Great Religions of the Western World
HUM / REL 014B
Spring 2009
E-Mail: mstewart@deltacollege.edu
Office Telephone: (209) 954-5497
GREAT RELIGIONS OF THE WESTERN WORLD
CLASS INFORMATION SHEET
SPRING 2009 (January 12 – May 14)
Course Code
71613
97267
26934
75019
30673
30248
Department #
HUM 014B
REL 014B
HUM 014B
REL 014B
HUM 014B
REL 014B
Meeting Days
T/Th
T/Th
MWF
MWF
MWF
MWF
Meeting Times
8:00 – 9:30
8:00 – 9:30
11:00 – 12:00
11:00 – 12:00
8:00 – 9:00
8:00 – 9:00
Classroom #
South Forum
South Forum
Cunningham 429
Cunningham 429
Cunningham 429
Cunningham 429
TEXTBOOK
Fisher, M. P. (2008). Living Religions: Custom Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ. Prentice-Hall
Supplement by David Noss
Expectation of Students
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Arrive on Time. If you are late with good reason, please find a seat at the back of the room.
Be Courteous to Instructor and Fellow students.
No Talking during class unless participating in classroom or group discussions.
Indicate questions and responses with a raised hand.
No Cell Phone use. If you expect an emergency call, sit near an exit and take the call outside; you
must pre-arrange this with the instructor and put your phone on “vibrate”
6. Plagiarism will result in a “0” grade for the assignment.
7. No Offensive language will be permitted.
8. All tests and assignments are to be submitted on time; no exceptions
9. No more than three excused absences will be accepted. Contact instructor via email with regard to
absences.
10. If you are requested to leave the room by the Instructor you must do so immediately. A “yellow
card” / “Red Card” system is used. If your behavior merits dismissal from the room, the instructor
on the first offence will issue a yellow card warning. You will leave immediately and return to see
the instructor at the end of the class period. A second offence is considered egregious and you will
be expected to immediately leave the room; you will need to schedule a meeting with the
instructor and your coach (if you are a student athlete) or a counselor before you are permitted to
return to the class. A third dismissal will result in a failing grade for the class.
Grading Scale
90 – 100
80 – 89
70 – 79
60 – 69
Below 60
Assignments counted in Grade
A
B
C
D
F
Online Midterm
Online Final
In-Class Final
Portfolio
Total
20%
20%
10%
50%
100%
Great Religions of the Western World
HUM / REL 014B
Spring 2009
E-Mail: mstewart@deltacollege.edu
Office Telephone: (209) 954-5497
Online Midterm and Online Final
These tests are taken online on the E-Tudes course site. They will cover all of the modules handled in
class; these tests will be utilized as a guide to help students keep up with the readings in order to better
understand the subject. These are each worth 20% of your course grade.
Accessing the Online Section on E-Tudes
You may access the online section in order to check your grades as well as to take your tests when they go
“live.” In order to access the site, follow the following steps:
 Go to the Delta College Home Page
 Click on Online Classes on the left menu
 On the online class page click on the blue link in the middle of the text that says E-Tudes Gateway
page. This should bring up a burgundy colored log in page.
 Your Login ID is your nine digit Delta College student number beginning with 98 (do not include
any dashes or spaces). You will not be able to log in using your social security number.
 Your PIN number is your default birth date in the format MMDDYY
 If you need technical assistance call the E-Tudes help desk between Monday and Friday from 9am
to 6pm at (209) 954-5840 or at http://otrs.deltacollege.edu/otrs/customer.pl
In-Class Final Examination
This is a comprehensive final exam taken on the day assigned for the final by the College. This is worth
10% of your course grade.
Portfolio
The Portfolio consists of the following three elements:
1. Individual Class Notes. Keep these in a file and submit them with your portfolio. This is worth
15% of your course grade.
2. Group notes. These may be kept by one member of the group and photocopied for other members.
Each member will be expected to have a separate copy of the group notes in his / her portfolio.
This is worth 15% of your course grade.
3. Religion Paper. You will need to visit a place of worship from among the religious traditions
studied in this class. Failing that, you need to conduct a comprehensive interview with a person
from that religion. Write up your experience and compare it to class lectures and the text book.
This is 4 – 5 pages, typewritten, double-spaced. This is worth 20% of your course grade
Portfolios are due on the date assigned. They must be submitted in cardboard folders with a label on the
outside that has your name, course ID# as well as the day and time of class. A sample will be shown
during class of the appropriate folder. No binder will be accepted.
Great Religions of the Western World
HUM / REL 014B
Spring 2009
E-Mail: mstewart@deltacollege.edu
Office Telephone: (209) 954-5497
MWF Course Schedule
January
12
14
16
19
21
23
26
28
30
Course Introduction
Why are there religions? Understandings of Sacred Realities.
Worship, Symbol and Myth. Absolutist and liberal interpretations.
[No Class – Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration]
Historical / Critical Study of Scriptures. The encounter between Science and
Religion
Case Study Video: Primal / Indigenous Religion
Case Study Video: Primal / Indigenous Religion
Case Study Video: Primal / Indigenous Religion
Group Activity 1
Understanding Indigenous Sacred Ways and Cultural
Diversity
February
2
4
6
9
11
13
16
18
20
23
25
27
The Circle of Right Relationships: Religious Specialists
Case Study Video: The Asmat of New Guinea
Religions of Ancient Mesopotamia
Religions of Ancient Greece
Religions of Ancient Rome
No Class – Presidents’ Day Weekend
No Class – Presidents’ Day Weekend
Ancient Europe beyond the Alps
Meso-America
Group Activity 2
Understanding “feeder” religions of the West
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
[Online Midterm goes “Live”]
March
2
4
6
9
11
13
16
18
20
23
25
27
30
Introduction to Judaism
Timeline for the Old Testament
[Online Midterm Closes]
Old Testament Writings and Key Figures
Post-Kingdom History of the Jews: Persecution and Survival
Video: Survivors of the Holocaust
Video Conclusion. Contemporary Judaism
Major Branches of Judaism Today
Group Activity 3
Jews and Arabs: Rights and Conflicts
Introduction to Christianity
The Christian Bible: Timeline
The Life and Teachings of Jesus
Video: The Passion of the Christ
Video (Continued)
April
01
Video (Conclusion)
03
The Early Church: Persecution and Spread
06 – 10 Spring Break – No Classes
13
Medieval Church. East / West Split
Great Religions of the Western World
HUM / REL 014B
15
17
20
22
24
27
29
May
Spring 2009
E-Mail: mstewart@deltacollege.edu
Office Telephone: (209) 954-5497
Protestant Reformation. Catholic Reformation
17th – 19th Century Missions. Holiness Movements
20th Century Christian Movements
Group Activity 4
Christianity today and the Teachings of Christ
Introduction to Islam
The Prophet Muhammad: His Life and Teachings. Timeline of Early Islam.
The Qu’ran, The Sunnah, Five Pillars of Islam
1
Sunni / Shi’ite Split
4
The Spread of Islam, 20th Century Resurgence
5
Video: American Muslim Society
8
Contemporary Islam
[Online Final goes “Live”]
11
Group Activity 5
Islam’s role in U.S. Society
13
Course Summary
Portfolios Due
[Online Final Closes]
15 – 21 Final Exam Week – No Classes
Great Religions of the Western World
HUM / REL 014B
Spring 2009
E-Mail: mstewart@deltacollege.edu
Office Telephone: (209) 954-5497
Tuesday / Thursday Class Schedule
January
13
15
20
22
27
29
February
3
Course Introduction
Why are there Religions? Understandings of Sacred Reality. Worship, symbol,
Myth.
Absolutist vs. Liberal. Science vs. Religion. Historical-Critical study of Scriptures.
Women in Religion. Negative aspects of Organized Religions.
Video Case Study: Primal / Indigenous Religion
Video (Continued)
5
10
12
17
19
24
26
Video (Conclusion) Group Activity 1
Understanding Indigenous Sacred
Ways and Cultural Diversity
Video Case Study: Asmat of New Guinea – Adapting to the Changing World
Religion of Ancient Mesopotamia. Religion of Ancient Greece
Religion of Ancient Greece (continued). Religion of Ancient Rome.
European Religion beyond the Alps. Meso-American Religion.
Group Activity 2
Understanding “feeder” religions of the West
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
March
3
5
10
13
17
19
24
26
31
Introduction to Judaism
Old Testament History and Timeline
Judaism throughout history: Persecution and Survival
Case Study Video: Survivors of the Holocaust
Group Activity 3
Jews and Arabs: Rights and Conflicts
Introduction to Christianity
Life and Teachings of Jesus. New Testament Timeline.
Video: The Passion of The Christ
District Holiday – No Classes
April
2
6 – 10
14
16
21
23
28
30
Video (conclusion)
Spring Break – No Classes
Early and Medieval Church History. East / West Split.
Protestant Reformation. Catholic Reformation.
17th – 19th Century Holiness Movements. Missionary Expansion.
20th Century and Conclusions
Group Activity 4
Christianity today and the Teachings of Christ
Introduction to Islam
May
5
Life and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad. Early Islam Timeline.
Qu’ran, Sunnah, Five Pillars of Islam.
7
Sunni / Shi’ite Split. Islam through the Centuries [Online Final goes “live”]
12
Modern Islam.
Group Activity 5
Islam’s role in U.S. Society
14
Course Summary. Portfolios Due
[Online Final Closes]
15 – 21
Finals Week: No Classes.
Great Religions of the Western World
HUM / REL 014B
Spring 2009
E-Mail: mstewart@deltacollege.edu
Office Telephone: (209) 954-5497