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Introduction to Religious Studies

Dr. Daniel Heifetz Spring 2016
dcheifer@mercyhurst.edu RLST 100
Office Hours: TTH 3:45-5, W 1:30-5 TTH 5:15-655
CAE 109 Hirt M205

Course Description:
The purpose of this introductory course is to provide students with the foundational skills of the
academic study of religion in order to apply them to an increased understanding of the role of religion
in contemporary society. The course presents a broad overview that will provide students with a
foundation for topical courses within the Religious Studies Department as well as the ability to engage
religion thoughtfully and knowledgably in other disciplines. In order to achieve this goal, the course will
be broken into four categories:
1. Definitions: What is religion and how does it function in society?
2. Development: Cultural memory and the development of historical traditions myth, symbol,
texts, and history
3. Multiplicity: Individuals and communities dominant and dissenting voices, ritual and practice
4. Religion Today: Contemporary issues in religion diversity, dialogue, pluralism, and violence

Assignments:
(45%) Take-home Exams This class will include two take-home exams which will require you to
demonstrate your familiarity with the material, your ability to make connections between the various
topics we have discussed, and your ability to think analytically about the material. I will distribute
prompts with further instructions on the dates listed below:
-Take-home Midterm: 20% of grade, 3 pages, covers weeks 1-6, assigned 3/17, due 3/31
-Take-home Final: 25% of grade, 4 pages, covers weeks 7-13, assigned 5/10, due 5/18

(20%) Reading Reflections Students should write five short (~150 word), informal responses to
readings throughout the semester. These reflections must demonstrate that you have done the
reading and comprehend it, but at least half of what you write should be dedicated to offering your
own insightful analysis of what you have read. This assignment will not be accepted late, but the
lowest grade will be dropped. Further instructions will be distributed on a separate sheet.

(20%) Quizzes Three short (~20 minute) quizzes will evaluate your knowledge of key terms, concepts,
and thinkers through multiple choice, matching, and short answer questions. Make-ups will only be
available for students with university-sanctioned excuses. One quiz, of your choosing, will be worth 4%
of your grade. The other two will be worth 8% each.
-Quiz 1: covers weeks 1-4, review on 3/3, quiz on 3/8
-Quiz 2: covers weeks 5-8, review on 4/7, quiz on 4/12
-Quiz 3: covers weeks 9-12, review on 5/5, quiz on 5/10

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(15%) Classwork I will occasionally ask students to submit short writing assignments prepared in
class. Most often, this will take the form of group projects or engagement assignments, which are
short personal reflections that will cover your thoughts on what was covered in class that day.
Classwork is utilized to assess participation and attendance. It cannot be made up (rare exceptions
exist for extended university sanctioned absences), but the lowest will be dropped.

Policies:
Learning Differences: In keeping with University policy, students who require learning
accommodations related to this course must contact the Learning Differences Program assistant at
814-824-3017 to arrange a confidential appointment with the director of the Learning Differences
Program during the first week of classes. No accommodations can be made by the instructors unless
the student goes through this office.

Academic Honesty: Students are expected to abide by the principles of academic honesty as
articulated in the Mercyhurst University Catalogue and the Mercyhurst Student Handbook. Plagiarism
will result in an F for the entire course.

Courtesy: Students should arrive on time, refrain from side conversations during class, and use
technology appropriately. Additionally, because we will be discussing sensitive subjects in this course,
it is imperative that we treat the beliefs and opinions of others with respect, even when we are
expressing disagreement. Students who are habitually discourteous in these ways will have their final
grades lowered. If you anticipate that your schedule will frequently make you late, (e.g. from back-to-
back classes) please notify me so that I can try to accommodate you.

Required Texts :
Available in the Mercyhurst University Bookstore
Lawrence S. Cunningham and John Kelsay. The Sacred Quest: An Invitation to the Study of Religion.
Boston: Prentice Hall, 2013.
Malory Nye. Religion: The Basics. New York: Routledge, 2008.

Other texts available on BlackBoard

Schedule:
Week 1: What is Religion? (Group A: Blog; Group B: Reply)
2/9 SQ, 1-10; RTB, 1-7
2/11 SQ, 11-24; RTB, 7-22

Week 2: Experience and Belief (Group B: Blog; Group A: Reply)
2/16 SQ, 25-54
2/18 RTB 105-128

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Week 3: Interlude Philosophy

2/23 Harvey, An Introduction to Buddhism, 47-72
2/25 Caputo, What Would Jesus Deconstruct?, 37-56

Week 4: Culture and Community (Group A: Blog; Group B: Reply)
3/1 RTB, 23-56
3/3 SQ, 85-100; Quiz 1 Review

Week 5: Ritual (Group B: Blog; Group A: Reply)
3/8 RTB, 126-151; Quiz 1
3/10 SQ, 71-84

Week 6: Interlude Ethnography
3/15 Suh, Being Buddhist in a Christian World, 57-88
3/17 Brown, Mama Lola, 1-20; Mid-term Assigned
Break

Week 7: Myth and Text (Group A: Blog; Group B: Reply)
3/29 RTB, 152-181
3/31 SQ, 55-70; Mid-term Due

Week 8: Interlude Literature
4/5 Ramanujan, Speaking of iva, 19-55
4/7 Harris, The New Testament, 95-116; Quiz 2 Review

Week 9: Power, Politics, and Morality (Group B: Blog; Group A: Reply)
4/12 SQ, 101-132; Quiz 2
4/14 RTB, 57-78

Week 10: Gender (Group A: Blog; Group B: Reply)
4/19 RTB, 79-104
4/21 Break

Week 11: Interlude History
4/26 Breslaw (ed.), Witches of the Atlantic World, 290-295, 305-321
4/28 Irwin, Islam and the Crusades, 217-236

Week 12: Other Topics (Group B: Blog; Group A: Reply)
5/3 RTB, 182-211
5/5 SQ, 133-146; Quiz 3 Review

Week 13: Interlude Visual Culture
5/10 Kapur, Deity to Crusader, 74-85, 96-107; Quiz 3, Final Assigned
5/12 Qureshi, Transcending Space, 46-64