Zion Canyon
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| From the Top! | Course Overview | |
| Description & Itinerary | ||
| Policies & Expectations | ||
| Assignments & Grading | ||
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Theology 2: World Religions / 2008-2009 I will tell you something about stories, [he said] What is the world? The world is God, wrapped in robes of God
Welcome! We are about to embark on a journey of dis-covery into the sacred realm of the Spirit, where the holy (us) and the Holy share in the story-dance of life and death, of inspiration and desperation, of moments in time and of time beyond time. This is a realm where mystery holds mastery, where our questing births more questions, where every heartbeat is sacred song, where the Power we seek empowers our seeking—a place where every facet of the journey, every face we encounter (our own included!) reflects and reveals the face of God. Over the next months, we will travel together through a sampling of our world’s religious landscapes. Although we will not be able to explore every faith tradition (that is a lifetime’s journey!), nor become experts in any single tradition, our aim is to become more literate and respectful strangers in the sacred stories and spaces of others—and perhaps even to increase our appreciation and respect for our own sacred traditions, stories and spaces in the process.
After a few weeks of preparation, we will begin our year-long adventure by traveling East to encounter Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. From there our path will take us into the Middle East for an exploration of the sibling religions of Judaism and Islam. Our journey, and our year, will come to an end with a brief examination of the world’s tribal traditions and a sampling of the “new” religions that have emerged on the world’s stage within the last two centuries. Our companion and guide as we travel will be Joseph Stoutzenberger’s The Human Quest for God: An Overview of the World’s Religions, supplemented by the color, texture and sound provided by occasional films and personal, shared experiences.
Respect: One of our course goals is to nurture our shared capacity to be respectful of other faith traditions. Thus, a key element of our shared journey will be respect, which includes showing respect for one another. All class members—the teacher and every student—will be expected to speak and behave respectfully at all times. Timeliness: Although late arrival is at times unavoidable, a pattern of tardiness is unacceptable. Class will begin on time; please respect your classmates by entering the room quietly if you do arrive late. Attendance: You are responsible for assignments (both those that are due and those done in class) for the day(s) you are absent, as well as for obtaining class notes. Work that was due on the day(s) you were absent must be turned in/presented on the first class day of your return to school--in addition to the work due for that day. In-class work that was missed must be made up within a week of your return to receive full credit; otherwise the late policy applies. If you have any concerns about your ability to meet either of these deadlines, it is your responsibility to contact me, prior to your return to class (or before the week is up), to negotiate a later due date (cf. Late Work policy below). Due Dates: Homework due dates will be distributed on the first day of each cycle and posted on the Homework: Due Dates page of my webpage for each cycle. In addition, each student will be required to create a Moodle (moodle.sacredsf.org) account so that she can enroll in the World Religions class where full descriptions of each homework assignment will be posted. You are expected to check Moodle for updates on a weekly basis. Organization & Quality of Work: You will be asked to bring a generously-sized 3-ring binder and multiple dividers to our second class meeting to insure that you get off to a good start, organizationally-speaking. Additionally, be mindful that each assignment that you turn in is a reflection not only of you as a student, but of your respect for the class and for the subject matter as well. Handwritten work (RQs, exams) must be in pen and legible. All other work must be typed. (Keeping copies of your work on a flash drive is encouraged so that you can simply reprint any work that is misplaced rather than having to complete the assignment again.) Directions should be carefully followed and assignments fully completed. Work that is sloppy and/or illegible or incomplete will not receive full credit. Preparation: Bring your Theology Notebook (with your unit notes, additional paper and a pencil or pen) to class for each class meeting. You will need your The Human Quest for God on days when there is an RQ scheduled. All students will begin each cycle with 100 preparation points. Points will be deducted for: failure to bring your book (when needed) or notebook to class; failure to turn in an assignment when it is due; failure to log in to Moodle at least once each week. Late Work: Only work that is turned in on time is eligible to receive full credit. Late work will be accepted, although for no more than partial credit. NOTE: one point is lost for each class day that an assignment is late. This includes work that is turned in after class on the day it was due. Please note that this policy applies to in-class work that was missed due to tardiness as well. Progress reports—written by either the student herself or the teacher—may be sent home for late or missing work. Exceptions to this policy may be negotiated, but on a case-by-case basis only. If you need an extension due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, you must communicate with me, either in person or via e-mail, prior to the due date to discuss your situation. At that time we will craft a late work contract and adjust due dates accordingly.
Reading Homework: Sections of the text will be assigned throughout each unit and you will be held responsible for the material covered in these sections. You are encouraged to make notations or highlight key points in your text. Reading Quizzes: Frequently class will begin with questions based on the reading. You may use your book to answer these questions, so, as noted above, marking your text as you read is encouraged. Credit is given both for attempted and correct answers. RQs may be retaken until you are happy with your score (and feel secure that you understand the material). Class Notes: Outlines will be available for each unit so that your focus can be on the material we are exploring and your response to it. These outlines are not, however, a substitute for taking notes of your own on ideas and/or or information not included on the outline. If you find note-taking difficult, please feel free to talk to me and I will happily work with you on developing this vital academic skill. Reflective Work: Although part of our study of world religions is undeniably about gaining information and honing our academic capabilities, an equally important aspect of the year is the nurturing of our affective capacities—our hearts, spirits and souls as well as our minds. In the words of St. Madeleine Sophie: The heart of education is the education of the heart. It is in this spirit that the following two assignments have been designed: Show & Tells: As we conclude each unit, you will be asked to reflect creatively upon a single aspect of the unit or tradition—its place in the world, its founder, its religious rituals or deities or stories, its spiritual teachings, its perspective on social justice or war or peace—that struck you. This could be something that you found appealing or strange or wonderful or confusing or challenging. You will then be asked to respond creatively in any way that you choose: you may draw, make a collage, write a rap or a sonnet or a ballad or a story, or create a film—the choice is entirely yours. All responses will be shared in class, providing you with the opportunity both to show off your response, and to “tell its story” (what spoke to you in the tradition and why you responded as you did). Grading of these responses will be based on following the directions—you must be able to say what inspired your response—and the imagination/effort apparent in your work; it is not expected that your response is an artistic, literary or cinematographic masterpiece (although some, indeed, may be), simply that sufficient time and energy was put into the assignment. Travel Journals are intended as a written record of your journey through the sacred landscapes and stories of our world. Topics will generally be assigned and will range from a specific question (for example, what comes to mind when you hear the word Muslim?) to your response to the dual question: what did you learn this week and why does it matter? Travel Journal entries should be at least a page in length (double-spaced, typed and according to the format that will be outlined for you in class) and are generally due on the first class day of each week. Their content will be held in reverence and confidence. Grading will be based solely on the assignment having been completed as instructed, not on your opinions or feelings. Beyond the Classroom: Each semester you will have the opportunity to explore, with a partner, the reality of living as a member of a faith tradition other than your own in our contemporary world. This project has both an experiential and a research dimension. In the fall you will be given a list of possible experiences—from visiting a Buddhist temple to attending a Friday night Shabbat service to participating in the Fast of Ramadan—from which to choose. In the spring, a list of smaller, lesser-known religions will be provided from which you may select one to learn more about. Details of this project—process, guidelines, due dates, presentation requirements, etc.—will be provided and discussed in greater depth early in the first cycle. Exams: At the conclusion of each cycle there will be an open Notebook exam. (You will not be allowed to use your text.) The bulk of questions will pertain to material covered during the cycle, although, as the year progresses, some questions will be cumulative as well. Extra Credit: Opportunities for extra credit are always available. Extra credit questions are included as part of every RQ and on each exam. Additional extra credit project ideas (such as reflections on topical articles and films) are posted on my webpage and/or may be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
Notebooks 50% Grading in this class is based largely on effort. If you are willing to work, to complete your assignments fully, according to the directions and on time, and to participate wholeheartedly in our shared adventure, you will do well—and your grade will reflect that. It is my expectation, and my hope, that each one of you will have a wonder-filled and successful year!
If you wish to speak with me outside of class, please feel free to do so. I am always available via e-mail and will generally be in the Den during lunch periods on Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays and during D period on Thursdays. In addition, I will be in the Den on Monday and Friday mornings from 7:30 until the beginning of class and in the Library on Wednesday mornings (from 7:30-8am) as part of Campus Ministry’s Mornings with (mc)Mike program. In general, I am on campus every day and am happy to make myself available to you, whether for an appointment or a casual check-in or chat, from the first day of class. Again, welcome to Theology 2 and to the adventure of your sophomore year. I look forward to sharing the upcoming months of learning and growing with you!
We shall not cease from exploration |
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