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OAKTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE 
DES PLAINES, IL.                              

DENNIS POLKOW

 
PHL (PHILOSOPHY) 205

SUMMER, 2002

 

WORLD RELIGIONS

 

3 semester credits; 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours; No prerequisites.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

 

This course offers an introduction to the philosophies, traditions and histories of major world religions. Taking a global perspective, at least six of the following religions will be studied: Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, the indigenous religions of North America, Africa or pre-Christian Europe. 

 

The purpose of our study is to examine the religious and cultural background of peoples around the world and to examine how the major religious traditions of the East and West respond to fundamental questions such as God, creation, existence, death, et al, as well as looking for any common links that may run through the wide variety of religious responses found throughout the world.

 

From a secular perspective, one needs to be familiar with the teachings of the world’s great religions and cultures for intelligent participation in that world, and from a sacred perspective, one cannot fully understand or speak intelligently of one’s own faith without considering the faith of others and the diverse responses to the Transcendent that exist throughout the world. This is particularly in a pluralistic society such as ours with rapid satellite communication: the Baptist minister’s remark that “God doesn’t hear the prayer of a Jew” may have been said off the cuff, but was headlines the next day!

 

Our study is not meant to lead us to confusion or conversion, but to give us a global sense of what is meant when we say “God is everywhere.” If such a claim is to be taken seriously, then “God,” or some theological equivalent, must be every bit as available to the Hindu or Buddhist as He is to the Christian or Jew.

 

The course will be concerned with trying to understand the faith of the Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, the Chinese, the Japanese, Christians and Jews as expressed through some of their symbols, sacraments, devotional writings, liturgies and concepts of the afterlife, with special attention to any historical and/or theological connections, and always with a concern for treating these various traditions not as abstract systems of thought or philosophies, but rather, as the living faith of living peoples.

 

We will also consider comparative themes such as sacred time and space and faith as a universal human phenomenon (vs. belief, or the creeds, dogmas, etc. which are variable from tradition to tradition) and the possibility of a “world theology,” and the ongoing global search for understanding.

 

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

 

The learning objectives of this course will include:

 

  1. Developing an understanding of the origin, development and basic tenets of several different religious traditions.

 

  1. Becoming aware of the tremendous impact that religious traditions have had on the cultures, social and political institutions of the countries where they developed and/or are practiced.

 

  1. Seeing religious traditions within their historical and geographical contexts and learning to distinguish the differences and similarities between them.

 

  1. Developing critical thinking skills and learning to identify common issues and compare alternative responses offered by various religions.

 

  1. Developing an appreciation and respect for religions and the cultures of which they are a part.

 

  1. Considering the ethical implications of different systems of religious thought and how they address ethical issues on both a personal and societal basis.

 

  1. Understanding the phenomenological approach to studying and understanding religion as a global phenomenon.)

 

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

 

The very nature of higher education requires that students adhere to accepted standards of academic integrity. Oakton Community College has therefore adopted a “Code of Academic Conduct” and a statement of “Student Academic Integrity” which may be found in the student handbook and in summary form in the college catalog. Among the violations of academic integrity listed and defined are cheating, plagiarism, falsification, fabrication, abuse of academic materials, complicity in academic dishonesty, falsification of records and official documents, personal misrepresentation and proxy, bribes, favors and threats.

 

Students are responsible for being aware of behaviors that constitute academic dishonesty.

 

Pursuant to the due process guarantees contained in the “Policy and Procedures on Student Academic Integrity,” the minimum punishment for the first offense for a student found in violation of the standards of academic integrity is failure in the assignment. In addition, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the vice present for student affairs for a period of three years.

 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS:

 

Classes will meet Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:45 a.m.-11:15 p.m. in 1457 and will proceed mostly by lecture/discussion.

 

We will attempt to incorporate field trips, films and guest speakers whenever possible and practical. The required texts are listed in part five and will sometimes be supplemented by readings on the internet as well as articles or handouts relevant to the discussion.

 

Because religion is such an all-encompassing phenomenon – indeed, in the East there is no such word as “religion” – a variety of methodologies have been proposed to understand it.

 

Among these are the following, which may be used either for examining a particular religious tradition, or for examining a comparative theme across multiple traditions:

 

1.       Historical – attempting to discern the development of a tradition through the written sources of its past: where has it come from and where is it going? Are there patterns that can be observed in a tradition’s history? Are there patterns or overlaps observable in the various histories of religious traditions?

 

2.       Anthropological – attempting to discern the interaction of religious and cultural symbols and human responses to them, and what meaning such symbols have for the adherents of a tradition or culture and why. Are there global prototypes or patterns to such symbols, and are their effects observable across various traditions?

 

3.       Sociological – focus on religion from a group perspective. What draws people of a particular tradition or traditions together, and what can be said about them observed as a group?

 

4.       Psychological – focus on what happens within the mind of an individual adherent of a tradition as he/she is actually going through a religious experience. Although the particulars are different from person to person – and obviously from tradition to tradition – are there observable aspects of the experience itself that are basically the same?

 

As should be obvious, each of these methodologies gives us valuable, but limited information. There has therefore been a drive towards a more inclusive model that attempts to go beyond these various aspects to the root religious experience itself.

 

Obviously, such a method must incorporate the others to some degree. Such a methodology has been proposed and is in wide use across various disciplines, but particularly in the academic study of religion and philosophy:

 

5.       Phenomenological – at attempt to seek (literally from the Greek) “that which appears.” Phenomenology attempts first to identify and name the phenomena and show them as they appear on the surface, and then to explain them, analyze their structure, place them in a wider context and finally, to draw conclusions which can stand as evidence.

 

For the purposes of our study, we will be primarily concerned with 1. and 5. Although the importance of 1 is obvious (how can we know where a tradition is and where it is going if we don’t know where it has been?), the importance of 5. is to remind us that the true essence of religion is not dogmas or creeds, but the religious experience of the adherents, and that our major concern in describing any religious tradition should be that our description be such that adherents of that tradition would recognize their faith in our description and affirm our description as true.

 

It also reminds us that we must take great caution against voicing any kind of religious chauvinism, bigotry, Western stereotypes or premature value judgments. One is not just abstractly attacking a “religion” in such cases, one is dismissing an entire way of life actually lived every day by millions and millions of living persons!

 

We must keep in mind that simply because manifestations of the sacred or Divine occur totally outside of our own religious experience or outside of the specific boundaries of our own particular religious tradition in ways that may on the surface seem strange or foreign to us (or outside of our experience entirely, as the case may be), does not mean that such manifestations do not occur nor that they are somehow “less” religious than our own.

 

We must therefore make the attempt to understand a tradition from the perspective of one involved in it – i.e., the believer: Buddhism from a Buddhist’s point of view, et al.

 

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION

 

  1. Class Preparation and Participation – presumes the minimum requirement of attendance at each

and every class session, which is defined as arrival by the designated class time and remaining for the entire class period. Eating or drinking in class, sleeping, reading outside materials, using – or allowing to let go off – a cellular phone, a beeper or pager and/or talking privately to other class members or other class disturbances may be counted as absences.  Missing more than two class sessions for the semester – particularly not adequately accounted for – will lower the final grade by half a letter per absence.

 

Class preparation and participation will be demonstrated by completion of assigned readings and participation in class reviews and discussions. Any oral presentations (optional) would also count here.

 

  1. Two Written Assignments – Students are required to complete two written assignments of a minimum of 3-5 pages each (double spaced, 12 point type) as follows:

 

§         PAPER NO. 1 requires you to pair off with the student next to you and interview the student about his/her religion and write in detail about what you are told.  You will interview him/her, then he/she will interview you.  If your interview subject is not religious, then include an explanation as to why or why not and what that person’s experiences with religion have been, for better or worse.  Be sure to compare and contrast your interview subject’s experiences with what the readings have said and what we have said in class about what “religion” is in discussing his/her religiousness.  Some class time will be allotted for this, but you will need to meet outside of class time as well, which is part of the assignment. 

 

DUE no later than June 17

 

§         PAPER NO. 2 requires you to seek out, find and visit an area religious institution – a synagogue, a mosque, a temple, a shrine – not associated with your own religion or a religion you were brought up with, and write about the experience.  You may attend a worship service, a ceremony, a meditation class, etc.  Be sure to ask questions of those around you before or after the service and/or arrange to meet someone associated with the institution that can answer questions for you.  Also be sure to compare and contrast what the readings have said and what we have said in class about the religion you encounter to what you learn from this experience.      

 

DUE no later than July 24    

 

No other format will be accepted for these assignments, so please be careful to follow these assignment instructions carefully. A traditional research paper, for instance, will not be accepted.

 

Please be sure to hand in two final copies of these assignments together (original printout(s) and/or typed original and photocopy, no rough drafts or carbons), one to be handed back to the student with the instructor’s comments, and one for the instructor to keep on file.

 

  1. Two Examinations – spaced to more or less divide the course into units, each primarily corresponding to the material covered in that particular unit. Exams will be essay-type, giving students a chance to show that they can “run” with the course material by in part actually applying what has been covered in the readings and in class to fundamental religious issues.

 

Since the purpose of these exams is to test thinking rather than memory, students may make use of class notes (an invitation to take as qualitative and quantitative notes as possible) and required texts (including any printouts from assigned readings on the internet) for assistance.

 

Students who demonstrate thorough accuracy as well as imagination (the ability to convincingly “run” with the course material and show that it has truly become one’s own) both orally and in writing will be designated an “A” grade; i.e., course work is complete and creative.

 

Students who demonstrate a high degree of accuracy both orally and in writing, but minimal imagination, will be designated a “B” grade; i.e., course work is marginally  complete, but not creative. 

 

Students who demonstrate a basic degree of accuracy both orally and in writing will be designated a “C’’ grade; i.e., course work is correct, but not complete. 

 

Students who demonstrate a  minimal degree of accuracy both orally and in writing will be designated a “D” grade; course work is somewhat correct, but not nearly complete.

 

Students unable to convincingly demonstrate even a minimal degree of accuracy in either oral or written form will receive an “F” grade; course work is not even close to minimum standards.

 

Attendance will decide marginal cases, i.e., a student whose final grade is calculated near an A- or a B+ would be given the A- if attendance has been excellent. Conversely, the same student would be given a B+ for missing a single class session for the semester while each additional absence will lower the final grade by half a letter.

 

 

COURSE MATERIALS:

 

The following books are required and are available in the College bookstore:

 

            Coogan, Michael D. (ed.): The Illustrated Guide to World Religions.

            New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.

 

            Smart, Ninian and Richard D. Hecht (ed.): Sacred Texts of the World: A Universal Anthology.

                        New York: Crossroad, 1982

 

Smith, Wilfred Cantwell: Patterns of Faith Around the World.

Reprint edition – Oxford: Oneworld, 1998.

 

These will be supplemented by readings on the internet as well as articles or handouts relevant to the discussion.

 

 

COURSE CONTENT AND TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

 

Please note that the following is a suggested map for our journey and that depending on the particular input and interests of the class, is subject to alterations and should be open to surprises as we see fit.

 

 

June 10:

Course introduction, overview and syllabus.

 

Assignments:

Read and go over the class syllabus very carefully to make sure all course policies, procedures, expectations, assignments and everything stated is clearly understood.

 

 

June 11:

What is “religion”? 

 

Assignments:

Coogan – pp. 6-14.

Smart/Hecht – pp.1-45.

Smith – pp. 7-34.    

 

“What does the word ‘religion’ mean?”

http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_defn.htm

 

Thomas A. Idinopulos, “What is Religion?” http://www.crosscurrents.org/whatisreligion.htm

 

 

June 12:

Eastern vs. Western worldviews.

 

Assignments:

HANDOUT: Dennis Polkow, “Introducing Eastern Thought to Western Minds.” 

 

 

June 13:

Islam: Muhammed and the Holy Qur’n.

 

Assignments:

(May be divided over next two classes)

Coogan – pp. 88-123.

Smart/Hecht – pp.125-177.

Smith – pp. 63-76.                               

 

 

June 17:

PAPER NO. 1 DUE;

The Five Pillars.

 

 

June 18:

The Shari‘ah (Islamic Law).

 

Assignments:

“Shari‘ah,” Encyclopedia Britannica.

(Found in the print version or at http://www.britannica.com which may require registration to enter.)

 

 

June 19:

Hinduism: Age of the Vedas. The Epics – Ramayana and Mahabharata. 

 

Assignments:

(May be divided over next two classes)

Coogan – pp. 124-161.

Smart/Hecht – pp. 178-231.

Smith – pp. 63-76.

 

 

June 20:

The caste system and the four stages.

 

 

June 24:

Brahman and Atman.

 

Assignments:

“The Internal Way: Who Am I?”

http://www.himalayanacademy.com/books/vedic_experience/Part6/VEPartVIChB.html

 

 

June 25:

Buddhism: Siddhartha Gautama.

 

Assignments:

(May be divided over next two classes)

Coogan –  pp. 162-197.

Smart/Hecht – pp. 231-275.

Smith – pp. 49-62.

 

 

June 26:

The Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path. Nirvana.

 

 

June 27:

Theravada and Mahayana.

 

Assignments:

Theravada.net Website: Ven. Narada, “Life of Gotama Buddha” (click on “General”), Ven. K. Sri Dammananda, “The God-Idea” (Click on “Controversies,” then “With Other Religions”) and “Attainment of Arhantahood” (Click on “Controversies,” then “With Other Buddhist Sects”). http://theravada.net

 

HANDOUT: Theravada vs. Mahayana and Chinese and Japanese Schools of Buddhism.

 

 

June 28:

“Catch-up” class time if needed and/or review time.

 

 

June 29:

MID-TERM EXAM

 

 

June 30:

Chinese Religion: Confucius.

 

Assignments:

(May be divided over next three classes)

Coogan – pp. 198-235.

Smart/Hecht – pp.290-316.

Smith – pp. 77-90.

 

July 1:

Tao and the yin-yang.

 

July 2:

Chinese Buddhism.

 

July 3:

NO CLASS – Use to find/visit a religious institution as per Paper No. 2

 

July 4:

NO CLASS – Happy Independence Day

 

July 8:

Japanese Religion: Shinto – kami and kami no michi. 

 

Assignments:

Coogan – pp. 236-271.

Smart/Hecht – pp. 317-327.

 

July 9:

Pure Land and Zen.

 

Assignments:

“The Ten Ox-Herding Pictures.” http://www.iijnet.or.jp/iriz/irizhtml/zenart/10ox1.htm

 

Paul Watt, “Shinto and Buddhism: Wellsprings of Japanese Spirituality.” http://www.askasia.org/frclasrm/readings/r000009.htm

 

 

July 10:

Judaism: God and Heilsgeshichte.

 

Assignments:

Coogan – pp. 14-51.

Smart/Hecht – pp. 44-89.

 

July 11:

Exodus, Torah and Talmud.

 

Assignments:

“Jewish Basics,” “Jewish Belief” and “Mitzvos,” Talmud Torah website.  http://members.aol.com/LazerA/index.html

 

HANDOUT:  Exodus texts

 

July 15:

“The Ten Words” and ancient Near Eastern Law.

 

July 16:

Christianity: Jesus and the Kingdom of God.

 

Assignments:

“Jesus’ Many Faces,” Frontline’s From Jesus to Christ website.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/jesus/

 

The Gospel of Thomas. http://www.epix.net/~miser17/Thomas.html

 

HANDOUT: Kingdom of God texts

 

July 17:

Paul and Luther: justification.

 

Assignments:

Coogan – pp. 52-87.

Smart/Hecht – pp. 90-123

Smith – pp. 91-145.  

 

HANDOUT: “Martin Luther.”                           

 

July 18:

Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Protestantism.

 

Assignments:

“Catholicism: Who Are We? – What We Believe,” Catholic Information Network.

http://catholicism.about.com/religion/catholism/library/weekly/blbelieve1htm

 

“Orthodoxy” and “Eastern Orthodoxy,” Dictionary of the Ecumenical Movement.

 http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/ecumenical/eo-e.html

 

“Protestantism,” About.com website.

http://protestantism.about.com/msub2.htm

 

July 22:

Faith vs. belief.

 

Assignments:

HANDOUT: Wilfred Cantwell Smith, “Faith: As a Universal Human Quality.”

 

July 23:

“Catch-up” class if needed and/or review.

 

July 24:

PAPER NO. 2 DUE;

FINAL EXAM.

July 25:

Final reflections, student evaluations and consultations.

 

DISABILITIES AND DISCRIMINATION:

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICE HOURS AND CONTACTING THE INSTRUCTOR:

 

The instructor’s office is 1222 and office hours are 1:15-1:45 p.m. on most class days as well as by appointment. Check the Division of Languages, Humanities and the Arts office (2430) or the cafeteria if the instructor is not in his office during those times.  The telephone number in 1222 is (847) 635-1938. Outside of office hours, messages may be left for the instructor at the Division office at (847) 635-1950. The instructor may also be E-mailed at DPolkow@oakton.edu   

 

Since attendance is mandatory, be sure to notify the instructor in advance of any anticipated forced absence from class with an adequate explanation to avoid a failing grade for that class session. At the same time, feel free to contact the instructor for any special needs or assistance or to make an in-person appointment

 

 

CLASS WEBSITE:

 

The entire contents of this syllabus is posted on the departmental website, which is

 

http://servercc.oakton.edu/~hgraff/humweb

 

Click on Meet the Faculty, then Dennis Polkow,

then scroll down to  PHL 120 World Religions.

 

Hyperlinks to all of the internet assignments and handouts may be immediately accessed just by clicking on them.

 

 

E-mail Dennis Polkow DPolkow@oakton.edu

 

 Dennis Polkow biography

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