RELG 107-01 Introduction to Religion: Cosmogony and Ethics

 

Instructor: Joyce McClure Office Hours: Mon. and Wed., 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Office: Rice 328 or by appointment

Office Phone: ext. 8534

email: joyce.mcclure@oberlin.edu

 

Objective: This course will give students the opportunity to examine a variety of ways in which people have

attempted to find meaning by connecting their actions to their understanding of the creation of the

world/universe. Students will proceed by examining first religion as a phenomenon itself, and then

creation stories from Greek mythology, Indian mythology, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and a modern

scientific/sociological perspective for their religious/ethical significance. The primary goal is for

students to come to understand the phenomenon of religion, especially humanity's desire to connect

human action with religion.

Texts: Mircea Eliade, The Myth of the Eternal Return

Mircea Eliade, The Sacred and the Profane

Huston Smith, The World's Religions

West, M.L., ed., Theogony, Works and Days by Hesiod

Paul Brockelman, Cosmology and Creation

RESERVE READINGS--Indicated on syllabus by "**"

Course Requirements:

Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes. Atteneding class is part of the work of the course.

Should the occasional absence be necessary, students are completely responsible for obtaining

class notes, handouts, and information disseminated at missed classes. Repeated absences will exert a downward pressure on the final grade. Excessive absences could result in failure of course. Attendance will be taken.

Class Participation: Class participation is also expected. The format for class meetings

includes formal discussion periods, but students are invited to engage the material and ask questions during the lecture portions of class meetings as well. Quality class participation can raise the final grade.

Grading: Students are required to submit two 3-4 page papers on topics to be announced in class. Students must

also take five area quizzes and a final exam. Work will be weighted as follows:

Papers: 15 % each

Quizzes: 10 % each

Final exam: 20 %

Students must complete all of the requirements of this course to pass the course.

Please note: Extensions will be granted only for true emergencies, such as a death in the family. The honor

code applies throughout the course, including appeals for extensions. Late papers, those received after

the time indicated for the due date, will be penalized if they are accepted.

Assignment Schedule: All readings are required unless in brackets "[ ]"

Feb. 1�Introduction

Feb. 6�Phenomenon of Religion

Eliade, Mircea, The Sacred and the Profane, pp. 8-36

Feb. 8�Phenomenon, cont'd.

Eliade, The Sacred and the Profane, pp. 36-65

Feb. 11�Phenomenon, cont'd.

Eliade, The Sacred and the Profane, pp. 162-213

Feb. 13�Phenomenon, cont'd.

Eliade, The Myth of the Eternal Return, pp. 34-48; 95-112

Feb. 15�Phenomenon, cont'd.

Eliade, The Myth of the Eternal Return, pp. 112-137;

HANDOUT

Feb. 18�Hinduism

Smith, Huston, The World's Religions, pp. 12-41

Feb. 20�Hinduism, cont'd.

Smith, pp. 41-78

Feb. 22�Hinduism, cont'd.

**Flaherty, Wendy Doniger, "Prajāpati and Brahmā," pp. 25-55

Feb. 25�Hinduism, cont'd.

**Flaherty, "Gods and Demons," pp. 270-300

Feb. 27�Hinduism, cont'd.

**Zimmer, Heinrich, "Eternity and Time," pp. 3-22

Mar. 1�Hinduism quiz

Greek Religion

**Encyclopedia of Religion, s.v., "Greek Religion," pp. 99-116

Mar. 4�Greek Religion, cont'd.

Theogony, Works and Days by Hesiod, pp. 3-33

Mar. 6�Greek Religion, cont'd.

Theogony, Works and Days by Hesiod, pp. 37-61

Mar. 8�Greek Drama

** Sophocles, Philoctetes, pp. 151-169

[**Plato, "On the Myth of the Ring and the Economics of the City," pp. 117-124]

Mar. 11�Greek Drama

**Sophocles, Philoctetes, pp. 170-187

Mar. 13�Greek Religion quiz

Judaism

Smith, Huston, The World's Religions, pp. 271-293

Mar. 15�Judaism, cont'd.

Smith, pp. 293-315

First paper due, March 18, start of class

Mar . 18-20�Judaism, cont'd.

**Hebrew Scripture selections

(Book of Genesis; Job 38:1-41:11; Psalms 8, 9, 104; Proverbs 8:1-36)

Mar. 22�Class Cancelled Make-up may be announced if necessary

SPRING BREAK

Apr. 1�Judaism, cont'd.

**Dorff, Elliot N., "The Covenant," pp. 59-75

Apr. 3�Judaism quiz

Christianity

Smith, Huston, The World's Religions, pp. 317-339

Apr. 5�Christianity, cont'd.

Smith, pp. 339-363

Apr. 8-10�Christianity, cont'd.

**Christian Scripture selections

(Matthew 5-7; John 1:1-18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 4-8; Phillipians 2: 1-18;

Colossians 1:15-23)

Apr. 12�Christianity, cont'd.

**Crook, Roger H., "Biblical Ethics," pp. 59-84

Apr. 15�Christianity quiz

Islam

Smith, Huston, The World's Religions, pp. 221-248

Apr. 17�Islam, cont'd.

Smith, pp. 248-268

Apr. 19�Islam, cont'd.

**Cragg, Kenneth, "The Opening Chapter," pp. 84-112

Apr. 22�Islam, cont'd.

**Cragg, "Society and Law" pp. 296-328

Apr. 24�Islam, cont'd.

**Cragg, "Unfaith, Judgement and the Last Things," pp. 329-350

Apr. 26�Islam quiz

Science and Religion

**Davies, Paul, "Can the Universe Create Itself?," pp. 39-72

Apr. 29�Science and Religion, cont'd.

Brockelman, Paul, Cosmology and Creation, pp. 3-32; 52-64

 

 

Second paper due, May 3, start of class

May 3�Science and Religion, cont'd.

Brockelman, pp. 141-177

May 7�Science and Religion, cont'd.

**Mooney, Christopher, "The Anthropic Principle," pp. 45-67

[**Mooney, Christopher, "Cybernation, Responsibility, and Providential Design," pp. 193-216]

May 9�**E. J. Bond, "Cultural Relativism," pp. 21-43.

May 11�Cosmology and Ethics and Review

Final Exam�t.b.a.