The Impulse Toward Religion
(Cover Sheet and Syllabus)

ENG 1643-001

Spring Semester 2007

W. Narey; Office: W313-D; Office Hours: MWF, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.; 972-2625 Office;
     972-3043 English & Philosophy Department

This core-course for the Religion Studies minor at Arkansas State University may well prove to be the most ambitious course you take, or will, during your college experience.  Obviously, the study of religion anticipates such vast areas that no single course could possibly fulfill its promises.  In fact, you’ll find that the texts chosen for this class, while thorough and considerably informative, do little more than to provide the most basic of information in each of its chosen discourses.  However, the semester cannot provide enough time to do justice to one text, much less four.

 Therefore, the texts I’ve chosen will provide you with materials you can use for the minor in Religion, as opposed to serving only for this one class.  I trust that you’ll understand the need for single-text “references” for whatever courses you may consider in the future with regard to religious studies.  These texts were considered among the many for the readable, accessible, and concise information necessary for an introduction to our need for faith, as well as the three primary faiths of the Middle East and West, each belief inexorably tied to the others.

 Our class will consist of extensive readings, as well as lecture and discussion.  However, please remember that the suggested or “assigned” chapters will underscore that lecture and discussion, as opposed to a slavish reference to the text.  My hope remains that you’ll find these books useful throughout your years of studies, including your learning that extends beyond graduation.

 Besides the obligatory midterm and final examinations, you’ll have the choice of one paper at the end of the term, due the last day of class, or two papers—the first due the day of the midterm exam and the second on the final class day.  The one paper should be 5 to 8 pages in length; the two papers 3 to 5 pages each.  In addition, I’ll leave it to the class to decide if more quizzes/tests are preferred, in order to give the option of having more grades to average at term’s end.  I don’t use percentages, etc.; I can more easily assess your work on the above grading materials, as well as placing emphasis upon “improvement” (so if you have a problem with a grade early on, no need exists for you to “give up hope” and drop the class).

 Please consider absences carefully; because this class meets three times each week, you have 6 absences—more will severely affect your grade.  If involved with athletics or other university activities, you need to balance your time so as to consider the absentee limits.  The texts for this class have been ordered at the campus bookstore and Indian Bookstore; however, you may find them online from the publisher or from sites such as Amazon.com.  Barnes and Noble could also order them for you (ask Kristi for help).  Again, the reading is ambitious, but I trust you’ll be rewarded with the material well beyond this class.  In order of our use (all in paperback):

Course Texts:

 Huff, Margaret, and Ann K. Wetherilt.  Religion: A Search for Meaning.  McGraw Hill.  ISBN 0-07-286217-3.

Harris, Stephen L., and Robert L. Platzner.  The Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible.  McGraw Hill.  0-7674-0980-9.

Nystrom, Bradley P., and David P. Nystrom.  The History of Christianity: An Introduction.  McGraw Hill.  0-7674-1436-5.

Brown, Daniel.  A New Introduction to Islam.  Blackwell Publishing.  0-631-216049.

 Α    Syllabus    Ω

 January 2007:

8       Introduction to course

10   Origins of Worship

12  Text: Religion: The Search for Meaning (Chapters 1-2)

15  * M. L. King Holiday observed: No Class

17  Symbolism

19  Symbolism: Psychological theories

22  Ritual (Chapter 3)

24  Ritual, cont.

26  What do we mean by morality?

29  Morality, cont.

31  Authority (Chapter 9)

February:

2       Authority, cont.

5     * No Class  (out of town for a conference)

7     * No Class

9     Text: The Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (see Chapts. 1-2)

12   An overview of Judaism

14   Moses and the Torah

16   Mesopotamia (see Chapts. 3-4)

19   Israel

21   Midterm Examination (First paper due)

23   The Authorship Question (see Chapts. 5-8)

26   Authorship, cont.

28   Authorship, cont.

March:

2       Prophets and the Divided Kingdoms (see Chapts. 18-21)

5       Prophets, cont.

6       Divided “Sects” (see Chapt. 31)

9       Text: The History of Christianity: An Introduction:  Background for the first  years of Christianity

12    Earliest Controversies and Martyrdom (see Chapts. 3-4)

14    The Changing Church (Controversies, cont.)

16    The Changing Church, cont.

19    Spring Break (week of 19-24)

26    Medieval Stability

27    The Movement Toward Reform  (see Chapts. 8-9)

30    The Reformation

April:

2     Modern “Problems”  (see Chapts. 11-12)

4    “Problems,” cont.

6    Text: A New Introduction to Islam  (see Chapts. 1-4)

9    The Need for a “New” Faith 

11  Muhammad  (see Chapts. 1-4)

13  Muhammad and the Qur’ ān

16  The Qur’ ān, cont. (see Chapts. 9-11)

18  Crusaders and the West (see Chapts. 12-13)

20  Crusaders, cont.

23  “Last” Thoughts (second or final paper due)

24  Study Day

25  Final Examinations (April 25-May 1)