Lecture 4 – Rel110
= Chapter 2 Indigenous Sacred Way

4% of the world, living close to the earth
Discovery of new tribe deep in the jungles of the Amazon
1. Disappearing Religions
a. Oral traditions/language barrier
b. Elders are dying out; youth leaving the tribe
c. Genocidal colonization
d. Destruction of homelands
e. Conversion pressure
f. Esoteric practices
g. No Conversion – respect for other traditions

2. Locale

a. Mesoamerica
b. Australia
c. China
d. Russia
e. Eskimo
f. West Africa
g. Cuba
h. Haiti
i. Tibet
j. Japan

3. Unique Spirituality
a. Spirit is part of all time and all place.
b. Flexible and Dynamic structure
c. Creation stories/nature based
d. Value of Community
e. Animal/Nature Teachers
f. Healing/ Shaman
g. New Age Invasion

4. Circle of Right Relationship - equality and wholeness
I. Relationship with Creator, Great Spirit m/f
a. Importance of Ancestors and tradition
b. Kinship of all creation
c. Sacred mtn, buffalo
II. Relationship with Power
a. Sacred Sites
b. Sacred Animals
c. Women’s mystery
d. Specialist…
1. Shaman
2. Storyteller
3. Drummer

Orpheus & the Underworld

III. Group Observances
a. Rites of passage
b. Group ceremonies

IV. Contemporary issues
a. Cherokee
b. Trail of Tears
c. Casinos

1. Ancient Greece – Plato 400BCE –soul is superior to the body, senses versus reason
1. Alchemy/Philosophy were secularized – Isaac Newton 1700 CE space is eternal, an emanation of eternal and immutable being. God is everywhere
2. 18th Century enlightenment – rationality, skepticism of divine revelation and inner wisdom, intuition. Descartes- “I think, therefore, I am.”
3. Scientific Materialism – the supernatural is imaginary, only the material world exist. (dreams?)
4. 20th Century – Karl Marx, not only do religions pacify people falsely but they may themselves become tools of oppression.
Man makes religion: religion does not make man… The religious world is but the reflex of the real world…Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the sentiment of a heartless world and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people…
5. Darwin & Origin of the Species (mid 1800’s) … genetic mutations versus biblical Book of Genesis.
6. Late 1800’s – German Philosopher Nietzsche “god is dead!”
7. Modern Science – no absolute… atom (smallest particles) / quarks
8. We are made of space, atoms… vibrating strings and loops of strings
9. Quantum physics – consciousness determines reality (shrodinger’s cat)
VI. Women and the Feminine in religions (Maiden, Matron, Crone)
1. When God was a Woman – Venus of Willendorf
2. Male/Female – androgynony
3. Creation stories
4. Role in Early Christianity
5. Blood & Birth
6. Miracles & Healers – Joan of Arc, Witches

Study questions 1, 3, 5, 6 P. 30

Rel110 – Lecture 3
How do we study religion? P. 9
What we study are the phenomena of religion – worship, symbols, and myths.
I.Ritual – repetition, patterned performance, traditional meanings , drama
Pregnancy birth
Puberty Adulthood-coming of Age
Marriage Children Death

II. How do we worship?
Offerings Song Ceremony
Food Drama Dance
Candles, water, flowers

III.Symbols – p. 12 Descendants of the Eagle
A. Archetypes – Carl Jung old man, great mother, the heor, the shadow, the trickster
B. Symbols – images/objects borrowed from the material world to represent ineffable spiritual experiences.
C. Stories/
IV. Scriptures / Religious Texts
A. Source – language, authors, audience, intent
B. Interpretation
1. Orthodox – historical form – extablished practices, laws, and creeds.
2. Fundamentalism – selective insistence on parts of a religious tradition and to violence against people of other religions
3. Liberals – more flexible approach to a religious tradition
4. Mystical – guided by their own spiritual experiences
C. Methodology
1. Historical
2. Redaction – editing and organization
3. Canonization
V. Science and religion
1. Ancient Greece – Plato 400BCE –soul is superior to the body, senses versus reason
1. Alchemy/Philosophy were secularized – Isaac Newton 1700 CE space is eternal, an emanation of eternal and immutable being. God is everywhere
2. 18th Century enlightenment – rationality, skepticism of divine revelation and inner wisdom, intuition. Descartes- “I think, therefore, I am.”

Lecture 2 Rel 110

I. Where does religion come from.
Etymology is Latin religio “to tie again, to bind again”
II. Reunite WHAT?
Seen and Unseen Worlds
Known and Unknown Worlds
III. Encounters with the Unseen
A. Mystical experience – a direct encounter with the divine GNOSIS
William James –
1. Ineffability, like states of feeling than intellect, subtle shaded with fine nuances that are difficult to convey in their import and grandeur to another. Consequently, much mystical literature is filled with paradoxes and symbolism.
2. Noetic quality, Mystical experiences are states of knowledge, insight, awareness, revelation, and illumination beyond the grasp of the intellect. There is awareness of unity with the Absolute, of immorality of the soul, of great truths. Time and space are transcended.
3. Transiency, mystical experiences are fleeting in linear time, though they seem to be eternal. Most last a few seconds, some perhaps up to ten minutes. It is rare to sustain a mystical state for more than a half-hour, or perhaps one to two hours at best. Eastern adepts are able to sustain prolonged periods of samadhi, a mystical state of one-pointed concentration; and some reportedly are able to sustain the highest states of nirvana (satori in Zen) and even the rarely attained nirodh.
4. Passivity, The individual feels swept up and held by a superior power. This may be accompanied by a sensation of separation from bodily consciousness (similar to an out-of-body experience [OBE]), trance, or such phenomena as automatisms, mediumistic trance, healing powers, visions, and voices. Such phenomena are regarded in Eastern thought as states of pseudo-enlightenment, partway up to the real thing, but not quite there.
According to James and others mystical experiences vary in intensity. In their simplest form they appear to the individual as a sudden burst of intelligence or insight; similar to the way the significance of a maximum or formula becomes clear, to a person, which causes him to express an aha! James also classed deja vu as a simple mystical experience. Other insights have increased meaning such as the bursts of truths that are accompanied by dreamy states and reveries, and then there is the maximum state when the individual experiences the ecstasy of being in union with the Absolute, or God.
b. Meditation – discipline of the mind
c. Ritual…worshipful actions that are repeated and follow prescribed form.
d. Art - symbol of something that is beyond words (poetry, canvas, music, dance)
e. Allegories…narratives that use symbols to convey abstract ides (Ezekiel p. 11)
f. myths – symbolic stories used to explain the univers and our place within it. P. 13 Joesph Campbell and the Power of Myth (Bill Moyers)

IV. Who are we and what is the purpose of life?
Atheism – belief there is no deity
Agnosticicism – I don’t know if god exists or not… impossible to know.
Mystic ism – direct experiences of the divine
V. Theism
Non
Mono
poly
VI. Positive and Negative Side of Religion
Prayer & healing
Meditation for stress reduction
Power greater than us all
Trance
MY WAY IS RIGHT
Mass hysteria
voodoo

REL 110 – World Religions
Isothermal Community College - Fall 2009
ADJUNCT FACULTY: Ms. Clayton, MA
CONTACT INFO: gclayton@thelearningcollege.net
Available before and after class, or by appointment.
PREREQUISITES: RED 090, ENG 090 -CREDIT HOURS: 3 = CONTACT HOURS: 3

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS: TEXT: Living Religions by Mary Pat Fisher

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is a survey of the world’s major religions-Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Zoroastrian, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and New World thoughts. (This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general education core requirement in humanities/fine arts.)

SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of this class the student will be able to:
• Demonstrate basic concepts and philosophies of the world’s major religions.
• Demonstrate knowledge of basic vocabulary, key terms, geography, culture, literary practices, historical contexts, canon development, and facts necessary for a critical understanding of major religions.
EVALUATION METHODS AND GRADING COMPONENTS:
• Class Participation – 10%
• Your class participation grade is earned by demonstrating your engagement with the subject matter. Your thoughtful contributions to class conversations and participation in group activities will indicate your level of engagement. Our discussions will be strengthened by the appropriate contribution of your insights. Students should bring their text books to class to avoid a penalty on their class participation grade.
• Civility, respect and open-mindedness are expected. No use of CELL PHONES or open LAP TOPS in class.
• Subject Test – 90%

• If a student who is absent or tardy misses a test, a “0” will be recorded. Missed exams may only be made up if advance notice is given to the instructor, and if the absence is considered excused by the instructor. Emergencies will be handled by contacting the instructor as soon as possible. Make-up exams will only be administered at the time of the final exam.

• Five exams will be given throughout the semester on which students will demonstrate critical thinking skills, knowledge of the subject matter, and synthesis of concepts. The exams may include both essay and objective components. You may find maps, matching, fill-in-the-blank, and short-answer questions. The final exam will contain a comprehensive component.

• Grading Scale:

• A (excellent) 93-100
• B (above average) 85-92
• C (average) 77-84
• D (below average) 70-76
• F (failure) 0-69

GENERAL POLICIES:
• Attendance –
• You are expected to be present and on time for all classes and exams.
• Every student is allowed 1 excused absence for this course. For each absence beyond the 1 allowed absence, 1 point will be subtracted from the semester average. A student missing more than 25% of class sessions cannot expect to pass; for this class that means 4 absences. A 5th absence is an automatic failure.

• A student who arrives late to class must see the professor after class and ask that her/his status be changed from ‘absent’ to ‘late.’ Three ‘lates’ equal one absence. Three ‘early departures’ equal one absence.

• Missed exams may only be made up if advance notice is given to the instructor, and if the absence is considered excused by the instructor. Emergencies will be handled by contacting the instructor as soon as possible. Make-up exams will only be administered at the time of the final exam.

• Personal Electronic Devices – Use of cell phones or any electronic devices in class is not allowed. Use of cell phones or any electronic device during a test constitutes an automatic failure of that test. Use of personal computers is limited to note-taking only. Students using laptops may be asked to show their lecture notes.
• Textbooks – Students are expected to bring textbooks to every class.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT: You are expected to rely only on your own knowledge when taking tests and quizzes and completing independent assignments. Cheating in any form, including plagiarism (the use of an author’s words or ideas without providing proper documentation), will not be tolerated and may result in loss of academic credit for the course and/or a failing grade on the assignment. See the Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Judicial Procedures Manual, Section IX.
GENERAL EDUCATIONS COMPTETENCIES ADDRESSED: Your achievement of competency in general education skills is incorporated into all the courses you take at Isothermal. This course will focus on the skills listed below. For information on how they will be evaluated, review the criteria that have been established by the college. These are available on the college website and in the student handbook under Academic Information.

• Writing: Essay questions.
• Reading: Thoroughness in completing the reading assignments as measured in class discussions.
What Students Can Expect of Isothermal What Isothermal Expects of Students
In their commitment to learning and to the achievement of a true learning-centered community, Isothermal personnel will:
• Meet student needs by demonstrating professional, friendly, and courteous service in all aspects of student life
• Maintain high professional and academic standards
• Serve as role models in the development of leadership skills
• Respect diversity and treat all students fairly
• Be available to students and helpful with student problems
• Communicate clear learning objectives and expected outcomes
• Provide timely feedback in the assessment of learning outcomes
• Stay current in subject matter
• Practice effective teaching/learning strategies that promote critical thinking In their commitment to learning, students will:
• Accept responsibility for learning
• Attend and participate in all classes
• Complete required exercises and assignments as directed
• Develop a time management plant that includes adequate time for study
• Maintain an open-minded attitude toward learning
• Strive to become independent critical thinkers
• Seek help as needed from appropriate sources
• Be respectful and considerate of others
• Assume responsibility for knowing and adhering to all college policies
• Acknowledge that learning how to learn is the ultimate objective of education
• Recognize that struggle and discomfort often precede the rewards that accompany goal completion and success
Note: From Isothermal Distinction – Community of Learners; Statement of Expectations. Isothermal Community College (Revised 2004).

Syllabus Calendar Fall 2009 WORLD RELIGIONS REL-110 GAYLE CLAYTON, MA , INSTRUCTOR

Wed. Aug. 19 Syllabus Review, Grading Methodology, Introduction
Wed. Aug. 26 Chapter 1
Mon. Aug. 31 Chapter 1
Wed. Sept. 02 Chapter 2
Mon. Sept. 7 Holiday Labor Day
Wed. Sept. 09 Chapter 2
Mon. Sept. 14 Chapter 2
Wed. Sept. 16 TEST I
Mon. Sept. 21 Chapter 3
Wed. Sept. 23 Chapter 3
Mon. Sept. 28 Chapter 3
Wed. Sept. 30 Chapter 4
Mon. Oct. 05 Chapter 4
Wed. Oct. 07 Chapter4
Mon. Oct. 12 TEST II
Wed. Oct. 14 Chapter 5
Mon. Oct. 19 Chapter 5 &6
Wed. Oct. 21 Chapter 6
Mon. Oct. 26 Chapter 7
Wed. Oct. 28 TEST III
Mon. Nov. 02 Chapter 8
Wed. Nov. 04 Chapter 8
Mon. Nov. 09 Chapter 9
Wed. Nov. 11 Chapter 9
Mon. Nov. 16 TEST IV
Wed. Nov. 18 Chapter 10
Mon. Nov. 23 Chapter 10 & 11
Wed. Nov. 25 Chapter 11
Mon. Nov. 30 Chapter 12
Wed. Dec. 2 Chapter 13
Mon. Dec. 7 TEST V
Wed. Dec. 9 Comprehensive Review
Mon. Dec. 14 Comprehensive Final Exam