 Syllabus |
Projects |
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| Syllabus | Introduction Hinduism Buddhism Judaism Christianity Islam |
Methods Hinduism Buddhism Judaism Christianity Islam |
Contact Jeffrey Wattles
Jeffrey Wattles
Department of Philosophy
Kent State University
Kent, OH 44242-0001
Context: I teach in a State university; this course is a lower division, lecture and discussion; it meets three hours per week for a fifteen-week term (plus exam week); the last time it was taught is Spring 2002, when it had 30 students
The course is focused around a series of projects; thus books (scriptures from five religions) are used as tools as well as a source of gems and a field for historical understanding. We also engage in collective action: web-publishing of highlights selected and with student permission in accord with the standards of the Human Subjects Review Board. The projects focus on teachings with broad appeal, e.g., "Established in union [with your true self], perform action" (Bhagavad-Gita 2.48). Pluralism is practised in the sense that talk of the "spiritual," for example, can be interpreted as (1) a psychological source of energy, wisdom, love, peace, creativity, and purpose; (2) an impersonal presence within yet beyond the human mind; (3) a gift of a loving God; or (4) the students own alternative. Students are free to choose their service opportunities (not necessarily with community service organizations). And the projects involve dialogic living: Practice what you agree with; live in dialogue with the rest. A high proportion of students have transformative experiences with one or more of these projects. Year by year, the website improves.