Religion 40 - World Religions: Asia

COURSE DESCRIPTION
 

This course introduces students to the religious tradition of South and East Asia, most notably, to Hinduism and Buddhism. The course will familiarize students with the history, scriptures, and beliefs of these religious traditions through readings from primary texts, lectures, videos, website analysis, and class discussions. Using a selection of primary and secondary texts. It will analyze the responses of different religions to common topics and problems, such as the absolute, the notion of self, the problem of human existence, as well as soteriological and ethical issues. In addition, it will explore research resources provided by the internet and the world wide web. Finally, it will provide a methodology that enables the students to do research in the field of Asian religions. As a survey course, "World Religions: Asia" will introduce the basic concepts and tenets of Hinduism and Buddhism, but does not provide an in-depth study of these religious traditions. Even though the course will utilize a number of different approaches, priority will be given to a textual and conceptual methodology.
COURSE PHILOSOPHY
 

It is the underlying philosophy of this course that learning is a dialogical process. In this sense, the course will combine lectures, group work, class discussions, and individual projects to examine the basic scriptures, concepts, and practices of Hinduism and Buddhism. Students will actively participate in the investigation of these traditions and apply the material and skills presented in this course to their academic interests and to contemporary issues. Students will thus not only contribute to the course but also shape it through active participation in the classroom, questions, email contributions, and their research projects. Students are encouraged to suggest particular areas of interest within the traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. In addition, the website and its features, including the discussion forum will play a pivotal role in this course. While the course does not presupose any prior knowledge of the intellectual heritage, history, and languages of the South and East Asian religious traditions, it will demand a certain commitment, openness, and mental effort to explore "new" ideas and to think through a variety of world views and responses to existential questions.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
 

1. Students will exhibit an appreciation of the diversity, wealth, and profundity of the religious traditions of South and East Asia.

2. Students will exhibit a familiarity with the fundamental texts, concepts, beliefs, and practices of Hinduism and Buddhism.

3. Students will discern and appreciate the basic conceptual and existential dimensions of the religious phenomenon as it is manifested in the religious traditions of South and East Asia.

4. Students will actively engage with the religious heritage of Hinduism and Buddhism in projects, group work, and class discussions.

5. Students will exhibit a fundamental knowledge of the methodologies and difficulties involved in the study of Asian religions.

6. The students will improve their skills in critical thinking and communicating ideas.
COURSE TEXTS
 

Author:	Title:	Location:
Arvind Sharma	Hinduism for Our Times	book store
Radhakrishnan/Moore	Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy	book store
_	Ramayana	book store
Strong	The Experience of Buddhism	book store
_	The Analects	book store
_	Tao Te Ching	book store
La Fleur	The Cultural Experience of Buddhism	book store
Clarke	"Orientalism"	on reserve
_	selected readings to be distributed	_
_	The Website	_

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
 

Attendance, participation (in the classroom and the discussion group alike), reading, quizzes, and presentations.	20% of course grade
8 Reflection papers	20% of course grade
Research paper	20% of course grade
3 exams	40% of course grade

    This course will not only cover a variety of different religious traditions, scriptures, and topics, it will also introduce the students to new world views. In addition, the course cannot but refer to at least 5000 years history, which, for the most part, is not taught in the standard curricula of the U.S. Therefore, it is pivotal that students attend class discussions and lectures. Biweekly quizzes will review vocabulary and prepare for the exams.

    If a student misses a class session, it is the student's repsonsibility to collect all relevant information and material for this particular class session. In general, the students are encouraged to inform the instructor if they expect to miss a class session and to discuss with the instructor ways to make up for it. A total of more than two absences will reflect negatively on the final grade. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of the class.

    Deadlines are binding. If a student would like an extension on a deadline, s/he is expected to contact the instructor prior to the respective day and time. In cases of unforseen events such as emergencies official documentation is required.

    As mentioned above, it is the philosophy of the course that learning is a dialogical process. Thus, active participation of the individual students is pivotal.

    Finally, the students are required to participate in the discussion group on the website of the class.

(2) Reflection Papers
 

    Since the course introduces material and concepts, which are, for the most part, new to the students, the students will critically reflect on the course material in seven 1-page reflection papers. Despite their nature as reflection essays, it is necessary that students clearly identify their sources in an academically respectable way. For each relfection paper, students are expected to pick one theme such as a concept, a practice, a text, a historical person, or event related to the topic of the reflection paper. Sudents are expected to briefly introduce the topic in such a way that a reader unfamiliar with the course material can follow and then briefly reflect on its ethical, conceptural, soteriological or social significance, or mention simply a striking feature of it.

Topic of reflection papers:

1. Orientalism: choose any media production and analyze whether or not it represents a case of orientalism
2. the conceptual structure of Hinduism
3. Hindu practice
4. Hindu society
5. Confucianism &Taoism
6. Buddhist Society
7. Conceptual structure of Buddhism
8. Buddhist practice

(4) The Research Project:
 

    Students will research special topics in the area of Hinduism or buddhism and present their research in a 3-4 page paper. Possible research areas: 1. women in Hinduism, 2. Hindu mythology, 3. Hinduism and the liberation struggle of the Dalith, 4. the controversy about the Aryan invasion/migration theory, 5. women in Buddhism, 6. the role of mandalas and buddhas in esoteric Buddhism, 7. engaged Buddhism, 8. the controversy around critical Buddhism.

Stage 1: students submit a written proposal by email.

Stage 2: submit tentative bibliography by email.

Stage 3: first draft of the project is due. it is the goal of the first draft to develop the main points and to crystallize the thesis statement. Try to include following elements: bibliography; citation in the body of the text; introduction; organization; conclusion; clear argument; contains thesis; thesis is well supported; application of class discussion; quotes are used as support while the main argument is developed in the author's own language.

Stage 4: second draft. Attach first draft. Submission voluntary and only recommended if students have made significant revisions from the first draft.

Stage 5: Final draft; attach first and second draft.

(5) The Exams:
 

    The exams, mid-term, and final, will test the basic vocabulary and concepts of the course. Preparation forms will be distributed in class one week prior to the exams. The exams will consist of identifications (25%) and short essays (75%). These are the instructions to the exams:
1. Read the questions carefully!!!
2. YOU ARE REMINDED THAT AT YOUR ENROLLMENT AT LUTHER COLLEGE YOU ACKNOWLEDGED AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE HONOR SYSTEM UNDER WHICH THIS TEST IS BEING ADMINISTERED. IF YOU ARE AWARE OF DISHONEST WORK, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO CONTACT THE HONOR COUNCIL THROUGH SPO "HONOR COUNCIL."
3. The exame will make up a total of 100 points.
4. For essay question you will get a total of 25 points. Sufficient answers will require 5 points of valid and appropriate information. Each individual piece of information will be rewarded with up to five points: (a> mere mentioning: 1 point; (b) elaboration of an idea in a complete sentence: 2 points; (c) correct usage: 3 points; (d) context reveals appropriate meaning: 4 points; (e) valid application of the respective piece of information: 5 points. Grading will reflect the quantity of information (which is identified) and the presentation and the communication of knowledge.
5. Grading (in percentage):

6. First, answer the question you feel most comfortable with.
7. Time your answers.
8. Clearly define and explain the terms you are using. Do not assume that the reader knows anything about this topic.
9. Answer the questions in complete sentences!!!
 

COURSE SCHEDULE
 

UNIT:	OBJECTIVES:	READINGS:	ASSIGNMENT:	EXAM:
1	Introduction: Structure of the course; representation of Asian religions	none	none	none
2	Orientalism: Lecture on the construct of the "orient" & discussion of Jung's "Dreamlike World of India"	J.J. Clarke's Orientalism	none	none
HINDUISM
3	The Vedic Culture	Excerpts from the Vedas	Reflection paper (1): Orientalism Submit tentative topic of research paper by email	none
4	Bhagavad Gita	FILM: The Bhagavad Gita Reading: The Bhagavad Gita	none	none
5	Ramayana	Excerpts from the Ramayana	Reflection Paper(2): The conceptual structure of Hinduism	none
6	The Puranas		Submit tentative bibliography by email	none
7	The Tantras
8	The Smirtis		Reflection paper(3): Hindu practice
9	Hinduism Today: Discussion of the notions of karma and rebirth and their soteriological and social implications	Sharma: pp. 23-61	web site project	none
10	Hinduism: Universalism and tolerance; class discussion	Sharma: pp. 61-95	Reflection paper(4): Hindu society	Mid-term exam (1)
CHINESE RELIGIONS
11	Confucionism	Readings to be distributed.	Reflection paper(5): confucianism	none
12	Taoism	Readings to be distributed. Film:Taoism:A Question of Balance	Reflection paper(6): Taoism	Exam: Confucianism and Taoism
BUDDHISM
13	What is Buddhism: Lecture on the definition of Buddhism and the life of Buddha	Strong 9-39;La Fleur 10-17,34-39,96-104	none	none
14	The Conceptual structure of Buddhism: Lecture on the basic concepts in Buddhism	Excerpts from Strong 87-127; La Fleur 72-82	none	none
15	History of early Buddhism: Lecture on the first councils, Ashoka, and the sectarian controversies between the Sarvastivada and the Sautrantika, Theravada	Selected excerpts from Strong 80-87,127-132; La Fleur 17-21,28-30,45-49	First draft of research paper	none
16	The emergence of Mahayana: Lecture on the historical context, conceptual innovations, and soteriological ramifications of Mahayana Buddhism	Strong 217-240,343-345; La Fleur 84-89,104-112	none	none
17	Theravada Today	Strong 215-240, 343-345. La Fleur 21-25,83-84
18	Madhyamika Dialects: Guided reading of Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamikakarikas; lecture on twofold truth and the doctrine of emptiness	Strong 143-151	none	none
19	Yogacara idealism - Guided reading of Vasubandhu's, Trimsika; lecture on Vasubandhu's Vimsatika and his doctrin of the trisvabhava	Strong 151-154	Reflection paper (7): Conceptual structure of Buddhism	none
20	Tibetan Buddhism: Lecture on history of Tibetan Buddhism	Excertps from Strong 196-215,256-295,La Fleur 128-136 film: the Tantras of Gyuto	none	none
19	Chinese Buddhism	Strong 295-297,299-301,305-306;La Fleur 25-26,30-34,56-62		none
20	Buddhism in Japan	Strong 297-299,301-305,307-311,316-322,336-343;La Fleur 26-37	none	none
21	Pure Land Buddhism	Strong 307-309, selected readings	none	none
22	Zen Buddhism: Meditation and engaged Buddhism; the Zen experience	Strong 320-322;La Fleur 39-44,112-122	reflection paper (8), Buddhist practice	none
23	The Sangha	Excerpts from Strong: 45-47,49-52,56-80,243-247,326-336;La Fleur 122-144	none	none
24	Women in the Sangha	Excerpts from Strong: 47-49,52-56,240-242,278-281,322-326; La Fleur 49-56	none	none
25	Reading Day	none	Final Draft Due, Reflection paper (9) Buddhist society	none
26	FINALS WEEK	none	Reflection Paper (9) due	Final Exam