Untitled Document

Religion in Today's World

Course Number: RE 307
Session: S1E 2004
Park University Phone: 760·725· 6858
Home Phone: 760·720· 9088
Email: ographics@ographics.com
Class site: USNH
Class schedule: T/TH 1945 —2215 hr
Class Dates:1/ 12/ 2004 - 3/ 07/ 2004

1. Course Description
RE307 - Religion in Today's World covers contemporary aspects of religious thought and practice considered in their relevance to other disciplines. The attempt is made to examine them from an integrated Christian theological perspective. Possible topics include: the Charismatic movement, Judeo-Christian and Islamic-Christian relations, and current theological developments.
: 2. Goals of the Course
• To learn the basic beliefs and historic roots of the major religions such as Christianity, Judaism,; Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism
• To differentiate spiritual and religious cults, movements, trends, and leaders that exist in the USA today. • To comment on their relevancy and effects.; 3. Learning Objectives
To look at the world’s beliefs and the relevancy of their role in today’s religious and secular life in America.
: To review spiritual, ethical, social, theological, legal and political aspects of current theologies in the modern world.; 4. Course Arrangements
Text analysis, lecture, book reviews, class presentations, group discussions, work in pairs, writing assignments, analysis of web sites, and audio-video clips. Optional: Group Field Trip
: 5. Course Requirements
• Participation: Involvement during class discussions is a critical component of a successful learning process.
• Reading assignments will be provided in advance of each class. To be successful in class discussions and understand the course material, it is critical to complete the home reading assignments.
• First examination......
• Mid-term examination.......
• Final Examination (open-notes).....
• Term paper (see guidelines at http://www.ographics.com/termpaper.html)

Each student will choose a religious leader or belief system from the following list of papers. Some of these papers may incorporate an interview with a member(s) of a particular religious organization.
The paper will focus on on the relevancy and impact this religious leader or belief system on the world today. The paper is to be no less than 15 pages double-spaced and is due on .............; Paper Outline:
An overview and brief history of movement/person.
Basic beliefs.
Current status/impact.; List of Papers:; Topics may be negotiated with the professor.

• A presentation is required. The student will give a 15-minute presentation of the paper ................
This is to be an extemporaneous overview and not reading of the of the paper. The student is to be creative in their presentation and not read the paper to the class.

6. Textbook
Corbett, Julia M.. Religion in America, 4rd ed.Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000.
ISBN 0130209929
: 7. Supplemental Resource Material List
Miller. America’s Alternative Religions. State University of New York Press, 1995.
Eck. A New Religious America. Harper: San Francisco, 2001.
Huston Smith. The Illustrated World's Religions: A Guide for Our Wisdom Traditions. HarperCollins Publishers, 1995.
McGrath, Alister. Evangelicalism and the Future of Christianity. InterVarsity Press, 1995.; Additionally, web sites addresses will be given and audio-video materials relevant to in-class discussions will be shown.; 8. Class Meeting and Examination Schedule

Unit I Outline
L.1 Course Overview; CH.1.Studying and Describing Religion
L.2 CH. 2. Religion in the Life of the United States
L.3 CH.3. Consensus Protestants
L.4 CH.4. Consensus Catholics
L.5 CH. 5. Judaism
L.6 Exam I

Unit II Outline
L.6 CH. 6. Humanism and the Unitarian Universalities
L.7 CH. 7. Alternative Themes in American Christianity.
L.8 CH.8. Ethnic Christianity
L.9 CH. 9. Islam
L.10 CH. 11.Hinduism
L.11CH. 11. Buddhism
L.12 Exam II

Unit III Outline
L.12 Handouts: Taoism
L.13 CH.12. Other Religious and Spiritual Movements
L.14 CH.12. Black Theology, Cults, and Feminist Theology
L.15 CH.12. Religion in Cyberspace, Sexual Misconduct by the Clergy
L.16 CH.12. Paper Presentations
L.16 Final Exam
: 9. Class Policies
• Academic Integrity and Student Conduct: The highest standards of personal conduct,academic integrity and honesty are anticipated and will be mandated for all testing and class sessions. The Park University catalog provides detailed information on this subject
. • Attendance: You must be on time and attend each and every class and be present for the full class period.
•Absence and Makeup work: Excused absence: An absence, substantiated with a written reason for the absence on letterhead signed by a person in authority. Make up work will be accepted towards the final grade. Absence: An absence with a written and signed statement from the student. Make up work will be accepted at 90% of the total grade. Unexcused absence: An absence without a written statement. Make up work will not be accepted for the missed class, which will negatively affect the final grade. Park University administration must be informed where absences exceed university policy.
• Office Hours: The Instructor will set and coordinate office hours at student’s request. Normally, any problems and/or changes will be addressed at the beginning or end of each class. Additionally, you may obtain assistance by calling the Instructor at 760-720-9088 from 2000-2100 hr. on Mondays and Tuesdays.; 10. Grading Policy
The final grade will be calculated as a weighted mean of in-class grades, three exams and a research paper according to the following:
1.2 x exam grade
1.3 x final exam grade
1.3 x research paper grade
1 x participation in class discussions grade
Note: the final exam or home tests with a grade “D” will limit your final grade to " C".

Park University Grading Requirements:
1 00%-90% A (4.0 grade points) , 89%-80% B (3.0 grade points), 79%-70% C (2.0 grade points), 69%-60% D (1.0 grade point), Below 60% F (0.0 no grade points)

Links:
Greek Orthodox Archidocese of America

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project