RE10390_10391:  World Religions

CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY OF HONOLULU

FALL EVENING SESSION 2013 (INTERNET)

CLASS TIME: Weekly

INSTRUCTOR: Dean F. McGinnis

OFFICE HOURS: M-F (BY APPOINTMENT ONLY)

CAMPUS OFFICE PHONE: 808-735-4827

HONOLULU HOME OFFICE: 808-220-2782

BOSTON HOME OFFICE: 781-350-5678

FAX: 781-350-5628

EMAIL: [email protected]

REQUIRED TEXT(S):

• Molloy, Michael, Experiencing The World's Religions, Tradition, Challenge, and Change, Sixth Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2012 ISBN-13 # 9781121770058
• Access to any "Generally accepted Bible" i.e.: King James, Vulgate, New American, etc.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Within the context of the dialogue between Christianity and the other world religions, the student will explore the diverse historical, philosophical, and spiritual foundations from which the major religious traditions in the world have arisen. The course examines the lives of their founders, their basic teachings, and the historical development of their communities and institutions, while providing an inter-religious survey of ethics.

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOME(S)/ASSESSMENT (PLO):

Upon completion of this introductory course, students will have successfully demonstrated measurable learning with regard to the following University/Program outcome(s) as defined in the Undergraduate Catalog (2013-2014) via standard assessment methods and criteria:

• (PLO 2): “Christianity and its relationship with other major world religions”;

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES/ASSESSMENT:

In addition to the PLO, upon completion of this course, students will have attained the ability to:

· Demonstrate an understanding of the important elements of the world’s major religions;

· Compare and contrast the differences and commonalities among those religious traditions;

· Demonstrate an understanding of the religious issues and conflicts in our contemporary world;

· Demonstrate an understanding of their own beliefs, feelings and attitudes towards different religious perspectives;

CLASS PARTICIPATION/INTERACTION REQUIREMENTS:

Students are expected to attend all classes. Attending all classes is defined as logging on to the website at least once a week. Participation is defined as preparing for, completion of, and participation in, all reading assignments, group discussions and writing assignments given at the discretion of the instructor. Students will be required to respond to at least two of their fellow students’ assignments each week via the website. Additional interaction is encouraged but not required.

Note:  It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of any specific special needs or difficulties that one may have in order that appropriate strategies for the completion of the work may be mutually developed.

Course Methodology/ WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS:

Instruction will consist of readings, videos, group discussions, personal reflections and papers. Students will be expected to participate in the group discussions. Weekly assignments will be posted to the website each Sunday evening and must be completed before Sunday of the following week midnight.

FINAL PAPER:

The final paper will be a creative 6-10 page paper comparing and contrasting the major religions examined from a personal and ecumenical perspective.

FINAL EXAM:

This will be a multiple choice (open book)/reflection essay comprehensive exam and will be administered online within E-College.

GRADING POLICY:

Grading will be based upon regular class participation, reflection papers, final paper and the final exam as follows:

• CLASS PARTICIPATION AND INTERACTION: 25%
• WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS: 25%
• FINAL PAPER: 25%
• FINAL EXAM: 25%

A: 90-100%; B: 80-89%; C: 70-79%; D: 60-69%; F: below 60%

· Incomplete Grades:

An Incomplete grade may be granted to the student, by the instructor, in accordance with University Policy, due to certain situations which include, but are not limited to:

o Completion of the majority of the coursework as determined by the instructor and:

§ Documented family emergencies.

§ Documented medical issues.

§ Documented military orders.

All documentation should be first submitted to the instructor who will review the documentation and either grant the Incomplete or refer it to the appropriate University Official for review. Incompletes are valid for 90 days.

COURSE SCHEDULE (subject to revision): 

Reading assignments are for the following class(s):

Week I:          Introduction

REQUIRED QUESTIONAIRE                 

Understanding Religion                

Reading assignment: pp. 3-31  

Week II:         Indigenous Religions

Reading assignment: pp. 33-71

Week III:       Hinduism

Reading assignment: pp. 73-121

Week IV:        Buddhism

Reading assignment: pp. 123-179

Week V:        Jainism and Sikhism

Reading assignment: pp. 181-203

Week VI:        Daoism and Confucianism

Reading assignment: pp. 205-253

Week VII:      Shinto

Reading assignment: pp. 255-279

Week VIII:     Judaism

Reading assignment: pp. 281-331

Week IX:        Christianity

Reading assignment: pp. 333-405

Week X:         Islam

Reading assignment: pp. 407-469

Final Paper due

Final exam

Please note that there will be several opportunities to obtain extra credit throughout the session. However, any/all extra credit is subject to the instructor’s discretion, and will only be applied to your final grade if all assignments are completed.

Organizational Themes/Marianist Educational Philosophy and Diversity:

Organizational themes refer to underlying structural links that contribute to the choice of content, the pedagogy selected for participation of the teacher/learner and student/teacher in bringing the content to life, and fulfillment of the course objectives within a broader frame of education and building community.

1. The first set of organizational themes around which the course is constructed is drawn from the “Characteristics of Marianist Universities.”

v Educate for formation in faith;

v Provide an integral quality education;

v Educate for family spirit;

v Educate for service, justice and peace; and

v Educate for adaptation and change.

These characteristics are important in the way we will teach the course, in our expectation of your participation in the realization of the course goals and objectives, and in the selection of materials we will ask you to read. As the semester progresses, the specific character of your education in a Marianist University will impact on your discipline in ways that emphasize the reflective dialogue between faith and reason in the issues and values we study. Marianist education seeks graduates who, having been schooled with a concern for the whole person, approach their professions from this same wholistic perspective as they seek to build communities that serve the needs of justice and peace, while seeking creative ways to adapt to changing environments and needs.

2. The second major organizational theme is diversity and the complex issues that arise when we look at religions as cultural institutions and artifacts. Diversity themes are developed in relation to the content of the course as well as the in relation to the student/learners who are participants in the course.

ADA ACCOMMODATIONS:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), Chaminade University offers accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability and/or would like to determine if you qualify for ADA accommodations, please contact the Counseling Center. Once your documentation is submitted, the assessments will be reviewed and the student will be notified.

If one qualifies for ADA accommodations, an ADA contract will be signed by the student. Please remember that once you have signed an ADA agreement, you need to contact the ADA coordinator each semester (including summer sessions) to identify which instructors you want notified of your accommodations. This is to ensure your privacy. Faculty will be informed of the accommodations you are to receive but not the nature of your disability. From the time that appropriate documentation is received by the ADA Coordinator, please allow 2 to 3 weeks to process your paperwork. Processing time may vary pending the volume of requests received.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY (HONESTY):

Academic honesty is an essential aspect of all learning, scholarship, and research. It is one of the values regarded most highly by academic communities throughout the world. Violations of the principle of academic honesty are extremely serious and will not be tolerated.

Students are responsible for promoting academic honesty at Chaminade by not participating in any act of dishonesty and by reporting any incidence of academic dishonesty to an instructor or to a University official. Academic dishonesty may include theft of records or examinations, alteration of grades, and plagiarism.

Questions of academic dishonesty in a particular class are first reviewed by the instructor, who must make a report with recommendations to the Dean of the Academic Division. Punishment for academic dishonesty will be determined by the instructor and the Dean of the Academic Division and may range from an 'F' grade for the work in question to an 'F' for the course to suspension or dismissal from the University.