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Description
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As a general introduction to the academic study of religion,
this section of REL 100 is focused on the problem of defining
religion--specifically, as the problem gets framed in cases
decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. The course opens with the
facts of the case from two recent US cases in which the topic
of religion's definition was the central issue. Before returning
to the decisions near the close of the course--and having
student groups offer their own verdicts in the cases--the
course examines classic approaches to defining religion and
the theories of religion's role or purpose implicit in each.
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Note: This course is not an introduction
to world religions; rather, it is an introduction to the study
of religion and its tools, in which religion is conceived
as an observable aspect of human culture and history.
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Syllabus
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Spring
2009 (PDF)
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There is one book required for this course, written specifically
for it:
Studying
Religion:
An Introduction
The glossary & scholars sections are important for
quizzes and/or tests (see the syllabus).
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First Day Case Study
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Pleasant Grove City v. Summum (Case # 07-665) focuses on
the First Amendment's free speech clause, which forbids the
government from discriminating among private speakers in public
forums on the basis of the content of their speech.
Based on this, the Summum church, which seeks to erect a monument
to its "seven aphorisms" in a public park in Pleasant
Grove, Utah, argues that the government can also not discriminate
between private monuments donated for public parks.
Should the city be mandated to accept the monument?
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National
Public Radio: Supreme Court Hears Religious Display Case (Nov.
12, 2008)
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Visit Summum's web
site
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Read The
New York Times article on the Summum case
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Online Readings
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The following readings are in the order in which we will
use them (see the course schedule on the syllabus) and are
placed in a "secure" folder; you can only access
them by clicking each link below and then entering your Bama
User Name and Password, just as if you were logging onto email.
Note: This course uses this web page instead of the
eLearning site, so do not send the instructor messages via
eLearning and expect replies. Instead, contact him and the
student assistants by email.
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If you have difficulty accessing the readings
below then contact the instructor by email.
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If you have forgotten your Bama ID, but know
your Campus Wide ID (CWID), then please go here.
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Nix
v. Hedden, 149 US 304 (1893)
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| Jeff
Strickler, "Spiritual But Not Religious" |
| Plato's
Euthyprho |
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Rudolf
Otto,"Religion is an Experience of Awe and Mystery"
(PDF)
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Paul
Tillich, "Religion is an Expression of Ultimate Concern"
(PDF)
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Mircea
Eliade, Preface to The Encyclopedia of Religion
(PDF)
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Karen
Armstrong, Preface to Islam: A Short History
(PDF)
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Learn more about
essentialism
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Karl
Marx and Fredrick Engles, "Religion is the Opium of the
People" (PDF)
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Emile
Durkheim, Excerpt on Magic and Religion from The Elementary
Forms of Religious Life (Chpt. 1 Section IV pp. 41-46)
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Sigmund
Freud, "Religion is an Illusion Produced by Psychological
Projection" (PDF)
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Stewart
Guthrie, Introduction to Faces in the Clouds: A New Theory
of Religion
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Learn more about
functionalism
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Test
1 (PDF); explanation of the grading
key (PDF)
Students who had difficulty on Test 1 are recommended to read
the note on the grading key PDF.
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Kitzmiller
v. Dover Area School District, PA, Case No. 04cv2688
(PDF)
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Horace
Miner, "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema" (PDF)
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Mark
Muesse, "Making the Strange Familiar and the Familiar
Strange" (PDF)
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An example of the
insider/outsider
problem
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Test
2 (PDF); explanation of the grading
key (PDF)
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Ludwig
Wittgenstein, "Philosophical Investigations, 66-70"
(PDF)
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William
Alston, "Religion" from The Encyclopedia of Philosophy
(PDF)
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Learn more about
family
resemblance
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Mary
Douglas, "Ritual Uncleanness" (PDF)
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Mary
Douglas, "Secular Defilement" (PDF)
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Mary
Douglas, "The Abominations of Leviticus" (PDF)
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Final Exam
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The final exam is on Mon, May 4 from 8:00-10:30
a.m. It will consist of 50 multiple choice questions: 20 of
which will be based on questions from Test 1, 20 of which
will be based on questions from Test 2, and 10 of which will
reflect material form the course's final unit.
Apart from the final class (Thurs., April 30) there will not
be a review session. Use the above-posted Tests as review.
Final group assignments can be picked up as you leave the
exam.
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