schedule

Gender, Ethnicity and Religion
EWS 431
Course Schedule

	Week 1: Introduction	What is Religion? Religion As Social Construction Watch the Video On Pluralism Report 1 How is the word "religion" defined? What are the purposes of Religion? How is pluralism different from relativism? What are the ways in which we may think of pluralism? How is pluralism different from monism?
	Week 2: Hinduism	Readings: America's Judaeo Christian Heritage From Many, One Eck Chapter 2 American Hindus, Eck Chapter 3 Report 2 According to Eck, How has America evolved historically from being a "Christian" nation to her current status as "The World's Most Religiously Diverse Nation? Watch the Video:Origins of Yoga Watch the Video: Hinduism:Polytheism The Hindu Gods The Meditative State Mehndi Party List the following Hindu terms in the left hand column and brief explanations for each term in the right hand column. See Hindu Terms atman ayurveda Brahma Caste system, brahmin, untouchables chakras dharma four stages of life karma maya moksha suttee yoga (the different kinds of yoga) How is the Hindu world view radically different from the Christian/western perspective of life and reality? Specifically, how does the concept of the divine differ from the Christian view of God? What has the presence of Hindus in America meant in social, econocmic or cultural terms?
	Week 3: Jainism	Readings: Jainism in the United States Watch the Video:Jainism This is My Temple Ahimsa Practised Ghandi's Non-Violence Speech Ghandi's Influence on Martin Luther King Report 3 What are some of the principle teachings of Jainism? How have Jain principles influenced contemporary civil rights and peace movements? Describe the principles shared by Jains and Hindus. In what ways is Jainism different from Hindusim? What are the Jain view of time and the cosmos? What do the following termns mean: Ahimsa Anekantvad Apirigraham Satya Moksha Five Great Vows Arhats Tirthankaras siddhas "Sky Clad"
	Week 4: Sikhism	Readings Sikhs in America Watch the Video What is Sikhsim? Who Are the Sikhs? Sikh Wedding Report 4 What was the historical background that led to the creation of Sikhism? Who were the ten gurus and what were some of the important contributions they made to Sikhism? What divine attribute is associated with each of them? What are the main principles of Sikhism? Identify the following: Japji Khalsa Guru Granth Sahib, Gurumukhi The Five K's (identify each one and their respective meanings) Guru Nanak's Teaching on the Way ofLife. Amrit Langar Singh and Kaur
	Week 5: Confucianism	Readings: Christianity and Confucianism Watch the Video: Confucius' Birthday Report 5 What do the following Confucian tenets mean? Jen Li Yi Ming Doctrine of the Mean Filial Piety Is Confucianism a religion, a code of ethics or a philosophy? Experts have suggested that religions are either eros or agape (see Chapter 6). What evidence can you suggest that Confucianism fits one/the other/neither category? What are the obvious parallels betwen Christianity and Confucianism? Where do they diverge?
	Week 6:Taoism	Readings: The Tao of Taoism Taoist Principles Taoist Ethics Watch the Video: The Art of Feng Shui Report 6 What are the principle divisions within Taoism? What are the principle tenets of Taoism? Explain the following Tao Wu Wei Qi Nothingness Oneness Dynamic Balance Cyclical Growth Harmonious Actions What other areas of life has Taoism influenced? Select one of the quotations from the Tao Te Ching. Explain why the quotation you selected is relevent to our times. Note: Field Experience Report Due
	Week 7: Shinto	Readings: An American Religionist Experiences Shinto Shinto Festivals Watch Video on Shinto Ritual Dance Watch Video: Shinto Matsuri Report 7 Identify the following: kami musubi makoto matsuri the concept of purity the ten precepts and four affirmations cha no yo origami In the article "An American Religionist Experiences Shinto" Shinto offers Americans some alternative views of life? What are some of these alternative perspectives? What are some of the artistic or cultural practises that have arisen from Shinto and Zen Buddhism?
	Week 8: Buddhism	Readings: American Buddhists:Enlightenment and Encounter, Eck Chapter 4 Why Buddhism, Why Now? and Why in America by Jan Nattlier Zen Meditation Tibetan Sand Mandala Report 8 Identify the following: the four noble truths the eightfold path the six precepts dharma karma sangha the lotus the dharma wheel swastika stupa bodhisattvas arhats mudras According to Diana Eck Buddhism challenges the very core of how Americans think about religion. How is this so? Is Buddhism a religion? Explain the reasons why it is/isn't. What schools of Buddhism have taken root in a significant way in America? Why have their orientations in particular been attractive for Americans?
	Week 9: Islam	Readings: American Muslims: Cousinas and Strangers, Eck Chapter 5 "Islam in America: From African Slaves to Malcolm X" by Thomas Tweed Shattering Ten Misconceptions About Islam The Importance of Marriage in Islam Watch the Video: Islam Report 9 Identify the following terms: Shahada Haj The Ka'aba Mecca Ramadan Haraam Halala Hijab What are the Five Pillars of Islam? What are some of the misconceptions about Islam? What aspects of Islam do some Americans find the most difficulty in either understanding or accepting?
	Week 10: Review	Readings: Beyond Tolerance:Words Over Bullets by Gustav Niebuhr Afraid of Ourselves, Eck Chapter 6 Bridge Building: A new Multireligious America, Eck Chapter 7