TEXTBOOK David S. Noss. A History of the World’s Religions. Tenth Edition. New York: Prentice Hall Publishing Company, 1999. Terry C. Muck. The Mysterious Beyond: A Guide to Studying Religion. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1993.https://place.asburyseminary.edu/syllabi/2938/thumbnail.jp

Muck, Terry C.

English

Asbury Theological Seminary

Asbury Theological SeminaryePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchangeSyllabi eCommons1-1-2003MW 608 MW 708 MS 674 Introduction to WorldReligionsTerry C. MuckFollow this and additional works at: http://place.asburyseminary.edu/syllabiThis Document is brought to you for free and open access by the eCommons at ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange. It has beenaccepted for inclusion in Syllabi by an authorized administrator of ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange. For more information, pleasecontact thad.horner@asburyseminary.edu.Recommended CitationMuck, Terry C., "MW 608 MW 708 MS 674 Introduction to World Religions" (2003). Syllabi. Book 1834.http://place.asburyseminary.edu/syllabi/1834ASBURY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Spring 2003  MW608, MW708, MS674 Introduction to World Religions  Meeting Time:   Tuesday, Thursday 1:00 – 2:15        Room:  MC204 Instructor:  Terry C. Muck Phone:  859-858-2145 E-Mail:  terry_muck@asburyseminary.edu  Office Hours:  Wednesday 2:00 – 4:30           Office: MC314 If you want to make sure and get me, schedule a  specific appointment before or after class.    I.  COURSE DESCRIPTION In this course, students study the origin, history, and basic tenets of each of the major religious traditions of the world--Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism.  Students learn basic religious study skills, and engage in research projects in one or more of these religions.  II.  TEXTBOOK David S. Noss.  A History of the World’s Religions.  Tenth Edition.  New York: Prentice Hall Publishing Company, 1999. Terry C. Muck.  The Mysterious Beyond: A Guide to Studying Religion.  Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1993.  (text on reserve in library)  III.  ASSIGNMENTS 1. Class attendance 2. One quiz 3.  Four written exercises (10 percent each) 4.  Read the texts 5.  Two exams (30 percent each)  IV.  CLASS SCHEDULE Feb. 11- What is religion?  Why study religion? Noss, Chap. 1.  Muck, Chap. 1  Feb. 13  - Three Views of Religion (Exercise #1  - A Three View Visit  - Due March 13) The Religious Studies Attitude;  Quiz Muck, Chaps. 2, 3  Feb. 18  - Hinduism: History Noss, Chap. 3  Feb. 20  -  Hinduism: Beliefs Noss, Chap. 4 Feb. 25 - Buddhism: History Noss, Chap. 6  Feb. 27  - Buddhism: Beliefs Noss, Chap. 7  Mar. 4  - Jainism Noss, Chap. 5  Mar. 6 -  Determining a Religious Studies Event Muck, Chap. 4 (Exercise #2  - Isolate An Event  - Due April 22)  March 11  - Sikhism Noss, Chap. 8         March 13  - Taoism Noss, Chap. 9   EXERCISE #1 DUE  March 18  - Confucianism Noss, Chap. 10  March 25  -  EXAM #1  March 27  -  How To Talk To Someone About Religion Muck, Chap. 5 (Exercise  #3  - Interview  - Due May 1)  April 1  - Roots of Western Religions: A Different View Noss, Chap. 2; Muck, Chap. 6  April 3  - Zoroastrianism;    Noss, Chap. 12  April 9-13  -  Reading Week  April 15  -  How to Compare and Contrast Religions Muck, Chap. 7  (Exercise #4 - Compare/Contrast - Due May 6  April 22  - Judaism: History Noss, Chap. 13  -  EXERCISE #2 DUE  April 24  - Judaism: Beliefs and Practices Noss, Chap. 14      April 29  -  The Question of Truth   Muck, Chap. 8  May 1  - Islam: History Noss, Chap. 17 EXERCISE #3 DUE  May 6  - Islam: Beliefs Noss, Chap. 18 EXERCISE #4 DUE  May 9  -  Islam in America  May 13  -  Final Lecture   Muck, Chap. 8  May 15  -  EXAM  #2                                 V. EXERCISES   Exercise #1  - A Three View Visit.  Write three, one page (typewritten, double spaced) descriptions of a religious service you have attended recently.  One of the descriptions should be from the insider’s stance, one from a reporter’s stance, and one from a specialist’s stance (for the latter, choose the viewpoint of the psychologist, the sociologist, or the philosopher).  See Muck, Mysterious Beyond, pp. 31-43.   Due March 13.   Exercise #2  - Isolate a Religious Event.  Choose a religious subject of interest to you.  Using the library, write a description of the time period of the subject (its beginnings and history, and what time period your study focuses on), the context of the subject (the role it played or plays in its culture), and the function and importance of the subject in its particular religious system.  Four to five typewritten, double spaced pages.  See Muck, Mysterious Beyond, pp. 59-69.  Due April 22.       Exercise #3  - Interview.  Interview a classmate or friend about a religious topic.  Plan on a twenty minute interview, and then write up the results in a five page paper.  Include in the paper a statement of the interview time, location, and subject, and a description both physical and biographical of the interviewee.  End with a transcript or summary of the interview itself, in question and answer format. The topic of the interview could be one of many different things.  Consider the following set of questions, based on issues raised in James McClendon’s book, Biography As Theology (Philadelphia: Trinity Press, 1990), as one possibility: What are your main spiritual and theological images?  (For example, if the subject is a Christian, you might ask her or him to consider Jesus: Is your mental image of Jesus on the cross?  In Gethsemane?  Preaching? etc. How do these key images apply to your life? How do your images apply to your religious community’s life? What parts of your religious tradition are most important to your spiritual life?  Give examples. What parts of your tradition are not so important to your spiritual life?  Example? Feel free to try some different approach to the interview. See Muck, Mysterious Beyond, pp. 71-81.  Due May 1.   Exercise #4  - Compare and Contrast.  Do a religious studies comparison along the lines described in Muck, Mysterious Beyond, pp. 97-109.  Four to five typewritten, double spaced pages.  Due May 6. 

MW 608 MW 708 MS 674 Introduction to World Religions

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MW 608 MW 708 MS 674 Introduction to World Religions

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