SOC302 Project 3: Multimedia Application Assignment: On Common Ground
Guidelines
For this assignment you will use information from an award-winning multimedia CD, On Common Ground, which provides an overview of the cultural and religious landscape of the United States. Developed at Harvard University as part of the Pluralism Project on multiculturalism, the CD provides an interactive, computer based multimedia application that will allow you to study religious and cultural groups. It contains multimedia summaries of the fundamental beliefs and practices of over 300 religious communities, voices of people expressing their cultural and religious experiences, a comprehensive directory of the religious and cultural centers, and profiles of cultural and religious leaders. There is also an online component of the application, www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm. Diana Eck, principal investigator in the Pluralism Project and major contributor to On Common Ground, received a National Humanities Medal for this work at the White House in fall 1998.
3.1 (Introduction)
"We the People . . .": an introductory essay. Read it (sorry, you can't print out the essay from the ACER). | |
Voices of America: an introductory movie offering Jewish, Native American, Christian, and Muslim interpretations of America |
3.2 A New Religious Landscape
"New Neighbors": an introductory essay, printed out in this guide | |
A Visible Difference: an introductory movie surveying the increasing visibility of new forms of religious architecture in America and pointing out the new presence of many religious traditions |
3.3 America's Many Religions
"Rivers of Faith": an introductory essay, printed out in this guide | |
The Search for Meaning: an introductory movie with Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and Jewish people speaking about what religion means in their lives |
3.4 Encountering Religious Diversity
"The Public Square": an introductory essay, printed out in this guide | |
Building Bridges: An introductory movie with Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and Jews speaking about the range of relationships they have begun to develop with one another as neighbors |
4.1 Historical Perspectives
Go to Historical Perspectives, choose two of the short essays, and read them.
4.2.Today's Challenges
Go to Today's Challenges. Choose and read two of these essays as well.
A. Summarize the information you read about or listened to when doing this assignment (parts 3.1-3.4 and 4.1-4.2). What are the core elements of information that are provided in all those parts? (Tell me exactly what parts under 4 you chose.)
B. In your view, what are the most important issues you have learned about America's religious landscape by doing this assignment?