REL 100
Intro to Religious Studies

Orientalism by Edward Said, an influential study of how Europe and America perceived the Middle East and Asia.

Professor
Dr. Kurtis Schaeffer
e-mail: kschaeff@bama.ua.edu
Office: Manly Hall 202
Office Hour: to be posted

Our course's book: The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion (1995), edited by Jonathan Z. Smith

Description

As a general introduction to the academic study of religion, REL100 examines the function of religion in relation to human beliefs, social practices, and culture in general. The course surveys a broad number of important debates in the history of the study of religion, such as the definition of religion, the comparison of religions, the cross-cultural study of religion, orientalism, religion’s psychological, sociological, and political functions, and the manner in which human communities authorize systems of behavior and organization. This course is not an introduction to world religions; rather, it is an introduction to the study of religion where religion is conceived as an ordinary aspect of human culture and history. As a Core Curriculum Humanities course (“HU”), REL100’s goal is for all students to learn to define, accurately describe, and compare in a non-evaluative manner so as to discover significant similarities and differences in various forms of observable human behavior.

Objectives

1. To provide an opportunity for critical reflection, open debate, and discussion on the relations of religion, myths, and rituals to past and contemporary human thought, practice, and social institutions.
2. To learn to see one’s own cultural practices as having points of similarity with, and difference from, those of other peoples, removed from us both in time and space.
3. To learn to define an area of study as well as to practice and refine the skills of description and nonevaluative comparison.
4. To develop and improve critical reading and thinking skills.

Syllabus

Interim 2005 Syllabus (to be posted)

Fall 2004 Syllabus

Handouts

REL100 Introductory Handout

HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion Subject Guide

The Ramayana

Video Descriptions and Handouts

Edward Said: On Orientalism
Edward Said's book Orientalism has been profoundly influential in a diverse range of disciplines since its publication in 1978. In this engaging and lavishly illustrated interview he talks about the context within which the book was conceived, its main themes, and how its original thesis relates to the contemporary understanding of "the Orient" as represented in the mass media.
Handout

Hinduism: 330 Million Gods
Traces the Indian religious experience in two highly contrasting locations: the bustling city of Benares where millions come to bathe in the holy waters of the Ganges, and the small village of Bhith Bhagwanpur, unvisited except by professional story tellers and itinerant priests.
Handout

Gandhi: Pilgrim of Peace
BIOGRAPHY® profiles the small man who took a great nation on his shoulders and changed the world. Trace his rise to power and fearless campaign of truth, non-violence and non-cooperation with injustice that defeated the British Empire. Biographers offer insight into his surprising personal life, while historians explore his remarkable accomplishments. Hear from his grandson, Arun Gandhi, and, in a rare interview, the Dalai Lama reflects on Gandhi's incredible life and enduring legacy.
Handout

Earth
Earth, the second film in Deepa Mehta's controversial trilogy, is an emotionally devastating love story set within the sweeping social upheaval and violence of 1947 India. As her country teeters on the brink of self-rule and instability, 8-year-old Lenny, an innocent girl from an affluent family, is in danger of having her world turned upside down. As the simmering violence around them reaches a boiling point, Lenny's beautiful nanny Shanta falls in love with one of Lenny's heroes. Love, however, can be dangerous when religious differences are tearing the country apart, and friendships and loyalty are put to the test.
Handout

Footprint of the Buddha
To Sri Lanka and India discover the type of Buddhism practiced throughout southeast Asia. Among those we meet are Buddhist monks- including one American, school children, novices and housewives. Each offers something from his own experience to help us come to grips with a religion that has high moral standards but does not believe in God.
Handout

Dalai Lama: The Soul of Tibet
One of the world's most admired men, he is the spiritual and secular leader of a nation that exists only in exile. Born Tenzin Gyatso, he is the fourteenth man recognized by his people as Buddha's reincarnation and honored with the title he is known by worldwide the Dalai Lama. Since 1959, when he fled his nation after a failed rebellion against the occupying Chinese, he has lived in exile. Follow the Dalai Lama from his childhood in the "Lost Kingdom" to today. Interviews with Chinese scholars, Tibet activists including actor Richard Gere and His Holiness himself detail the long struggle to free Tibet. And see footage of the defining moments of his life including accepting the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize. From a childhood in "Shangri-La" to a life in exile, BIOGRAPHY. presents the journey of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.
Handout

The Cup
A crowd-pleaser at film festivals around the world, The Cup is based on the true story of a couple of newcomers to a Buddhist monastery who also happen to be fanatical soccer lovers. Shortly after arriving at the Tibetan monastery (in exile in India), the young monks start plotting how to see the World Cup finals, and sneaking out of their disciplined confines is not out of the question. This funny and touching look at young men torn between the spiritual and secular worlds is the first film by Khyentse Norbu, who is one of the most important incarnate lamas of Tibetan Buddhism, recognized as the reincarnation of a 19th century Buddhist saint. In Bhutanese with English subtitles.
Handout

Muslims
This film explores the influence of culture and politics on religion, and provides a deeper understanding of the political forces at work among Muslims around the world. The film emphasizes Islam's kinship with Christianity and Judaism, and looks at diverse interpretations of Islam among the Muslim people.
Handout

The Myth of 'The Clash of Civilizations'
In this important lecture delivered at the University of Massachusetts, Edward Said takes aim at one of the central tenets of recent foreign policy thinking-- that conflicts between different and "clashing civilizations" (Western, Islamic, Confucian) characterize the contemporary world.
Handout

Tests

Tests in this course are multiple choice, using "bubble" scoring sheets. To fill in the answer sheet during the test you will need to use a pencil and you will need to know your new Campus-Wide ID (CWID) number.

Once the tests are graded, you will be able to obtain your test results over the web by visiting www.ssc.ua.edu/query and selecting "Student Grades," and then entering your CWID number and password. Note: If you incorrectly entered your CWID on the scoring sheet you will not be able to access your test grade online, since your test score will not be matched correctly to your login.