Religions of
Monday/Wednesday, Period 6
(12:50-1:40), FAB (Fine Arts B) 103
Section meetings on Fridays
http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/jneelis/classes/REL_2317.htm
Instructor:
Dr. Jason Neelis
Office: Department of Religion, 130
Office Hours: Wednesday 2-5 pm
E-mail: jneelis@religion.ufl.edu
Teaching
Assistants:
Jimi Wilson, jimi45@ufl.edu
Office Hour: Thursday 3-4 p.m.
Carly Dwyer, dwyerc@ufl.edu
Office Hour: Monday 2-3 p.m.
Chungwhan Sung, cwsung@ufl.edu
Office hour: Friday, 2-3 p.m.
Course
Description
This introductory course surveys a broad
range of
religious practices and ideas of various Asian traditions, including
Hinduism,
Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto. These
religious
traditions play significant roles in the history, cultures, and
literatures of
One of the most important goals of this
course is to
learn about how the world is perceived from a variety of perspectives,
which
are often quite different from one’s own point of view. The only
prerequisites
for this class are an open mind and a commitment to engage in the
academic
study of religion. Such a broad survey does not require previous study
or
personal knowledge of a particular religion or of the languages,
cultures, or
histories of
Required
Books (available from the
[WRET] World Religions: Eastern
Traditions, 2nd edition, edited
by Willard G. Oxtoby (Oxford University
Press, 2002)
[SSI] Songs of the Saints
of
Supplementary
Additional
required reading assignments are available for download via
Evaluation
1. Mid-term Examination
(20 points): On Monday, February 18, a fifty minute in-class
test
focusing on religious traditions of
2. Final Examination
(40 points): On Monday, April 28, 7:30-9:30 a.m. a two hour
final exam
will include multiple choice questions, identifications and essays.
3. Short Responses
(20 points): Short questions based on reading assignments will be
distributed
at the beginning of the week with responses due the following Friday.
Responses
are not graded, but will be checked for accuracy and effort in order to
guide
reading and gauge understanding.
4. Class Participation
and Attendance (20 points): Class participation will be graded on
the basis
of attendance and active contributions to discussions during Friday
section
meetings. A roll sheet will be distributed at the beginning of each
class.
Attendance Policy: Three total unexcused
absences are permitted, but for each additional unexcused absence, 2
points
will be deducted and 1 point will be deducted for every episode of
tardiness. Leaving class early
without the instructor's
permission and disrespectful behavior (examples: talking during
lectures,
sleeping, answering cell-phones, text-messaging,
reading
the paper, and rudeness to the instructor, assistants or fellow
students) will
result in deductions for unexcused absences.
Grading
scale:
A: 100 - 92,
B+: 91-87, B: 86-81, C+: 80-76, C: 75-71, D+:
70-66, D: 65-60, E: below 60
Policy
Statements:
Academic
Honesty guidelines at the
http://www.dso.ufl.edu/judicial/procedures/studenthonorcode.php
Basically, “An
academic
honesty offense is defined as the act of lying, cheating, or stealing
academic
information so that one gains academic advantage.” Any offense of
plagiarism,
misrepresentation of original work, or other violation in any
assignment will
be reported and will result in a failing grade for the course.
Students
with Disabilities needing
classroom
accommodation must
register with the office of the Dean of Students, who will provide
documentation to the instructor: http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/
(also see http://www.dso.ufl.edu/supportservices/campuscounseling.php
for other support services)
Make-up
tests
will be given only in cases of medical emergencies or scheduling
conflicts
caused by the University Registrar.
Schedule
of Topics and
(
|
Date
and Topic |
Reading
Assignment |
|
Week 1: M Jan
7, Course Introduction |
|
|
W Jan 9, Academic Study of Asian Religions |
WRET 1-11 |
|
F Jan 11, Discussion: why study Asian
religions? |
Submit a
paragraph about your interests in Asian religions. |
|
|
|
|
Week 2: M Jan
14, |
WRET 12-20;
visit http://www.harappa.com/ |
|
W Jan 16, Vedic texts and rituals |
WRET 21-26;
film clip: Altar of Fire |
|
F Jan 18, Discussion: Vedic cosmologies |
Joel
Brereton, “Edifying Puzzlement: gveda 10.129 and the Uses of Enigma” [ARES] |
|
|
|
|
Week 3: M Jan 21 ML King holiday
– no class |
|
|
W Jan 23, Upaniṣads; film
clip: Four Holy Men |
WRET 27-32,
51-57; Patrick Olivelle, Introduction to Upaniṣads,
xxiii-xxxvii, lii-lvi [ARES] |
|
F Jan 25, Discussion: Karma, Ātman, and Brahman |
Olivelle, Upaniṣads,
231-247 (Kaṭha Upaniṣad)
[ARES] |
|
|
|
|
Week 4: M Jan 28, Guest lecture: Dr. Travis
Smith, Epics and Purāṇas |
WRET 32-50; Mahābhārata, the
Dice Game, 377-511 [ARES] |
|
W Jan 30, Dharma, deities, and rituals |
WRET 71-84; film clip: Mahābhārata |
|
F Feb. 1, Discussion: Questions of Dharma |
WRET 84-94 |
|
|
|
|
Week 5: M , Feb 4, Bhakti
movements |
WRET 57-71;
SSI 3-61 (Ravidas and Kabir);
film clip: Kabir in Song: A
Journey to |
|
W Feb 6, Modern Hinduism |
WRET 94-125;
SSI 90-140 (Surdas and Mirabai)
|
|
F Feb 8, Discussion: Bhakti
literature |
SSI 143-173 (Tulsidas) |
|
|
|
|
Week 6: M Feb 11, Sikh history and literature |
WRET 126-141;
SSI 63-88 (Nanak); film: Sikhism- the Golden Temple |
|
W Feb 13, Communal identities of Sikhs,
Hindus, and Muslims in |
WRET 142-159;
Steven Ramey, “Challenging Definitions” [ARES] |
|
F Feb 15, Discussion /exam
review |
|
|
|
|
|
Week 7: M Feb
18, Midterm Exam |
|
|
W Feb 20, Origins of Jainism and Buddhism |
WRET 160-174 |
|
F Feb 22, Discussion:
Jain renunciation |
WRET 175-197 |
|
|
|
|
Week 8: M Feb
25, Buddha’s teachings (Dharma) |
WRET 199-217;
John Strong, Great Departure and Enlightenment, Vessantara
Jātaka [ARES] |
|
W Feb 27, Buddhist Community (Sangha) |
WRET 218-226;
Romila Thapar,
“Inscriptions of Aśoka” [ARES];
film: Buddhism- Making of a Monk |
|
F Feb 29, Discussion: Mainstream Buddhist
beliefs and practices |
WRET 227-242 |
|
Week 9: M
March 3, Mahāyāna |
WRET 243-251;
Gaṇḍavyūhā sūtra
passage [ARES] and visit: http://www.borobudur.tv/gandavyuha_1.htm |
|
W March 5, Vajrayāna |
WRET 252-258;
Songs of a Mad Saint (Kāṇha) and Yoginī
Maṇibhadrā [ARES] |
|
F March 7, Discussion:
Buddhahood and the Bodhisattva ideal |
|
|
|
|
|
SPRING
BREAK: March 8-16 |
|
|
Week
10: M March 17, Class cancelled
|
|
|
W March 19, Transmission of Buddhism |
WRET 259-267;
Wardak vase [ARES] |
|
F March 21, Discussion: Central Asian
Buddhism on the Silk Routes |
visit: Silk
Road Virtual Art Exhibit (http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/exhibit/index2.html);
Buddhism on the |
|
|
|
|
Week 11: M
March 24, East Asian Buddhism |
WRET 268-286;
Journey of Faxian (http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/texts/faxian.html)
|
|
W March 26, Contemporary Buddhism |
WRET 287-315;
film clip: Becoming the Buddha in L.A. |
|
F March 28, Discussion:
Transformation of Buddhism in East Asia and |
Jan Nattier,
“Buddhism Comes to |
|
|
|
|
Week 12: M
March 31, East Asian religions |
WRET 315-340 |
|
W April 2, Confucian traditions |
WRET 352-381;
Charles Mueller, Analects (http://www.acmuller.net/con-dao/analects.html) |
|
F April 4, Discussion: Early |
|
|
|
|
|
Week 13: M
April 7, Daoist thought and practice |
WRET 382-398;
Mueller, Daode jing (http://www.acmuller.net/con-dao/daodejing.html)
and visit Taoism and the Arts of China (http://www.artic.edu/taoism/menu.php) |
|
W April 9, Popular religions in |
WRET 399-422 |
|
F April 11, Discussion: modern |
|
|
|
|
|
Week 14: M
April 14, Shinto |
WRET 341-351;
James Fieser and John Powers, “Shinto”
[ARES] |
|
W April 16, Guest lecture: Sarah S. Ishida, Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America |
|
|
F April 18, Discussion:
Japanese religions |
|
|
|
|
|
Week 15: M
April 21, Nature of Religion |
WRET 449-469 |
|
W April 23, Final Review and
evaluation |
|
|
|
|
|
Monday,
April 28, 7:30-9:30 a.m. |
FINAL
EXAM |