, and phenomenological perspectives. Each student is expected to contribute to the aims of this course by participating in class discussions.
The completion of reading and writing assignments is essential for each student’s full and vital contribution to the success of the course.
Course Objectives:
1. Understand how scholars study religion as historic phenomena within the domain
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7. of an academic discipline employing the tools available to them.
Use the discipline of academic study to understand the contributions of religion to human self understanding and culture.
Rise above religious sectarianism to appreciate religious diversity as an aspect of the rich historic and cultural heritage of all humanity.
Think critically about religion to recognize both the positive and negative contributions of religion to human understanding.
Contribute your own engaging insights and perspectives to class discussions based on your critical assessment of reading assignments.
Formulate ones own reflective and critical ideas about religion through writing in a class journal.
Research an issue of interest and present findings to the class.

Required Texts: A packet of readings have been prepared for you and can be obtained in the university library copy center. For a listing of readings contained in that packet, refer to the bibliography at the end of the course syllabus.
Course Outline:
I. Introduction
II.
A.
B.
Universal Expressions of Religion
A.
The Idea of Religion
The Study of Religion
Idea of the Sacred and the Holy
B.
C.
D.
Religious Language
1.
2.
3.
Symbol
Myth
Doctrine
Sacred Scripture
Ritual
E.
F.
G.
Concepts of Deity and Ultimate Reality
Cosmogony
Theodicy: The Problem of Evil
H.
I.
Ethics: Patterns of Religious Behavior
Soteriology: Salvation, Liberation, and the afterlife
III. Special Topics: Selected by each student
Course Requirements:
Class Participation and Attendance: Students are expected to participate actively in this course. Readings will be assigned throughout the semester either from the reading packet or from handouts so that the student will be informed on the topics presented during class sessions. The quality of the discussions will be enhanced by the comments and insights that each participating student brings to the discussion. Participation begins

with the actual attendance of the student. Attendance in class is mandatory. It is recognized, however, that there does arise a need for a student to be absent from class due to some personal need or responsibility . Each student will be allowed six (6) unexcused absences. So use them wisely! Any student absent from class beyond the six (6) days allowed will have five (5) points deducted from his or her grade for each class he or she fails to attend. If a student must be absent from class due to some university related activity, he or she must notify the lecturer in advance in writing. All work due at the time of that excused absence must be turned in to the professor before the excused absence.
Excessive absences may result in the student’s failure or being dropped from the course by the professor.
Class participation and attendance will make up twenty per cent
(20%) of the student’s final grade.
Reading Journal: In addition to assigned readings, each student will be required to keep and maintain a reading journal. Entries to one’s journal must be submitted by
6:00 p.m. the day before that reading will be covered in class using WebCT. Each journal entry is to be one (1) page in length (single spaced) and should contain the following points:
1. One (1) very short paragraph stating the gist of the reading assignment, not a long summary of the reading.
2. Your reaction and insights with respect to the reading.
3. A serious thought provoking question you would like to pose to your colleagues in the class about the reading to enhance and deepen our understanding of the reading.
Please note that late entries will not be accepted.
The class journal will comprise thirty per cent (30%) of the student’s final grade.
Student Research Paper and Presentation. Each student is to write an informative essay on a topic related to the course and of special interest to the student.
The student is to present his or her findings to the class. Each student should submit the topic for his or her research paper by September 17 th by midnight throught WebCT to be approved by the professor. At midterm the following must be submitted for a grade and to inform the professor of the student’s progress on his or her research:
A. The Topic
B. Description of Research (One or two paragraphs describing what your paper will be about and why you have chosen your topic)
C. Preliminary Outline
D. Initial findings
E. Annotated Bibliography
Class presentations will begin on November 8 th
. The class will work with the professor to determine the dates on which each student will make his or her class presentation. The

final research paper is due one week before the student will present his or her research to the class. The research paper and class presentation will make up fifty per cent (50%) of the student’s final grade.
Other Considerations for the Course:
Internet Access. Students may send all written assignments to the professor as an
“attachment” to your e-mail. Make sure your attachment is written in
Microsoft Word, which you can purchase at the University Bookstore for only $16.00.
How do I get Internet Access if I don’t have it?
Each student will be responsible to access WebCT. When you registered at UTEP you paid a Technology fee. This fee was $10.00 per credit hour. So if you are taking 15 credit hours, you paid $150.00 to have access to UTEP’s technology. Your fee did not exceed $150.00. (You can read about this in your Fall 2004 Schedule of Classes, in the section titled “Summary of Tuition and
Mandatory Fees – Fall 2004, on page 27.) If you do not have access to the internet at home, you can get access to the internet on campus. For purposes of your courses, you were assigned an e-mail address. For assistance, simply go to the Library Technology
Center (LTC) , which is located on the Third Floor of the Library Building, Room 324, phone: 747-5391.
Course Website: To find other important information about the course, please logon to the course Website by doing the following:
1.
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While in your internet browser, go to http:://www.my.utep.edu
Log on with your user name and password. (If you do not know these call the help desk.)
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4.
Select WebCT, which can be found at the top of that page.
Click on the appropriate course listing.
Exams: There will be no exams.
Evaluation: Each student is required to successfully complete all class requirements to receive a passing grade for the course.
1.
2.
3.
Class Participation
A.
B.
Reading Journal Entries
Research Paper and Presentation
Preliminary Findings at Midterm
Final Paper and Presentation
20% of grade
30% of grade
20% of Grade
30% of Grade

Grading Scale:
A 93 to 100 percent
B 85 to 92 percent
C
D
70 to 84 percent
60 to 69 percent
F 59 percent and below
Dates to Remember:
September 17 th
September 22 nd
October 8 th
October 12 th
October 18 th
November 8 th
November 22 nd
December 2 nd
NOTES:
Research Topics Due
Library Research Time (No Class Session)
Midterm Assignment Due
Midterm Grades due (for Freshmen)
Last day to drop
Class Presentations Begin
No Class (American Academy of Religion meets in
San Antonio, Texas)
Last Day of Class
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All Assignments should be submitted using WebCT.
Daily entries and other assignments are expected on due dates.
Each student is expected to complete all requirements for the course to receive a passing grade.
Students with disabilities: If you have or believe to have a disability, you may wish to self-identify. You can do so by providing documentation to the Office of
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Disabled Student Services located in the UTEP Union. If you have a condition, which may affect your ability to exit safely from the premises in an emergency or which may cause an emergency during class, you are encouraged to discuss this in confidence with the instructor and/ or the director of the Disabled Student
Services. You may call 747-5148 for general information about the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
In the event that it is necessary for you to be absent. Please discuss this matter with the instructor before the fact so that your absence will be recorded as
“excused.” Unexcused absences will result in lowering your grade. Frequent absences may result in your being dropped from the course.
Please turn off cell phones and beepers during class times.

Course Bibliography
Allport, Gordon W. and Michael Ross. (1967) Personal Religious Orientation and
Prejudice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5 (4), 432-443.
Eliade, Mircea. (1958) Patterns in Comparative Religion. Rosemary Sheed. (trans). New
York: Sheed & Ward.
Eliade, Mircea. (1969) The Quest: History and Meaning in Religion. Chicago: The
University of Chicago Press.
Eliade, Mircea. (1963) The Structure of Myth. Myth and Reality. Willard R. Trask
(trans). New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, pp. 1-20.
Freud, Sigmund. (1952) Totem and Taboo: Some Points of Agreement Between the
Mental Lives of Savages and Neurotics. James Strachey (trans). New York: Norton.
1
Geertz, Clifford. (1965) Religion as a Cultural System. Reader in Comparative Religion:
An Thropological Approach (2ed). William A. Lessa and Evon Z. Vogt (eds.). New
York: Harper & Row, Publishers.
Livingston, James C. (2001) Anatomy of the Sacred: An Introduction to Religion. Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Otto, Rudolf. (1982) The Idea of the Holy: An Inquiry into the Non-rational Factor in the idea of the Divine and Its Relation to the Rational. New York: Oxford University Press.
Ring, Nancy C. et al. (1998) Introduction to the Study of Religion. Maryknoll, , NY:
Orbis Press.
1 The pejorative use of “savages” by Freud will be addressed and discussed in class.