REL 3345: Religions of the World
Fall 2008
TR Syllabus
I.
Blake W. Burleson, Ph.D.
Scott Rushing
Senior Lecturer in Religion
Graduate Assistant
Office: Burleson 100
e-mail: Scott_Rushing@baylor.edu
Office Hours: M 2:00-5:00
T 2:00-5:00
W 2:00-3:30
R 2:00-5:00
F 2:30-4:30
Office Phone: 710-3940 (Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Arts & Sciences)
Home Phone: 756-5950
E-Mail: Blake_Burleson@baylor.edu
II. Course Description: A general survey of eight classical religions of the world, including Judaism and
Islam from the Prophetic traditions, Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism from the Mystical traditions, and
Confucianism and Taoism from the Wisdom Traditions.
III. Course Goals:
1. To study religion as (1) the cumulative tradition of a people and (2) the personal faith of
individuals.
2. To explore universal patterns of belief, behavior, and spirituality in the world’s religions.
(Therefore, the student may find similarities between his or her religion and the religion of others.)
3. To understand that each religion, however, is unique and cannot be “demystified” or reduced to
common universal elements. (Therefore, the student may discover the uniqueness of his own
religion and her own personal faith.)
4. To understand some of the ways that religious pluralism has been understood.
IV. Course Objectives:
1. Recognize pivotal historical events and seminal belief systems of the major religions of the
world.
2. Demonstrate comprehension of key religious concepts discussed in class.
3. Identify similarities and differences between the various religions of the world.
4. Develop the ability to “bracket” one’s own religious beliefs in order to empathize with, and,
therefore, understand more fully other religious perspectives.
V.
Textbooks:
Eastman, Roger. (Editor) The Ways of Religion: An Introduction to the Major Traditions. 3rd
Ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Hopfe, Lewis M. and Mark R. Woodward. Religions of the World. 10th Ed. Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001.
VI.
Novels (purchase only one of your choice):
Endo, Shsaku. Silence.
Kane, Hamidou. Ambiguous Adventure.
Wiesel, Elie. Night.
VI.
Grading Scale
A
B+
B
C+
C
D
F
VI.
100-90.0
89.9-88.0
87.9-80.0
79.9-78.0
77.9-70.0
69.9-60.0
59.9-0
Course Requirements:
1. Exams (70%): There will be 3 exams based on class lectures and text (Hopfe and
Woodward’s Religions of the World). Exams will be multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the
blank, and essay. Make-up exams, for students with verifiable excuses, will be given.
2. Chapter Quizzes (15%): There will be 6 chapter quizzes given during the semester. These
quizzes are based on your readings from the text (Hopfe and Woodward’s Religions of the
World). Make-ups for chapter quizzes are given during the regularly scheduled final exam.
Students who leave class for any reason after taking a quiz will be given a zero and cannot
make up that quiz.
3. Participation and Discussion (5%): Students will receive a grade based on their participation
(which includes class attendance) and their discussion of the articles in Eastman’s The Ways
of Religion. Students will be assigned one article in which they will assist the professor in the
discussion on that day. (See attached guidelines.)
4. Book Report (10%): The student will select one of the novels listed above and turn in a 3 to 4
page report. (See attached guidelines.)
VII.
Class Attendance & Participation
The University has a formal policy governing maximum absences. You may not miss more than
25% of the scheduled classes and pass the course. The maximum allowable absences in a MW
or TR course is 7. Roll is taken at the beginning of class; students who are tardy should report to
the instructor at the end of the hour to remove the absence. It is the student’s responsibility to
report this information. Students who miss part of a class are considered absent for the entire
class. (There are no partial absences.)
Students are expected to prepare by studying the assigned reading for that day.
VIII.
Honor Code
The University has a strict Honor Code which all students are expected to follow. Students are
obligated to report Honor Code violations to your professor or to the Office of Academic Integrity.
The website for this office is http://www.baylor.edu/honorcode/
TR Tentative Schedule
Part I:
Introduction to the Study of World Religions
The Prophetic Traditions
8/26
8/28
Introduction to the Course
Introduction to the Study of World Religions
Hopfe & Woodward pp. 1-12.
9/02
Introduction to the Study of World Religions
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 1-11.
Judaism: A Historical Sketch
CHAPTER QUIZ 1: Hopfe & Woodward, pp. 233-263.
9/04
9/09
9/11
9/16
9/18
9/23
9/25
9/30
10/02
Judaism: A Historical Sketch
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 313-318
Judaism: A Historical Sketch
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 318-326
Judaism: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 286-300.
Judaism: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 326-335
Islam: A Historical Sketch
CHAPTER QUIZ 2: Hopfe & Woodward, pp. 320-347.
Islam: A Historical Sketch
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 422-428
Islam: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 428-435.
Islam: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 435-445.
10/07
Guest Speaker: “Life of Prayer, Devotion, and Ethics”
10/09
EXAM I
Part II:
The Mystical Traditions
10/14
Hinduism: A Historical Sketch
CHAPTER QUIZ 3: Hopfe & Woodward, pp. 70-103.
FILM: 330 million gods
Hinduism: A Historical Sketch
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 12-22.
10/16
10/21
10/23
10/28
10/30
11/04
Hinduism: A Historical Sketch
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 65-74.
Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 27-39.
Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 59-64.
Jainism: History, Beliefs, Praxis
CHAPTER QUIZ 4: Hopfe & Woodward, 112-119.
Buddhism: A Historical Sketch
CHAPTER QUIZ 5: Hopfe & Woodward, pp. 123-144.
11/06
Buddhism: A Historical Sketch
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 133-139
11/11
Buddhism: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 76-90.
Buddhism: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 122-129.
11/13
11/18
EXAM II
Part III:
The Wisdom Traditions
Religious Pluralism
11/20
Chinese Religion: A Historical Sketch
CHAPTER QUIZ 6: Hopfe & Woodward, pp. 164-188.
11/25
Confucianism and Taoism: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis
Discussion: TBA
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
11/27
12/02
12/04
12/11
Confucianism and Taoism: Classic Forms of Belief and Praxis
Discussion: TBA
Issues of Religious Pluralism
Discussion: Eastman, pp. 528-535.
BOOKS REPORTS DUE
EXAM III
Thursday, December 11 @ 2:00 PM