REL 220 – Religions of the World
Spring 2013
Meeting Times:
Section (01) 7:30 – 09:10 T, Th
Section (02) 9:20 – 11:00 T, Th
Home: 2333 S. Arch Ave., Alliance
Meeting Place: KHIC 202
Home Phone: (330) 823-6773
Office: Keener House Office 1
email: lyonsil@mountunion.edu
Office Phone: (330) 823-2469
ivory_lyons@yahoo.com
Office Hours
Office Hours: Mondays thru Thursdays from 1:00 – 2:00 in my office and on Fridays in Campus
Grounds. You can also make an appointment to meet with me or you can drop by my office anytime.
Text
World Religions: A Guide to the Essentials ed. by Thomas A. Robinson & Hillary Rodrigues
Course Objective: This course is designed to introduce you to some of the major religions of the
world—Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. At the end of the
course, you will have increased your awareness of the important elements of the major religions—
their myths, symbols, rituals, doctrines, moral codes, and artistic expressions. You will recognize the
differences among religious traditions. You will better understand the religious issues and conflicts in
the modern world. You will have a deepened appreciation of your own religious background and that
of the community in which you live.
Policies:
Attendance: Those who attend all classes generally perform well. Those who do not generally do not
do very well. Each student will be allowed 2 absences (excused or unexcused). If a student is absent
more than 2 times he or she will lose 10 points for each absence (excused or unexcused).
Academic Honesty: It is expected that you will do you own work and will cite all sources used for your
paper or presentation. Any student caught submitting someone else’s work as his or her own will be
in jeopardy of failing the class. See MUC Catalogue for further details.
Syllabus Changes: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus as necessary.
Note: If you are a student with a documented disability who will require accommodations in this
course, please register with the Karen Saracusa, Director of Student Accessibility Services, in Room
88 Hoover-Price Campus Center, ext. 7372, for assistance in developing a plan to address your
academic needs.
Assignments
Group Project
Evaluation Form
Groups will present a particular religion; one group for each religion. The presentation may use
Power Point, a lecture format, video clips, audio format, drama/role playing, web sites or a
combination of these. Each group will be responsible for doing research on their assigned religion.
The presentation will cover at least 4 of the following areas: special places, festivals and holidays,
sacred rituals and rites of passage, sacred objects, and famous or important people. The presentation
must be a minimum of 15 minutes. The group presentation project is worth 100 points.
Sacred Text Reflections
Each student will be required to write 9 reflections. One reflection for each of the religions studied in
class based on one of the texts selected from each of the religions presented; there are nine of
these. The student will also be required to write one reflection on the student's personal philosophy
about other religions with regard to the three positions outlined in class. Each reflection is worth 10
points (100 points total).
Mandala Project
Each student will be required to write a two page reflection on a mandala. This project is worth 20
points.
Exams (three)
There will be three area exams. Each exam is worth 100 points.
Site Visit
The student is required to visit and write a four page paper on a non-Christian or Orthodox or
Apostolic or African American or American Indian or Hispanic/Latino or Asian or Mennonite
religious site. The paper is worth 100 points.
Town Meeting
Each student is required to participate in a class project—The Class Town Meeting. In the town
meeting you will demonstrate your knowledge of the religion that your group presented by working to
resolve some problems in the town. There will be about four members who will not represent any
religion but will respond as members of a non-religious group and you might be one of these
members. The class project is worth 100 points for each student.
Attached are grading standards for writing.
Submission: All of the assignments, unless otherwise stated, will be put in a drop box in ANGEL in
Microsoft Word, RTF, ODT or Text format on or before the due date. Papers put in the drop box after
the date may or may not be accepted. If they are graded they will be reduced by one full letter
grade.
Extra Credit
There may be extra credit opportunities throughout the semester. In order to get extra credit the
student must do all of the regular assignments.
Grade Range Percentages minimum:
A 94
A- 90
B+ 87
B 84
B- 80
C+ 77
C 74
C- 70
D+ 67
D 63
F < 63
January 15, 17
Why Group Projects
Introduction to Religion: The Challenge of Definition
Religious Pluralism
A breakdown of the religions of the world
Reading: World Religions, Introduction
January 22, 24
Religions in Asia (map)
Hinduism
Reading: WR, Chapter 6
How to read sacred text
Reflection 1: Personal philosophy about other religions due (1/25)
Trip to Hindu Temple in Penn Hills, PA (1/26)
January 29, 31
Group Presentation for Hinduism (1/29)
Reading: WR, Chapter 6
February 5, 7
Group Presentation - Jainism (2/7)
Reading: WR, Chapter 8
Reflection 2 on Hindu text due (2/8)
Trip to Masjid, (2/10)
February 12, 14
Review for Exam (2/12)
Exam 1 (2/14)
Reading: WR, Chapter 8
Reflection 3 on Jainism text is due (2/15)
February 19, 21
Group Presentation – Sikhism (2/21)
Reading: WR, Chapter 9
February 26, 28
Buddhism
Group Presentation – Buddhism (2/28)
Reading: WR, 7
Reflection 4 on Sikhism is due (3/1)
Trip to Olivet Institutional Baptist Church (3/3)
March 5, 7
Exam 2 (3/7)
Buddhism (continued)
Reflection 5 on Buddhism is due (3/8)
Spring Break
March 9-17
March 19, 21
The Mandala Project (3/19)
Abrahamic Religions
Judaism
Reading: WR, Chapter 3
March 26, 28
Group Presentation – on Judaism (3/26)
Reading: WR, Chapter 3
Reflection 6 on Judaism due (3/29)
April 2, 4
Group Presentation – Christianity (4/4)
Reading: WR, Chapter 4
April 9, 11
Christianity (cont.)
Islam (4/11)
Reading: TWR, Chapter 5
Reflection 7 on Christian text due (4/12)
April 16, 18
Group Presentation – Islam (4/16)
Reflection on Mandala due (4/19)
April 23
Scholar’s Day
On-line Exam
April 25
preparations for Town Meeting
Town Meeting questions
Reflection 8 on Islamic text due (4/26)
Site Paper due (4/29)
Town Meeting
Monday, May 6, 8 – 11 am (section 2)
Tuesday, May 7, 1 – 4 am (section 1)
Groups
Hinduism (1/29)
Judaism (3/26)
Jainism (2/7)
Sikhism (2/21)
Christianity (4/4)
Buddhism (2/28)
Islam (4/16)