World Religions: Asia Gereon Kopf
REL 40 Main 302
e-mail:
kopfg; phone: 387-1497

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces students to the religious tradition of South and
East Asia, most notably, to Hinduism,Confucianism, Taoism, 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, Confucianism,
Taoism, 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, e-mail 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 presuppose 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, Taoism, 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:

Kim Knott: A Brief Introduction to Hinduism (book store)
Radhakrishnan/Moore: Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy (book store)
Ramayana (book store)
Strong: The Experience of Buddhism (book store)
La Fleur: The Cultural Experience of Buddhism (book store)
Clarke: "Orientalism" (to be distributed)
selected readings to be distributed
the website

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

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

(1) Attendance and Participation:

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 of history, which, for the most part, is not taught in the
standard curricula of the U.S. Therefore, it is pivotal that students do
the reading as well as attend class discussions and lectures. sShort
quizzes after each section will review vocabulary and prepare for the
exams.

If a student misses a class session, it is the student's
responsibility to collect all relevant information and material of 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
three 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 unforeseen 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 are,
for the most part, new to the students, the students will critically
reflect on the course material in four four page reflection papers.
Despite their nature as reflection essays, these papers will require a
minnimum of two sources and, thus, it is necessary that students clearly
identify their sources in an academically respectable way. Students are
expected to briefly introduce the topic and engage in the respective
reading in such a way that a reader unfamiliar with the course material
can follow. Secondly, the students are expected to briefly reflect on the
ethical, conceptual, soteriological or social significance of the reading,
or mention simply a striking feature of it.

Grading: Assuming that the reflection paper fulfills the formal
requirements of academic work, following criteria apply:

summary of the sources: C
presentation of an idea/concept or historical event/persons: B
development of an idea or insight from your reflection: A

(3) The Research Project:

Students will research special topics in the area of Hinduism or
Buddhism and present their research in a 4-6 page paper.

step 1: students submit a written proposal by e-mail.
step 2: submit tentative bibliography by e-mail

step 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.

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

step 5: final draft: attach first and second draft.

(4) 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%). There will be a short review session after
each section (bolded in the syllabus). 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 exam will make up a total of 100 points.
4. For every questions you will get a total of 25 points. Sufficient
answers will require 5 points of valid and approbate 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 communication of knowledge.
5. Grading (in percentage): 100%-93%: A, 92%-90%: A-, 89%-87%: B+,
86%-83%: B, 82%-80%: B-, 79%-77%: C+, 76%-73%: C, 72%-70%: C-, 69%-67%:
D+, 66%-63%: D, 62%-60%: D-59%: F.
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:

02/04 introduction: Asian Religions
02/05 orientalism I:
reading: J.J. Clarke's "Orientalism,"
02/07 orientalism: II: group work
reading: Jung's "Dreamlike World of India"
02/08 orientalism: application
assignment: prepare a draft for response paper 1
review I
02/11 what is Hinduism: exercise: website analysis
reading: Knott 1
response paper 1 is due
02/12: the tradition
reading: Knott 2
02/14 Vedic theology:
reading: Sourcebook: pp. 5-25
review II
02/15 the Self
reading: Knott 3
02/18: the progressive discovery of the self
reading: Sourcebook: pp. 55-56, 72-76
02/19: the psychology of the Self
reading: Sourcebook: pp 42-50
02/21: the metapysics of the self
reading: Sourcebook: pp. 77-84
review III
02/22: Divinities
reading: Knott 4
02/25: Ramayana 1: Råma - the protector of tapas and yågas
reading: excerpts from the Ramayana
02/26: Ramayana 2: Råk…asas - destoyer of tapas and yågas
reading: excerpts from the Ramayana
02/28: Ramayana 3: alternative models
reading: excerpts from the Ramayana
review IV
03/01: Colonialism and Modernity
reading: Knott 6
recommended reading: excerpts from Van Der Veer's Imperial Encounters
03/04: Vivekanada's response to Christian missions
reading: Vivekananda (chapters on "Why we disagree," "Hinduism," and
"India is not in need of religion")
03/05: Gandhi's philosophy of Satyagraha
reading: Gandhi
review V
03/07: Challenges to Hinduism
reading : Knott 7
03/08: the role of women in the epics
reading: excerpts from Mukherjee's Hindu Women - Normative Models
03/11: theorizing the role of women in the Ramayana
reading:Sourcebook: pp. 189-193 and one of the selected excerpts from
Dhruvarajan's Hindu Women and the Power of Ideology
watching: "Still Killing us Softly" and "Father, Son, and Holy War - Trial
by Fire"
03/12: the problem of classism I
reading: Sourcebook: 19-20, 184-189
03/14: the problem of classism II
reading: essays by Radhakrishnan and Dharampal-Frick
review VI
03/15: the Dharma of Hinduism
reading: Knott 9
response paper 2 - the role of women in Hinduism - is due
03/18: the universality of Hinduism
reading: Sourcebook: pp. 611-622
03/19: mid-term exam
review VII
03/21: Chinese Religion - the movie
assignment: website analysis: what is Taoism?
03/22: funerals
reading: Thompson: pp. 45-53
03/23-04/01 EASTER BREAK
04/02: ancestors
reading: Thompson: pp. 40-45
04/04: excorcism
reading: Thompson: pp. 106-114
04/05: worldview
reading: Thompson: pp. 8-11, 12-13
04/08: meditation
reading: Thompson: pp. 89-102
04/09: Confucian self-cultivation
reading: Thompson: pp. 115-123
response paper 3: what is Taoism? - critically reflect on your website
analysis
review VIII
04/11: what is Buddhism? - website analysis
reading: LaFleur: pp. 1-13
review IX
04/12: history of the Buddhist tradition: Gautama
reading: LaFleur pp. 13-17, Strong pp. 32-34 and excerpts from18-32
04/15 early Buddhism
reading: LaFleur pp. 13-17, Strong pp. 76-88
04/16: Theravada - Mahayana
reading: LaFleur: pp. 21-30
04/18: Mahayna schools
reading: Strong: pp. 291-291, 321-324
04/19: Tibetan Buddhism
reading: LaFleur pp. 30-34, Strong pp. 251-259, 277-281
04/22: Ch'an/Zen
reading: LaFleur pp. 39-44, Strong pp. 327-330
review X
04/23: Buddhist philosophy
reading: LaFleur pp. 77-84, 89-95
04/25: no-self
reading: Strong: pp. 90-100
04/26: nirvana
reading: Strong: pp. 100-112
04/29: emptiness
reading: Strong: pp. 146-151
review XI
04/30: Buddhist practice
reading: LaFleur pp. 96-104, 112-122
response paper 4: what are the ethical implications of Buddhist philosophy?
05/02: meditation
reading: Strong: pp. 239-241, 300-305
05/03: pilgrimage and magic
reading: Strong: pp. 231-239, 261-267
review XII
05/06: Buddhist deities: Bodhisattvas
reading: Strong: pp. 178-184
05/07: Buddhas
reading: Strong: pp. 185-193
review XIII
05/09: Challenges to Buddhism
reading: LaFleur: pp. 49-56
05/10: women in the early sangha
reading: Strong pp. 46-55
05/13: women in Chinese Buddhism
reading: Strong pp. 305-310
05/14: enaged Buddhism
reading: LaFleur pp. 137-143, Strong pp. 360-364
review XIV
05/15: What is Buddhism
reading: LaFleur pp. 45-49, Strong pp. 319-321, 345-347, 289-291
review XV
FINAL EXAM