RS 100: INTRO TO RELIGIOUS STUDIESSPRING 2016 • California State University, NorthridgeTuesdays/Thursdays 09:30am-10:45am in SH390Tuesdays/Thursdays 02:00pm-03:15pm in SH384

Instructor: Vikas Malhotravikas.malhotra@csun.eduOffice Hours: Tues/Thurs from 11:00-12:30 in SN 418

Course descriptionThe course will introduce students to religion as a universal characteristic of human thought and behavior as well as how to academically study religion. The first half of the course will address some of the challenges of studying religion such as defining religion, various methodologies for studying religion and the origins and functions of religion. The second half will cover various aspects of some world religions, their doctrines, beliefs and practices, and use many of the disciplinary theories, methods, and tools that we discussed in the first half of the course to approach these traditions.

Student Learning Objectives (SLOs)A. General Education Student Learning Objectives, Arts and Humanities:1. Students will explain and reflect critically upon the human search for meaning, values, discourse and expression in one or more eras/stylistic periods or cultures.2. Students will analyze, interpret, and reflect critically upon ideas of value, meaning, discourse and expression from a variety of perspectives from the arts and/or humanities; 3. Produce work/works of art that communicate to a diverse audience through a demonstrated understanding and fluency of expressive forms; 4. Students will demonstrate ability to engage and reflect upon their intellectual and creative development within the arts and humanities; 5. Students will be able to use appropriate critical vocabulary to describe and analyze works of artistic expression, literature, philosophy, or religion and a comprehension of the historical context within which a body of work was created or a tradition emerged; 6. Students will learn to describe and explain the historical and/or cultural context within which a body of work was created or a tradition emerged.

B. Religious Studies Student Learning Objectives1. Students will be able to recognize and to articulate (orally and in writing) the difference between an academic approach to religion and a personal, devotional approach.

2. Students will be able to demonstrate a basic level of proficiency in recognizing the major contributors to the modern study of religion and their models/theories from philosophy, theology, the history of religions, and the social sciences. 3. Students will be able to understand the following terms in their conventional, popular usage, and then discuss the variety of ways that religious studies scholars have critiqued, expanded, or problematized these: religion, religious, myth, ritual, symbol, philosophy, subjectivity, objectivity, secular/secularization, cult, sect, mysticism, theism, atheism, polytheism, monotheism, spirituality, magic, paganism, animism, canon, religious violence, post-colonialism, individualistic compared to community-based religions.4. Students will be able to explain and give basic examples of the social function of religion with regard to gender, ethnicity, and nationality.5. Students will be able to recognize religiosity in an aspect of modern culture such as different forms of media, art, music, films, politics, sports, and the public discourse on science. 6. Students will be able to demonstrate a basic level of proficiency in describing several specific religious traditions, including their historical development, major beliefs and practices, and demonstrate a basic level of proficiency in interpreting religious texts and rituals from each religious tradition.

C. RS 100 Student Learning ObjectivesBy the end of this course you should be able to: 1. Describe some current approaches and methods to studying religion academically; 2. Identify some common aspects of religions around the world;3. Understand the main controversies in the study of religion;4. Describe selected features of at least two of the world’s major religious traditions.

Required Textbooks: Markman & Ruparell. Encountering

Religion: An Introduction to the Religions of the World. 1st Edition (2000). USA: Blackwell.

Markham & Lohr. A World Religions Reader. 3rd Edition (2009). USA: Blackwell.

Regular consultation of the required textbook is required to pass the course. CSUN library holds multiple

copies. I strongly recommend that you purchase or obtain a copy of this text before class begins. Available at the CSUN bookstore or online.

Course Requirements & Grading:

RequirementsClass Attendance and Participation 20%Assignments 20%Quizzes (5) 20%Mid-Term Exam 20%Final Exam 20%

Grading Scale92-100 = A 78-79 = C+90-91 = A- 72-77 = C88-89 = B+ 70-71 = C-82-88 = B 60-69 = D80-81 = B- Below 60 = F

Class Attendance and Participation - 20%: You are required to come to all classes and arrive on time. You will be allowed one unexcused absence, but any subsequent unexcused absence will result in lowering your grade, up to a maximum of 20%.

Assignments - 20%: Assignments will include movie responses, take home exercises, and a group presentation/discussion that will be turned either in class or through Moodle. MOVIE RESPONSES (10 Total): Watching selected movies and writing a response

to it will be an important component of this class. Video is an wonderful tool to convey abstract concepts and transmit knowledge/information that cannot be solely understood from reading texts alone. Of course, these need to always be watched with a critical and “suspicious” eye. After watching each video reflect on it and write a one page, single-spaced, response – your reactions, new information you learned from it or were surprised about, critiques, revelations (did the video change your previously held views), etc. Be specific rather than general (i.e. use examples from videos).

TEAM PRESENTATIONS/LEADING A DISCUSSION (12 Groups): Throughout the semester groups of 3-4 students will do a team presentation on a section of primary readings they are assigned (15-20 mins). As a group, you will lead a brief discussion, pointing out the main points of the primary readings and how it relates to the readings from the Encountering Religion book and from my lectures. Each person also will be responsible for coming up with 1-2 critical questions based on the readings which are to be discussed in class. A powerpoint presentation is encouraged, but not necessary. What you present and your questions should be emailed to me before the class begins. Only those members who participate will receive points for the team presentation.

Quizzes - 20%: There will be five quizzes worth 5 pts each, your lowest quiz score will be dropped. If you miss a quiz you must communicate with me beforehand to find out if you can make it up or not.

Midterm and Final Exam - 20% each: Exams will be non-cumulative and will be worth 20% each of your grade. They will contain multiple choice, fill-in, and short essay questions.

Extra Credit Projects: Details will be made available on Moodle later in the semester

General Expectations:

Academic Integrity: Academic honesty is a core value at CSUN. As such, students are expected to perform their own work. When practiced, academic honesty ensures that all students are fairly graded. Cheating, plagiarism, and other dishonest practices undermine the educational process and will not be tolerated. Cheaters and all who assist them will be subject to disciplinary action with could result in suspension, expulsion, or other disciplinary actions.

Taking good notes and paying full attention in class is also expected and will only help you in the long run. You are required to complete all the readings before class and full participation and engagement with the class is an absolute must. This means no cellphones and no “sneakily” browsing the web. You are welcome to have course materials open on your tablet or phone during class discussions, or to take notes on your laptop, but do not engage in any other online activities during class time as you will be distracted and potentially distracting others. Any breach of this will force me to kick you out of class and you will not receive credit for attendance.

Also, in general, please respect others around you at all times as you would expect to be respected (this includes me). Course material may sometime involve contentious and often sensitive topics. It is imperative that we create a non-judgmental space where we can discuss and explore those topics in an atmosphere of intellectual freedom and without disrespecting others or getting personal.

Course Schedule:

WEEK 1: Introduction1/26 Tuesday Course Intro and Syllabus Overview1/28 Thursday Religion and Hermeneutics

MOVIE: “Oh My God”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axuX9ABUrn0

Write a one page response and bring to class to turn in and for discussion

WEEK 2: Studying “Religion”2/2 Tuesday Encountering Religion, Ch 1: Studying Religion: Issues in Definition

and Method p. 1-21Miner. Body Ritual Among The Nacirema (Moodle)

2/4 Thursday Death is a Problem: Gilgamesh (Moodle) Team Presentation Group 1 on Gilgamesh reading

WEEK 3: Religion and Sociology2/9 Tuesday Encountering Religion, Ch 2: Religion and Sociology p. 21-442/11 Thursday Robert N. Bellah, Civil Religion in America. (Moodle)

Team Presentation Group 2 on Bellah reading

QUIZ 1 – Religion and Anthropology/Sociology

WEEK 4: Religion and Psychology2/16 Tuesday Encountering Religion, Ch 3: Religion and Psychology p. 44-682/18 Thursday Luhrmann et al. Learning to Hear God (Moodle)

Team Presentation Group 3 on Luhrmann reading

WEEK 5: Cognitive and Evolutionary Approaches2/23 Tuesday Boyer. Religion: Bound to believe? (Moodle)

Boyer. Why “belief” is hard work: Implications of Tanya Luhrmann’s When God talks back (Moodle)

2/25 Thursday Gervais. Perceiving Minds and Gods: How Mind Perception Enables, Constrains, and Is Triggered by Belief in Gods (Moodle)Barret. Why Santa Claus is Not a God (Moodle)

Team Presentation Group 4 on Barret readingQUIZ 2 – On Psych and Cognitive Approaches

WEEK 6: Religion, Scripture, and Myth3/1 Tuesday Encountering Religion, Ch 4: Religion and Scripture p.68-963/3 Thursday Wendy Doniger O’flaherty. Other Peoples' Myths - Ch. 2 (Moodle)

Team Presentation Group 5 on Doniger reading

WEEK 7: Religion, Ritual, and Culture3/8 Tuesday Encountering Religion, Ch 5: Religion, Ritual, and Culture p. 96-1173/10 Thursday Victor Turner. Betwixt and Between

Team Presentation Group 6 on Turner readingMOVIE: “Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YIO_dxyJio

Movie response due Friday

WEEK 8: Religion and the Arts3/15 Tuesday MIDTERM EXAM3/17 Thursday Encountering Religion, Ch 6: Religion and the Arts p. 117-139

WEEK 9: Secular Humanism3/22 Tuesday Encountering Religion, Ch 7: Secular Humanism p. 139-1623/24 Thursday A World Religions Reader, CH 14: Secular Humanism p. 273-301

Team Presentation Group 7 on Secular Humanism primary reading

MOVIE: “Secular Believers”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI2TU81e7xM

Movie response due Friday

WEEK 10: Indigenous Religions3/29 Tuesday

A World Religions Reader, CH 2 Indigenous Religions p. 13-31MOVIE: “Brujo (Shaman)”http://search.alexanderstreet.com.libproxy.csun.edu/view/work/1869285

Movie response due Friday3/31 Thursday

NO CLASS: Holiday – Cesar Chavez Day 2016QUIZ 3: Take home quiz on Secular Humanism and Indigenous Religion

WEEK 11: Hinduism and Jainism4/5 Tuesday Encountering Religion, Ch 8: Hinduism p. 163-190

A World Religions Reader, CH 3 Hinduism p. 32-54MOVIE: “Hindu Nectar: Spiritual Wanderings in India” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLvr80ZrCqo

Movie response due Friday4/7 Thursday A World Religions Reader, CH 4 Jainism p. 67-77

Team Presentation Group 8 on Hindu/Jain primary readings

WEEK 12: Buddhism4/12 Tuesday Encountering Religion, Ch 9: Buddhism p. 190-2154/14 Thursday A World Religions Reader, CH 5 Buddhism p. 77-105

Team Presentation Group 9 on Buddhist primary readingsQUIZ 4 – On Hinduism, Jainism, and BuddhismMOVIE: “The Buddha - PBS Documentary”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MliubpNP8EE

Movie response due Friday

WEEK 13: East Asian Religions4/19 Tuesday Encountering Religion, Ch 11: Chinese Religions p. 240-272

A World Religions Reader, CH 6 Chinese Religion p. 105-1314/21 Thursday Encountering Religion, Ch 13: Shintoism p. 297-309

A World Religions Reader, CH 6 Shintoism p. 131-153 Team Presentation Group 10 on Chinese Religion/Shinto

primary readingsQUIZ 5 – On East Asian ReligionsMOVIE: “Around the World in 80 Faiths: The Far East”http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3b5dw4

Movie response due Friday

WEEK 14: Judaism4/26 Tuesday Encountering Religion, Ch 12: Judaism p. 272-2974/28 Thursday A World Religions Reader, CH 9: Judaism p. 163-190

Team Presentation Group 11 on Judaism primary readingsMOVIE: “The Story of the Jews”

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2t2u4n Movie response due Friday

WEEK 15: Christianity5/3 Tuesday Encountering Religion, Ch 14: Christianity p. 309-337

A World Religions Reader, CH 10: Christianity p. 191-2125/5 Thursday NO CLASS

MOVIE: “BBC A History of Christianity: Part 1. The First Christianity”http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x38nlpm_bbc-a-history-of-christianity-1-of-6-the-first-christianity-english-subtitle_tv

Movie response due Friday

WEEK 16: Islam5/10 Tuesday Encountering Religion, Ch 15: Islam p. 337-3725/12 Thursday A World Religions Reader, CH 11: Islam p. 213-236

Team Presentation Group 12 on Islam primary readingsMOVIE: “Islam: Empire of Faith. Part 1: Prophet Muhammad” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX3UHNhQ1Zk

Movie response due Friday

FINAL EXAM5/17 Tuesday5/19 Thursday

8:00AM - 10:00AM in Sierra Hall 3903:00PM - 5:00PM in Sierra Hall 384