Fall 2000
T-TH 9:35-11:00 . . . 100 Heger Hall
Prof. Daniel M. Varisco
Fall 2000
T-TH 9:35-11:00 . . . 100 Heger Hall
Prof. Daniel M. Varisco
Reading the Assignments
• Introduce the student to "religion" as a universal concept in all human societies
• Survey the main anthropological approaches to the study of religion
• Focus on the social function of beliefs and rituals in diverse ethnographic contexts
• Explore the symbolic function of beliefs and rituals in religion and magic
• Compare so-called "primitive" religion and myth with Western monotheisms
• Develop critical thinking skills for understanding religious diversity in the postmodern world
• Thomas Burton (1998) Serpent-Handling Believers. University of Tennessee Press.
• David Levinson (1998) Religion: A Cross-Cultural Dictionary. Oxford Univ. Press.
• Daniel Pals (1996) Seven Theories of Religion. Oxford University Press.
• William Powers (1984) Yuwipi. Univ. Nebraska Press.
• A116 Reader [This is available only at Sir Speedy (794-1234) at 2039 Hempstead Turnpike , across from Home Depot, east of campus.]
9/5 Introduction to objectives and requirements of course. Survey on religious attitudes of class.
9/12 Defining Religion. Initial discussion of what we mean by "religion" and how we approach "primitive" religions. Basic terms to be used in course.
9/14 Critique of Religion: Freud's Neurosis and Marx's Opiate. Brief survey of the modern critique of Western religious systems.
11/14 Eating the Dead
1. READING THE ASSIGNMENTS by the date noted
in the course schedule or as directed by the professor. It is is
important to read the assigned material before class so that you can
participate fully in class discussion and bring up questions or
explore issues you are not clear about. Bring the assigned text with
you to class on the relevant day.
2. CLASS ATTENDANCE. Attendance will be
taken each day at the start of class. If you are unable to attend
class due to any reason (e.g., medical, traffic accident, sports
travel, job interview, alarm didn't go off) you must provide a
written note informing me of the reason you were absent. You are
allowed up to 4 excused absences for a course that meets two days a
week. For each absence over the limit, you will lose 3 points from
your final grade points. It is my decision, as professor, whether an
absence is to be excused or not. Note that an excessive number of
absences may cause you to fail this course.
3. EXAMS:There will be three exams, each with
10 short answers and two essays. The exam essays will be graded
according to the following criteria:
a. Demonstration that the information is understood
b. Use of relevant and appropriate information and examples from the course
c. Critical analysis of key concepts and perspectives
d. Synthesis and reformulation in your own words
e. Clarity , completeness and coherence of response
Exams cannot be made up without advance notice for a legitimate reason.
4. CLASS ASSIGNMENT JOURNAL (CAJ)
Each student is required to write a class journal assignment (CAJ) related to the assigned readings, and topics. Each assignment should be at least 2-3 pages (typed, double-spaced) in length. The idea of the assignment is to show how your interact with the material you are reading or seeing. You must relate your ideas and opinions to the assigned reading or topic. I will provide written comments to help you improve your writing in an essay format so that you can do better on the essay exams.
The grading for each CAJ is "outcome based," which means that a particular assignment can be revised or expanded as necessary to meet the established criteria for full credit of 3 points per assignment, assuming the first is handed in on time. I will substract one point if the assignment is not handed in on the date due. All assignments must be revised no later than the last official day (Dec. 7) of class, but I recommend you do the revision immediately for benefit from my comments. The criteria are:
• a. Level of effort (appropriate length and degree you interact with the material)
• b. Appropriate and relevant examples
• c. Coherent argument and clear presentation of points
The following are the specific class assignments for the CAJ:
CAJ #1 (due 9/14) The Ideal and the Real: What Religion Is and Is Not. Part of the Western critique of "religion" is that the ideals are often not put into practice. After reading Martin Marty's article and the sample quotes in "Definitions of Religion," choose two important things religion (in the broad sense) is or does and two important things it is not. Don't just list items, but explain why you think the way you do. You must build on specific comments in the assigned readings. It is important to discuss why you think the ideals don't always get put into practice.
CAJ #2 (due 10/12) Is the Adam and Eve Myth Sexist? Sanday (p. 360) argues that the biblical myth of Adam and Eve creates the image of a "sexual, inferior female who tempts the male from the path of righteousness." She also argues that even in our modern, secular society we are not free from the power of sexist symbols in religious myth. Show why you agree or diasagree with her, using insights from your own reading of the myth and the information Sanday provides. It is important to consider the extent to which you and other people are influenced by "myth" in our gender behavior.
CAJ #3 (due 11/14)
Why Do the Warai Eat their
Dead?
Conklin shows how the Warai, an Amazon
people, traditionally ate their dead as part of a funeral ritual.
First, explain Conklin's argument for why they did this. Second,
discuss why we in America are so disgusted with cannibalism in any
form. Third, explain your view of whether or not the Warai should
have been forced by the missionaries to stop this ritual.
5. CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF READING (CAR)
Each student is required to complete a critical analysis of reading (CAR) for two of the assigned readings. The purpose of this assignment is to improve understanding through critical reading of the text. A handout is provided for each CAR, a copy of which is also available on the class website.
I will provide written comments to help you improve your study skills.
The grading for each CAR is "outcome based," which means that a particular assignment can be revised or expanded as necessary to meet the established criteria for full credit of 3 points per assignment, assuming the first is handed in on time. I will substract one point if the assignment is not handed in on the date due. All assignments must be revised no later than the last official day (Dec. 9) of class, but I recommend you do the revision immediately for benefit from my comments. These are:
• a. Shows relative mastery of the author's main points
• b. Shows relative mastery of author's style of writing
• c. Ability to recognize relevant examples
CAR #1 (due 9/26) Critical Analysis of Leach Reading.
[Read the selected assignment through and mark what you think are the important points. With the book open, go back through the reading and answer the following questions or directions. Focus on the reading, but try to add other supporting information learned in the course. Number each response but do not repeat the question.]1. According to Leach (esp. pp. 177-178), what is the major difference between the "functional" approach to ritual of Malinowski in contrast to the earlier assumptions by Durkheim? It is important to consider Leach's view of Durkheim's model of sacred and profane.
2. What does Leach (p. 179) think is the main issue in considering human actions as "ritual" and why?
3. Leach (p. 181) notes that Tylor and Goody assume that belief is prior to ritual. What does Leach think about this and why?
CAR #2 (due 10/24) Critical Analysis of Evans-Pritchard Reading.
6. REFLECTIVE ESSAY: "Religion and Ritual in Cross-Cultural Perspective "
Purpose: To encourage the student to relate information learned in the course about "primitive" and "exotic" beliefs and rituals to his/her understanding of the social function and social importance of religion. This essay should be written in the first person and consist of three parts, plus an abstract:
1. Define "religion" in a cross-cultural sense, based on the material studied in this course, and support your definition with specific examples. [You may not use a dictionary definition, but you should review the definitions provided in the handout!] You may not define religion by what it should ideally be, but rather consider how it functions in real societies, giving examples learned in the course.
2. Explain what you see as the major social or cultural reasons for religion as a universal human impulse. For this you must compare and contrast the "primitive" and "exotic" traditions studied in this course. The idea is to indicate why all human societies practice religious rituals and have beliefs and myths. Provide a wide range of specific examples from the case studies in the course material.
3. Respond to the following statement. [Your response must use material covered in the course, although you are free to express your own personal opinions as well.]
"Religion is mere superstition, nothing more than child-like attempts to understand the world around them before science was available. The main purpose for religion has been to justify political and economic exploitation of people. While the ideals (love of fellow man, peace, contentment) of religion may be noble, they are seldom realized in the real world. The history of religion is one of violence and absurd claims. Unless the human race can overcome this infantile impulse, the human race is probably doomed to extinction."
4. A separate half-page paragraph "abstract" must be included at the beginning of the paper. This abstract should summarize your argument rather than introduce new information. Write this after you have finished your essay.
5. Remember to attach the essay cover sheet handed out by the professor.
Grading: This essay is worth 18 points. The major criteria (each is worth 2 points) I will use to grade the essay are the following:
Due Date:
(1) A detailed outline of your essay is due no later than Nov. 21. I will look at this and make comments. At this time you may also provide a draft of your essay for comments without a grade.
(2) The final copy of your essay is due no
later than Dec. 12 at 3 pm.. This must be handed to me by hand. Do
not simply leave it in my office box. I will be in my office on
Thursday afternoon between 1- 3 pm. You are encouraged to hand in
your essay on the last day of class. Late papers will have 3 points
automatically taken off..
7. WEB CRITIQUE. Each student will
conduct a web search on religion according to the guidelines given at
the class website (click
here for
details).
You may hand in (or email an attachment to me) of a draft for
comments (without grade) up until 11/30. The final critique is due on
the last official day (12/7) of class.
Grading in this course is based on a 100 point scale (although the student has the opportunity to earn 103 points in the course). In general, the "A" range will extend from 90-100, the "B" range from 80-89, the "C" range from 70-79, the "D" range starting at 64. The point accumulation breaks down as follows:
ITEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TOTAL POINTS
Exam #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Exam #2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Exam #3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Class Assignment Journal (CAJ) . . . . . . . . . . 9
Critical Analysis of Reading (CAR) . . . . . . . 6
Reflective Essay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Web Critique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Extra Credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
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