8/31
|
Introductions
and class discussion; what is religion? See religion
definitions
page.*
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|
Views of Christianity and Buddhism in
Fiction
|
9/1
|
M. Salzman, Lying Awake, pp. 1-92.
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9/6
|
Lying Awake, pp. 93-181.
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9/8
|
C. Fernando, "The
Perfection
of Giving" in The Penguin New
Writing in Sri Lanka, pp. 62-79*; P. Wijenaike, "Monkeys"
in To Follow the Sun, pp.
56-60.*
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|
Basic
Approaches to the Study of Religion
|
9/13
|
Religion
and worldview. Discussion of P. Berger, The Sacred
Canopy, pp. 3-28*; see Vocabulary page.*
|
9/15
|
Critiques
of objectivity. Discussion of R. Rosaldo, Culture
and Truth,
pp. 1-21.*
|
9/20
|
Gender
and religion. Discussion of R. Gross, Buddhism
After
Patriarchy, pp. 291-304.*
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9/22
|
Myth
and worldview. Discussion of W. Doniger, “The
Theological Uses of Double Vision,” pp. 16, 18-20, 22*; comparison
of some mythic
worldviews:
Genesis ch. 2-3* (Hebraic), I Corinthians, ch. 15* (Christian), Rig
Veda
10.90* (Vedic), the Kevaddha Sutta* (Buddhist); see Background
and Buddhist
Cosmology pages.*
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|
Patterns
of Belief
|
9/27
|
Orientations:
locating the two traditions in time and space. Reading
assignment:
D. Keown, Buddhism, pp. 1-13; 69-82; 108-123; and S. Frankiel, Christianity,
pp. 6-56 (do not worry about names and dates; read for a general sense
of
geographical spread and historical development); see Chronology
page.*
|
9/29
|
Basic
Buddhist teachings. Discussion of D. Keown, Buddhism, pp.
28-55; 96-107.
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10/4
|
Central
patterns of Christian belief and practice. Discussion of S.
Frankiel, Christianity, pp. 57-89 and P. Fredriksen, From Jesus
to Christ, pp. 70-93.*
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10/6
|
Quiz on
Buddhist terms; Video: "Buddhism: Footprint of the Buddha."
|
|
Images
of the Founder: The Buddha and the Christ |
10/11
|
Discussion
of the Gospel
of Matthew, chs. 1-10, 25-28*; see Titles
page.*
Background reading: P. Fredriksen, From Jesus
to Christ, pp. 36-43.*
|
10/13
|
Discussion
of The
Story
of Gotama Buddha: Jataka-nidana, tr. by N. A. Jayawickrama, pp.
63-110.* Background reading: D. Keown, Buddhism,
pp. 14-27.
|
|
Renewal
and Reform: Return to the Sources
|
10/18
|
Protestant
Reformation. Discussion of M. Luther, “The Freedom
of
a Christian,” pp.52-69; 83-85.*
Background reading: R. W. Scribner, The German
Reformation, pp. 1-24.*
|
10/20
|
Video:
“Protestant Spirit USA.”
Background of the Mahayana movement. Discussion of D. Keown, Buddhism,
pp. 56-68; see Theravada/Mahayana
comparison page.*
|
10/25
|
Discussion
of Chang, tr., A
Treasury
of Mahayana Sutras, pp. 427-440 (“On the Paramita of
Ingenuity”)*
|
10/27
|
Video:
“Buddhism: Land of the Disappearing Buddha.”
|
|
Modes
of Religious Transformation: Meditation & Monasticism
|
11/1
|
Mental
and communal discipline. Discussion of The Rule of St.
Benedict,
pp. 15-96; see Medieval
Monastery
and Seven
Times a Day pages.*
|
| 11/3 |
Discussion of "The
Foundations of Mindfulness,” tr. by Nyanasatta Thera (the assigned
text begins about halfway into the Web page); selections from the Book of
the Discipline, tr. I. B. Horner, vol. 5, pp. 204-207*; and the
Book
of the Kindred Sayings, tr. by C. Rhys Davids, v. 2, pp.
133-135.* Background
reading:
D. Keown, Buddhism, pp. 83-95; see Daily Routine and excerpt
from the Mangala Suttanta page.*
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|
Ritual
Practice: Pilgrimage
|
11/8
|
Doing
is believing: religion and ritual. Discussion of T.
Driver, The
Magic of Ritual, pp. 12-31.*
|
11/10
|
Pilgrimage—the
journey outward and the journey within. R. Lee, “The
Jerusalem
Syndrome.* See also key categories from the Turners’ Image and
Pilgrimage in Christian Culture.*
|
11/15
|
Discussion
of “The
Wanderings
of Felix Fabri” in The Library of the Palestine Pilgrims' Text
Society, pp. 279-286; 340-346; 360-363; 382-386.* Background
reading: S. Frankiel, Christianity, pp. 90-103.
|
11/17
|
Discussion
of Mahanama, The
Mahavamsa
in Mahavamsa: The Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka, tr. by Ananda
W. P. Guruge, pp. 491-496* and Barbara Gunn, “To Be a
Pilgrim"*; see Perils
on the Peak page.*
|
11/22
|
Video:
"Catholicism: Rome, Leeds, and the Desert."
|
11/24
|
Thanksgiving
break; no class.
|
|
Women’s
Religious Experience
|
11/29
|
Discussion
of Hildegard of Bingen, Scivias,
pp. 59-61,* and her Symphonia,
pp. 115, 117, 121, 123, 129, 131, 135.* Background reading: B.
Newman, “Hildegard
of Bingen: Visions and Validation.”*
|
12/1
|
Discussion
of selections from The
Elders' Verses II (Therigatha), K. Norman, trans., pp.
41-51* and Therigatha
71 (Subha's verses)*; see Revival of
Renunciation
page.* Background reading: R. Gross, Buddhism
After
Patriarchy, pp. 29-54.*
|
|
Religion in
Cyberspace
|
12/6
|
Discussion of Stephen
D. O'Leary, "Utopian and
Dystopian Possibilities of Networked Religion in the New Millenium"
and
Raymond
Barglow, "Buddhists
Armed with Apples."
|