(3 semester hours)
Office Location: 21 Peabody Hall.
Email (preferred method of communication): rouslane@uga.edu
Course Description:
In this introductory course, we will explore the origins, history, scriptures, beliefs, rituals, ethical teachings, and cultural impacts of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, as well as of background traditions, such as those of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, which profoundly influenced Western civilization. The classes will consist of lectures, discussions, active learning exercises, and audio-visual presentations.
Prerequisites: permission of the Honors program. Not open to students with a credit in RELI 1001
Expected Learning Outcomes:
1. Greater understanding of Abrahamic religions
2. Understanding of the basic principles of the academic study of religions
3. Increased ability to comprehend and analyze complex material
4. Increased ability for critical and comparative analysis
5. Enhanced skills in collaborative learning
Special Honors Feature:
Advanced readings by leading thinkers from each tradition and a more in-depth analysis of issues
Students’ Own Objectives (here you are encouraged to formulate your own aims that are either different from the above or more specific. Make sure to communicate these to the instructor, and, if appropriate, he will do his best to help you meet your individual objectives):
Required Texts
1) Theodore M. Ludwig, The Sacred Paths of the West, 3rd ed. (Prentice Hall, 2006). No other editions of this text are acceptable! Abbreviation: L
Available at the university bookstore. Important: Bring the book to every class!
2) The Bible on line or your own hardcopy (The New International Version preferred, but any version will do). If you prefer a hardcopy, you will be responsible for obtaining it on your own. If you opt for the electronic on-line version, you would need either to print-out the assigned passages for reference in class or use your laptop. The link: http://www.biblegateway.com
3) The Qur’an on line or your own hardcopy (any translation will do). If you prefer a hardcopy, you will be responsible for obtaining it on your own. If you opt for the electronic on-line version, you would need either to print-out the assigned passages for reference in class or use your laptop. The link: http://quranexplorer.com/ On the home page click “Launch Quran Explorer”
4) On-line reserve readings: in the reading schedule below, these are marked by [ER] = electronic reserve:
Go to https://gil.uga.edu/
Click on Search Course Reserves
In the search box under “Instructor” find “Elistratov, Rouslan”, then under “Course” find RELI2001H: Judaism, Christianity, Islam,” then click “search”
The list of assigned on-line reserve items will follow. Click on the desired item, then under the title info click “Full Text Online”
The system will prompt you to type in the case-sensitive password: jci-h
Note: You will need to read the entire document that opens under the titles used both in this syllabus and electronic course reserve database. You will need to read all of the sections in this document, unless stated otherwise in the syllabus.
Important: you either need to print out these materials for reference in class or use a laptop
4) Additional materials (lecture notes and study guides) in the form of PowerPoint and Word documents will be sent via listserv throughout the semester. The instructor will alert you as to when the next document will be sent out.
Required technical base:
1) You should have access to and have the ability to open and navigate Microsoft Word and PowerPoint documents
2) You should have an operational UGA e-mail account for the duration of this course. Keep your e-mail storage space uncluttered so that you could receive Word and PowerPoint documents from the instructor without glitches.
Course norms:
While in class Please make every effort to be mentally present in class, which means abstaining from things like napping, solving crossword puzzles, having a snack (although water is permitted), reading newspapers, doing homework, talking on the phone, text-messaging, chatting with one another, etc. All students should take care to create a quiet environment conducive to learning for all.
Leaving class early Please do not leave class early without talking to the instructor before class or, if that’s impossible, provide an explanation next time you come to class. This does not apply to the situations when you need to step outside briefly (i.e., bathroom)
Being late to class Please avoid chronic tardiness. Although circumstances may occasionally prevent us from arriving on time, frequent late arrivals are not allowed without making arrangements with the instructor.
Treat everybody with respect and compassion In an emotionally engaging class like this, we will need to take extra care not to be reactive. This virtue is not necessarily natural to us, so we will have to cultivate it here.
Persistent failure to abide by the above rules may result in a loss of attendance points
E-mailing the instructor. Due to the high cumulative number of students in my classes, I am trying to keep e-mailing to a minimum. For that reason, please do not e-mail me your papers or explanations for your absences/late arrivals/early departures. Simply talk to me before or after class in person at your next opportunity. However you certainly can e-mail me with questions regarding the material and class or missing the exams or setting appointments.
Course Requirements:
1. Three exams (each worth 100 points; 300 pts total; graded on the absolute scale = no curves)
There will be an exam roughly every five weeks at the conclusion of each major section of the course, covering key terms, concepts, facts, theories, and issues from the readings, lectures, PowerPoint presentations, and class discussions. Exam study guides will be e-mailed to you in the form of Word files. The exams will consist of two parts: written and oral. The written part will consist of a few identification, fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice, “true-false,” and short answer types of questions to gauge your basic grasp of the material. The oral part will be a brief one-on-one discussion of your answers and additional questions to be answered on the spot. The final exam will not be comprehensive and will only cover the final section of the course (Islam).
Make-up exam policy: If you should miss an exam for a serious reason, such as a medical and family emergency (documentation may be required), you may take a make-up (during the office hours or by appointment), but you must contact the instructor (via e-mail) either before or within 24 hours of the missed exam. No exceptions.
2. Class participation and attendance (100 points total; 25% of the final grade): This class is not lecture-only. Research shows that students learn best when they engage in active learning. Furthermore, it is expected that in Honors classes an emphasis be made on the discussion of primary texts. Therefore your active involvement is important and will include the following components.
1) Starting the first week of classes, weekly pass-fail home writing assignments (10 assignments per semester, 6 pts per assignment, 60 points total). Writing Schedule: 4 papers must be written before EXAM I; 3 papers—before EXAM II and 3 – before the Final. This is to ensure that you pay adequate attention to each section of the course. Note that although there are 15 weeks of classes, only 10 papers will be required. This means that you can take 5 weeks off from home writing at any time during the semester!
For each week, you are asked to write a 1.5-2 page double-spaced paper (font 12) on the textbook material or/and PowerPoint presentations (if applicable) assigned for either of three classes on that particular week. For example, if you decide to write a paper for a Wednesday class, you should write about the readings assigned for that day in the syllabus and submit it on that day. This will take care of your writing assignment for that week (that is, there is no need to write anything for the Monday and Friday class during that week). The papers will be given back to you only in the case of a problem; otherwise, you can assume that you got your 6 points.
The paper will contain two parts:
Part I. Your thoughts on one of the following questions of your choice:
1) What stood out for you in today’s readings? In particular, what things struck you as interesting, important, surprising, controversial, disturbing, inspiring, puzzling, enlightening, particularly useful, or the opposite. Why? 2) What are some key facts, ideas, insights that you identified in the readings?
Part II. Formulate a question or comment of your own to contribute to the class discussion (which means that you must be ready to share that question or comment in class). This does not have to deal directly with the readings (although it should be relevant to the topic). This is your opportunity to connect with the subject on a more personal level by bringing up what is really important to you.
Papers are pass/fail. This means that you will either get 5 points (pass) or no points at all (fail).
Definition of a failed paper: you either didn’t write it or failed to submit it on time or wrote it very poorly in terms of style and grammar; or your paper shows that you did not really study the material.
What information to include in your paper: a) your name, b) the course title,
c) times class meets, d) the date and the day of the week for which you are writing (for ex., Friday, Feb.2 ), e) the paper’s sequential number (for ex., Paper # 3 if this is your third paper in the semester, so you would have to keep track of this). MAKE SURE TO SAVE YOUR PAPERS ON A HARD DRIVE AND DISK UNTIL THE END OF THE SEMESTER.
Submitting your papers:
Papers are due at the class for which you have chosen to write. You must submit the paper in person right after class (or at the beginning if you must leave early), at which time I will check it off in my records and let you know where you stand in terms of papers. Late papers will not be accepted, except when you missed a class for a documentable serious medical or family reason. In those cases, you can submit the paper at the next class following the absence. Do not e-mail me your papers, as those will not be accepted. If you have been absent for a legitimate reason for more than one week, you can bring me however many papers you wrote during that time.
2) Attendance (40 points)
An attendance sheet will be passed around in class on frequent occasions (of that day and hour no one knows except Dr. E!). This will be done 10 minutes after the start of the class, so if you arrive later without a legitimate reason, you will be checked off as absent that day.
With every missed class for any reason other than documented severe or infectious illness, medical or family emergency or a graduate school/job interview, UGA-required athletic trips or a religious holiday, you will lose 4 out of your 40 participation points until all 40 points are used up. No exceptions. Also, because class participation is important, you cannot miss more than two weeks of classes without penalty, even if you have been absent for any of the legitimate reasons listed above. Note, however, that you are entitled to 3 free absences per semester without penalty, for whatever reason (yes, even if you simply decide that you need a day off).
General preparedness for the class: Even if you are not writing a paper, you are still responsible for doing all the assigned readings.
Other reasons to attend: Poor attendance may affect your ability to write quality exams, as the missed discussions and lectures can prevent you from grasping the issues adequately. Secondly, you will miss out on the invaluable experience of exploring important human questions with your peers. Finally, good education always involves “moments of transformative insight” – moments when you suddenly realize the material’s relevance to you, or discover some new connection, or find an illuminating piece of information, or have an “aha!” experience, or learn a new way of looking at things. These moments are often stimulated by mutual interaction with other students and the teacher. Therefore, your asking questions, responding to the material in class, and participating in discussions are crucial for effective learning.
IMPORTANT: All academic work must meet the standards contained in "A Culture of Honesty." All students are responsible to inform themselves about those standards before performing any academic work. See
http://www.uga.edu/ovpi/honesty/culture_honesty.htm
Grading Scale (100% = 400 pts)
92-100% A 90-91.9 A-
88-89.9 B+ 82-87.9 B 80-81.9 B-
78-79.9 C+ 72-77.9 C 70-71.9 C-
60-69.9 D
0-59.9 F
Consultation: I welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your
academic interests, the course assignments, and your experience in this class, or just to chat about religion during my office hours or by appointment. Half-way through the semester, you also will have a chance to suggest ways of making the course a more enriching experience for you through an anonymous midterm course evaluation. This way, I will be able to make the needed changes during the semester. Your suggestions and feedback are always welcome and will be taken seriously!
to the class by the instructor may be necessary. Note that in addition to textbook readings, you will also be receiving additional material in the form of PowerPoint and Word files via listserv throughout the semester. The following reading schedule does not reflect those readings.
Aug 19 Principles of the Academic Study of Religions. Readings: L 3 - 5 (before “Grouping the Religious Traditions”); 2) Religions Arising in the Mediterranean World: L 70-71; 3) Ancient Mesopotamian religion: pp. L 76-79 (before “Religion in Ancient Greece”)
Aug 21 Mesopotamia cont’d; The Hebrew creation story; from the Bible: Genesis 1-3; 6-9
Week 2
Aug 24 Abraham, L 95-97; (before “Exodus from Egypt”); from the Bible: Genesis 12-17;
Aug 26 Abraham continued; Genesis 18-22:19
Aug 28 Moses and Exodus L 97-98; from the Bible: Exodus 1-11 (before “Mosaic Covenant”)
Week 3
Aug 31 Ancient Egyptian religion; Mosaic Covenant L 73-75; Exodus 12-22
Sep 2 The Promised Land and the Kingdom L 99-101; From the Bible:
Judges 5; 2 Samuel 5-7; 11-12; Psalms 8, 9, 23, 51; 1 Kings 3, 6.
Sep 4 1) Jewish Wisdom literature: From the Bible: Ecclesiastes (entire); Song of Songs 1-4; 2) The Prophets, Divided Kingdom, the Babylonian Exile, and the Founding of Judaism: L 99-104 (before “The Maccabean Revolt”), from the Bible: Isaiah 1-2:5
Week 4
Sep 7 LABOR DAY; NO CLASS
Sep 9 1) Post-exilic Judaism, Greek influences, The Maccabean Revolt and Roman Domination; L 104-105 (before “The Development of Rabbinic Judaism”); 2) Philo of Alexandria; From the Bible: Proverbs 8
Sep 11 1) The Mystery of Suffering Fasching and Dechant, “Job” [ER]
2) The First-century Jewish factions; the Development of Rabbinic Judaism; L 105-106 (before “The Making of the Talmud”);
Week 5
Sep 14 The Making of the Talmud, the Challenge of the Karajaites; Jewish Philosophy L 106-108 (before “Mysticism and the Kabbalah”)
Sep 16 Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah L 108-109 (before “Tragedy and Response” in Christian Medieval Europe); “The Loss of the Princess” [ER]
Sep 18 Anti-Semitism, Emancipation, Zionism, the Holocaust; L 109-111 (before “Reform, Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist), L 113-114;
Week 6
Sep 21 Modern Judaism, Branches of Judaism; L 111-112 (from “Reform, Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist); “Reform Judaism: Declaration of Principles” [ER]; “Modern Judaisms” [ER]
Sep 23 Jewish Practices, Holidays, Ethics, and Cultural Symbols; L Chapter 8; “Excerpts from “Studying Religion” (then click on “Review Questions”, read “Research Case-Seder) [ER];
Sep 25 Jewish Worlds of Meaning L CHAPTER 7; “Judaism on Violence” [ER]
Week 7
Sep 28 EXAM I (Students observing Yom Kippur can take the exam in class on Sep 30)
Sep 30 Christianity: Its Jewish Roots; The New Testament literature; From the Bible: Isaiah 9:1-7; 53; Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2; L 143-144 (before “Life and teachings of Jesus”)
Oct 2 Life and Teachings of Jesus: Video “Jesus; L 144- 146 (before “A Radical New Way of Life”) Matthew 3-4
Week 8
Oct 5 Discussion of Video and PowerPoint material; L 146-147; Matthew 5-7; Luke 10:25-37;
Oct 7 Life and teachings of Jesus concluded; L 148-150 (before “Beginnings of the Christian Church”); John 1:1-5; 13- 14; Luke 22:1-38; Mark 14:43-16:8
Oct 9 Early Church, Paul, and other Apostles L 150-152; Galatians 1-2; 1Corinthians 15 ; James (entire)
Week 9
Oct 12 Christianity in the Roman World; the Challenge of Gnosticism L 153-154 (before “Emperor Constantine and Imperial Christianity”); The Gospel of Thomas [ER]
Oct 14 Apocalypticism, Persecutions, Martyrs, and Greco-Roman Heroic Ideal; Perpetua’s Vision [ER]; from the Bible: Revelation 1, 13, 20-22:6
Oct 16 Constantine and Imperial Christianity, Theological Controversies and Church Councils, Monasticism L 154-156 (before “Augustine, Bishop of Hippo”);
Week 10
Oct 19 1) Augustine; 2) Papacy, the Great Schism, Eastern Orthodoxy L 156-158
Oct 21 The Crusades; Thomas Aquinas; Medieval Catholic Culture L 159-160 (before “Renaissance and Reformation”); “Excerpts from Studying Religion” (then click on “Research case”, read about St. Andrew’s Cathedral)
Oct 23, Symbols and Sacramentals; Christian Mysticism: “Interior Castle” [ER]
Week 11
Oct 26; Protestantism vs. Catholicism; The spread of Protestantism: L 160-164 (before “Struggles with Modernity”)
Oct 28 Varieties of Protestantism; Struggles with Modernity; Christianity today; L 164-166 ; Christian Ritual Practices, Holidays, and the Good life L CHAPTER 11
Oct 30 FALL BREAK; NO CLASS
Week 12
Nov 2 The Christian worldview L Chapter 10; “Christianity and Non-Violence” [ER], “Nelson-Pallmeyer Part 1” [ER]; “MLK vs. Bray” [ER]
Nov 4 Contemporary issues and theology: “What about Them?” [ER] (stop after p.312 before section titled “Sacramental” and resume at “Judgment, Heaven, and Hell” to the end)
Nov 6 EXAM II
Week 13
Nov 9 Islam: Introductory lecture; No new readings
Nov 11 Muslim Beliefs L 220-224;
Nov 13 Muslim Beliefs (cont’d) L 224-229; Muslim Practices: L 230-233 (up to “The Pilgrimage”);
Week 14
Nov 16 Video “Mosque”; Home internet research assignment (go to www.uga.edu/islam , find an article that interests you and be ready to tell your group about its main ideas and your reactions. No paper required, but failure to prepare will be equivalent to an absence)
Nov 18 Pilgrimage (Hajj) L 233-235 (before “Rituals of the Passages of Life”); Video “Hajj”. From the Quran: Surah II, verses 21-187
Nov 20 Muslim Moral Teachings and Rituals cont’d. L 235-245;
NOVEMBER 23-27 THANKSGIVING BREAK
Week 15
Nov 30 Muhammad and the Origins of Islam; L 196-200; Video “Muhammad”
Dec 2 Establishing Ummah in Medina; The Spread of Islam; the Classical and Medieval Periods of Islam L 204-209 (before “Islamic Mysticism”); L 212-214 (start at “Medieval Empires” and end before “Reform Movements and the Modern World”); “Excerpts from “Studying Religion”, then click on“Two Case Studies” [ER] (begin reading at section “Two Case Study”)
Dec 4 Sufism L 209-211 (up to “Religious Ideas of Shi’ites”); “The Conference of the Birds” [ER], “Union and Separation” [ER]; video
Week 16 (notice that during this week we meet on M, T)
Dec 7 Islam in the Modern Times L 214-219; “Islam and Modernity” [ER]; “God and the Purpose of Creation” [ER]
Dec 8 Branches of Islam; Women in Islam: “Femininity as Subversion” [ER]; “Nelson-Pallmeyer part 2” [ER]
FINAL EXAM Mon.,
Dec. 14
3:30-6:30 pm