SOCIOLOGY 3200
SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION
John Verburg, Ph.D.
Phone: 434-401-5207 (Cell)
540-908-2748 (House)
E-mail: jverburg@uwyo.edu
jlverb@hotmail.com
CONTACTING THE PROFESSOR: On my phones, I have voice mail systems. I
check it regularly. If you call, I will get back to you as soon as possible. I have also
listed 2 e-mails that I use. I prefer you use the uwyo address since it is easiest to check
on academic matters, however, you are free to use my personal hotmail account also. I
check my e-mail at least daily during the semester. If you try to contact me and leave a
message and I do not get back to you within a couple days, you can assume that I never
got the message. Don’t let modern communications fool you into thinking that your
message got through. I have had students who made this assumption and then didn’t get
an answer to their question. So, PLEASE don’t make this mistake!! Cyberspace is a bit
more reliable than the postal service, but not a whole lot more. Don’t be seduced by
technology!
COURSE OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES: This course will examine the
relationship between sociology and religion. While most every religion considers itself
to have divine components, in this course we will investigate the human components of
religion. This is not to say that divine connections do not exist or are not important, but
in the context of this course we will attempt to understand the social components which
are also part of every religion. Please keep in mind that his is not a course in theology or
a course in religion, but a course in sociology where religion is our subject. As such, we
will utilize numerous sociological concepts in order to enhance our understanding of
religion. Finally, it is beyond the scope of a sociology course to say that all religions are
equal, good, right, correct godly, etc. or that anyone religion is the correct one. Yet, we
can, and will look at common sociological components in order to understand how people
actually practice religion.
TEXTS: Religion, The Social Context by Meredith B. McGuire
Understanding Fundamentalism by Richard Antoun
Playing With God: Religion and Modern Sport by William Baker
REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS:
All assignments except the threaded discussions are to be submitted via the
“Dropbox” listed on this website. Using any other form may cause unforeseen problems
in getting your assignments in on time.
1 Written Exam
1 Short Personal Biography
1 Worship Service Research Paper
2 Short Reflection Papers on a Current Event and Religion
4 Threaded Discussions
All assignments are DUE by the beginning of the class indicated on the Lecture Schedule.
That is, the first Threaded Discussion must be posted by the time class begins on Jan 31st.
The first Reflection Paper must be in the dropbox by the beginning of class on February
14th.
GRADING: The grading reflects the professor’s philosophy that there are multiple ways
to learn and that upper level students should be able to write well. So, here are the
guidelines by which you will be assigned a final grade:
25% from the Written Exam
25% from the Worship Service Research Project
25% from the Reflection Papers
25% from the Threaded Discussions
I use a letter grading system. That is, you will get a letter grade for each assignment, not
a number grade. Since the questions are essay and short answers, there really is no way
to assign points or “take off” points for these questions. I also use + and - letter grades
for the assignments (though your final grade must be submitted without them). Then at
the end of the semester, I determine your final semester grade by evaluating the
combinations of your individual assigned grades based on the percentage of the
assignment.
I have had students say that they don’t understand the grading system of the class. It
really isn’t all that complicated. For example, say you have 4 grades: an A, B-, B+ and
C. What would your grade be? An A and a C would “average” out to a B which means
that you would have 2 B’s, one B- and one B+. Since the university does not accept +
and – grades, then your final grade would be sent in as a “B”.
Another example would be say you have grades of C, C-, C+, B- and A-. The B- and the
C- would “average” out to a C which would give you C, C, C (from the combination of
the C- and the B-), C+ and A- . This results in an overall C final grade. Yes, it would be
a “high” C if you used numbers instead of letters, but since the university doesn’t record
+ or – grades, the final grade still comes out to a C. As you can see, I would argue for
changing the university policy, but most folks won’t and a change is not going to happen
anytime soon, if ever.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENTS:
WRITTEN EXAM: There is one written exam in this course. It comes at the
conclusion of the main textbook (McGuire’s Book) and will consist of short answers and
essay questions. You will write the exam at your home, but within prescribed time limits.
More specific instructions will be forthcoming.
REFLECTION PAPERS: There are 3 reflection papers required in this course. In the
first two, you are to focus on some current event in the world and examine the role of
religion in that event. You are to find an article in a fairly large publication (newspaper,
magazine, etc.) and write about that article. In these papers you are to provide a short
(emphasis is on the word SHORT) summary of the event so that I can understand what
you are trying to evaluate. You must also reference the article so that I can find it if
necessary. Each paper should be no more than 2-3 pages.
Reflection papers are used frequently in the social sciences in order to bridge the gap
between conceptual thinking and practical reality. In general, reflection papers are where
the student reads some assigned material, thinks about that material and then connects
that material with the concepts that have been previously discussed in the course. A
reflection paper is NOT a summary paper. It is a THINKING paper. For these papers,
you should focus on a few key concepts raised in the readings and then, explain how
these concepts help you understand the particular current event that you are examining.
The “key” is that you ponder the meaning of the author’s words and then reflect on how
they help you make sense of the current event.
In order to assess how well you are connecting class concepts with your selected article,
type in BOLD the concept you are alluding to and explain how it applies/ how it helps
you understand what you are reading. In this way, you can easily see how many of the
class concepts you have identified that apply to your article. Please note, if you have
not referred to any to the class concepts, then you have not written a reflection
paper.
WORSHIP STYLE RESEARCH PAPER: You are to visit the worship service of
different places of worship in order to compare the respective worship styles. You must
visit at least 3 different places of worship. Utilizing class learnings, you are to write a
short paper (no more than 7 double spaced typed pages) on what you observed as it
compares to some of the issues we have raised in class. More specific instructions will
be available during the semester.
THREADED DISCUSSIONS: There will be assigned threaded discussion throughout
the semester. If you’ve taken an internet course before, you know about these. If not, the
follow short introduction will get you started. Each time there is an assigned threaded
discussion, I will assign a topic for you to “ponder” related to the current readings and
other assignments. The discussion consists of your “musings” about that topic, written
down so all can read which then will generate further comments on your comments. The
point of this part of the course is to see how you are absorbing the material and how you
are “thinking” on the various issues which we will have covered. From time to time I
will interject my “two cents” worth to the discussion. Of course there are no “right” or
“wrong” comments in these discussions. However, you do receive ¼ of your grade based
on the frequency of your comments and the quality of those remarks. EACH STUDENT
MUST participate in each assigned discussion. If you do not, then your grade will reflect
that lack of participation. More specific instructions are attached to each assigned
threaded discussion.
ADA COMPLIANCE STATEMENT:
The University of Wyoming is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and
employer. If you have a physical, learning, sensory or psychological disability and
require accommodations, please let me (note: this is assuming the message is coming
from the instructor) know as soon as possible. You will need to register with, and
provide documentation of your disability to, University Disability Support Services
(UDSS) in SEO. You may apply on-line at UDSS’ web site: www.uwyo.edu/udss or you
may contact UDSS for more information at (307) 766-6189, TTY: (307) 766-3073.
SHORT PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY: Please provide a short, personal biography to the
professor. Since we can not meet face to face, this will allow me the opportunity to get to
know you a bit better. Be sure and include your e-mail. Send this assignment no later
than the 2nd class period (January 24th).
SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF THE PROFESSOR: My name is John Verburg. You can
call me whatever you are comfortable with, but “John” will be sufficient. I spend most of
my time raising the remaining children at home, remodeling my home and writing with
some part-time teaching. I live in Massanutten, Virginia. I moved here last summer
when my wife decided she wanted something else in life. I spent 4 years as pastor of the
First Christian Church in Laramie, Wyoming (which is how I became the instructor for
this course). I am originally from Virginia and spent all of my life in the South until
moving to Wyoming. I have 8 children. The 3 oldest are “home made” and live in
Atlanta and Louisville respectively. Four of my adopted children live with me at home
and range in age from 16 to 11. My oldest adopted son is a freshman at George Mason
University in Northern Virginia where he attends on a track scholarship. He is a
legitimate Olympic potential athlete in the 400 meters. My adopted children come from
Ethiopia, Kenya by way of New Jersey, New York, Kentucky and Oklahoma. I have
also had 37 foster children over the years.
Educationally, my undergraduate degree is in chemistry. I hold Master’s Degrees in
biochemistry, urban studies and public administration with almost enough hours for
another Masters Degree in cultural anthropology. My seminary degree is from Eastern
Mennonite University in Virginia and my Ph.D. is in sociology from the University of
Kentucky. I’ve had a lot of formal education. My informal education includes 37 shortterm mission trips to Central American and trying to learn how to be a farmer.
Previously to living in Wyoming, I raised cattle, goats, chickens, sheep, llamas and draft
horses on my farm.
I have taught university level courses in sociology, philosophy and biochemistry over the
years. Prior to moving to Wyoming, I taught at the University of Kentucky, Eastern
Kentucky University, Georgetown College (also in Kentucky) and James Madison
University.