World Religions

I mentioned that I'd provide a blog entry that would stay at the top and provide links to materials you might need to get assignments done and stay on track.

Blog Entry #1 - Introduction - due Wednesday, November 7th
Blog Entry #2 - Hinduism - due Friday, November 16th
Blog Entry #3 - Buddhism - due Wednesday, November 28h
Blog Entry #4 - Judaism - due Friday, December 7th
Blog Entry #5 - Christianity - due Monday, December 17th
Blog Entry #6 - Islam - due Wednesday, January 9th

Hinduism - Short Essays - due Tuesday, November 20th
Buddhism - Short Essays - due Monday, December 3rd
Judaism - Short Essays - due Tuesday, December 11th
Christianity - Short Essays - due Thursday, December 20th
Islam - Short Essays - due Wednesday, January 9th

Independent Assignment #1 - "Speaking of Faith" podcast - (due 11/13)
Independent Assignment #2 - "Measuring It" - Pew Research - (due 11/28)
Independent Assignment #3 - "Taking a Position" - (due 12/12)
Independent Assignment #4 - "Read It" OR "Watch It" - (due 12/21)
Independent Assignment #5 - "Experience It" - (due 1/10)

Extra Credit Indep. Assign. - You may choose to do the half of "Read It/Watch It" that you did not do earlier. You could also choose to do "Talking About It" or "Learning About an Interest." You may only do one extra credit, and it is worth 20 points. They are due by Friday, January 11th.

"The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens."- Baha'u'llah

THE BAHA'I FAITH

This is an appropriate topic for two reasons. First, the faith had its historical roots in the Islamic world of the early 19th-century. Second, the religion aims to be inclusive of aspects of many faiths and traditions. Baha'i labels itself the world's second-most widespread religion (after Christianity) and the fastest growing (a claim many argue belongs instead to Islam). There are probably somewhere around ten million Baha'i worldwide today.

You should check out the following resources:

The Baha'i Faith is a nice introduction to the Baha'i faith, particularly as it is practiced in the United States.

About the Faith is a good place to start. You might want to remember that this is a site developed by the Baha'i community.

History of the Baha'i Faith provides a very efficient introduction to the basics of the faith's origins.

Baha'i Symbols shows you a couple interesting symbols and their interpretations.

Baha'i House of Worship for the North American Continent - Check out this building located just north of Chicago near Northwestern University. It's one of the coolest buildings that I have seen in the US.

Rainn Wilson (Dwight on "The Office") interview - Wilson is a Baha'i.

Multimedia - You can find a ton of podcasts, interviews, videos, etc. here.

Defining terms: The Bab, Baha'u'llah

Islam and the Baha'i Faith looks at the relationship between Islam and the Baha'i faith. Browse through this and be sure you understand how each faith views the other.

Homework for the final sessions...

As I mentioned, I have no problem accepting work through the end of Friday, January 11th. Beyond that, I'll accept work to get you to a passing grade, but I don't feel any obligation to give you credit beyond that. (Be sure to talk to me in advance if you think I should make an exception to that.)

Links to all of you assignments can be found on the top of the blog... See you next year.

"I believe in the religion of Islam. I believe in Allah and peace." - Muhammad Ali

Muslim Americans - As I was teaching this class five years ago, The Pew Research Center had just released what is being called the largest and most comprehensive survey of American Muslims. Here is the online version of the report. If you are interested, you can download the entire report in PDF format, but it is over 100 pages long.

This report is worth us taking a look at for a while. We'll ask you to take a look at one chapter and report back to us some of what you find most interesting.

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Today, we'll tackle some controversial issues related to Islam. We'll start with two that you are probably familiar with at least the outlines of...

The Satanic Verses controversy - Be sure these terms make sense to you: Salman Rushdie, fatwa, Ayatollah Khomeini

Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy - This relates to a series of cartoons printed in a Danish newspaper in 2005.

Jihad in Islam: This is perhaps the most misunderstood concept in Islam. The word itself comes from an Arabic root meaning "struggling" or "striving". In the West, it has frequently come to be associated with militarism, anti-Western views, and terrorism. These resources might help you better understand the concept.

What is Jihad?: Daniel Pipes is the author of the book Militant Islam Reaches America. This article expresses his very strong opinion of "jihad," which others have criticized as distorted.

Jihad: Here's a contrasting definition of the term from the Islamic Glossary at the USC site.

DO THIS: Consider this information and make up your own mind. Is jihad a threat to non-Muslims? Has the West overreacted and misinterpreted the concept?

Women and Islam: Outside of the Islamic world (and within it, for that matter), the status of women has been a topic of much controversy. Traditionally, the issues which are at the core of the debate have been the customs of veiling and polygamy that have been a part of Islam's history.

Resources to consult:

About "Women in Islam"- A Resource Page- There are dozens of links to resources here. They come from a wide variety of perspectives.

Women in Islam- This is a pro-Islamic source with a large number of links to issues related to the status of women in Islam.

DO THIS: We will approach the topic in this way:

• We will summarize the arguments made by those who criticize Islam's treatment of women.
• We will attempt to understand the religion's response to these claims.
• Finally, we will share our own opinions on these issues.
  
  

HOMEWORK for Islam - Day #5

You know the drill by now. Everything you need is on the entry at the top of the blog.

It would be great if you were able to finish up the Islam chapter in The World's Religions either before or over break.

My plan is to give the Islam quiz to you tomorrow and allow you some time to either complete it in class or to take it home with you and complete it over break. In either case, you may use notes, etc.

"The twenty-first century will be the century of Islam. Consider the facts: a population of 1.3 billion and growing; fifty-five states and one of them nuclear; about 25 million permanently living in the West and many of them now making an impact on social, political, and economic life; and a religion that comes with commitment and passion."- Akbar S. Ahmed

Ideally, you should have begun reading the Islam chapter in Huston Smith's The World's Religions. Please try to make some progress there by the time we next meet.

DAY #3- CENTRAL BELIEFS and THE DIVISIONS WITHIN ISLAM

Need a warm-up? Try this on-line quiz. This is the Level 1: Test 1 (easiest) quiz from islam101.com. There are 11 questions, and it will be graded on-line.

Central beliefs of Islam: We have certainly considered much of this topic already, but I thought we'd take a more systematic look at some of the central beliefs of Islam.

Six Basic Beliefs

• Belief in the Oneness of God
• Belief in messengers (prophets) of God
• Belief in angels
• Belief in revealed books of Allah
• Belief in fate
• Belief in a Day of Judgment and Resurrection

"Life after Death"- Those of you interested in Islam's view on this topic might want to consult this article.

Here are the 99 names of God (Allah).

The Division in Islam: Sunni and Shi'ite (and Sufi)

Defining terms: caliph, Shariah, Husayn, Ali, Sunni, Shi'ite

Although this page has perhaps the most irritating design ever, there is a good introduction to the "split" here.

If you're interested in accessing resources on Sufism - Here's a link to "Sufism, Sufis, and Sufi Orders." There's a lot here.

The Muslim World today

Map of the "Muslim World"

Here's what Wikipedia has regarding populations of Islam by country.

Muslim Americans - As I was teaching this class five years ago, The Pew Research Center had just released what is being called the largest and most comprehensive survey of American Muslims. Here is the online version of the report. If you are interested, you can download the entire report in PDF format, but it is over 100 pages long.

This report is worth us taking a look at for a while. We'll ask you to take a look at one chapter and report back to us some of what you find most interesting.

I read American Islam: The Struggle for the Soul of a Religion a few years back. Some of you might find it pretty interesting. (I'm not getting a kickback or anything from Amazon for directing you there...)

PBS' Muslims - This is the web site designed to accompany the special which aired several years back. As usual with PBS internet resources, this one is exceptional. You might check out these specific features:

• Introduction: This is an overview of the people and topics covered in the videotape.
• Portraits of Ordinary Muslims
• Interviews with Muslim Scholars: Just what it sounds like...

When you get a chance, browse the site. I think you will definitely find it worthwhile.

HOMEWORK for Islam - Day #4

As always, there is an entry at the top of the blog that lists all of the assignments with links and suggested due dates for each.

I will accept work for full credit up through the end of Friday, January 11th. After that, I will only award credit for late work as needed to get to a passing grade of 60%.

We can use the blog to hold "conversations" about reading in Huston Smith's The World's Religions. We'll certainly talk about some of the readings in class, but this gives you another chance to share your ideas. You may respond to one or more of the questions, and you can also react to comments posted by others. I'll expect a comment of one good paragraph or more. (To me, that means 5-6 sentences at a minimum.) You do not need to worry about perfect grammar, spelling and punctuation, but they should be understandable. Remember that this is a public site, and you are responsible for the content of your postings.

Assume that each comment is worth 5 points. (5 points for solid or better comments, 4 for comments somewhat short of expectations, 3 or fewer for last-minute, little to no effort postings, and no points for those who have not posted.)

All posts should be made to this blog entry NO LATER that Wednesday, January 9th to be considered on time.

1. What did you personally find most appealing or intriguing about Islam, based on your reading? What was most difficult to accept or understand?

2. Huston Smith suggests that Islam is the most misunderstood of all the world's faith, at least for Westerners (p. 221). Why would this be so?

3. "Islam joins faith to politics, religion to society, inseparably," says Smith (p. 249). Can society be wholly secular or maintain itself without some common faith or religious reference point?

4. The Quran does not teach turning the other cheek, or pacifism, but sanctions the use of force for defense and correcting injustice (p. 254). Is Islam more realistic in this respect than some other religions?

5. Smith attempts to defend the status of women in Islamic society. Does he make his case? What are your feelings about polygamy (or polyandry)?

6. In what ways is Sufism different from, and similar to, other forms of mysticism we have encountered in Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism? Are all mystics describing a common experience? 

These questions are excerpted from Understanding the World's Religions: A Study Guide to Huston Smith's The World's Religions by Gary Kowalski.

"I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age." - Sir George Bernard Shaw

We'll begin by checking in with you on the video clip from last time... Following that, we'll see how far we get in the material for today.

Islam: Empire of Faith

Defining terms: bedouin, jinn, Mecca, Khadijah, Ka'aba, Yathrib (Medina), Qur'an (Koran), Five Pillars, muezzin

Islam: Empire of Faith- This is the web site produced by PBS to accompany the video. It's really good.

DAY #2 - INTRODUCTION: MUHAMMAD, THE QUR'AN AND THE FIVE PILLARS

Ideally, you should begin reading the Islam chapter in Huston Smith's The World's Religions. Please try to make some progress there by the time we next meet.

Islam- Introduction: As with Judaism and Christianity, we will try to avoid recovering ground with which you are already familiar. The assumption is that you have studied the subject in World History and that you have acquired at least some understanding of the religion. Any topics that we "revisit" will either be covered in additional depth or from a different perspective.

You can take a few minutes to discuss "first impressions" here. We'll definitely come back to these...

* What are the ideas, descriptions, or images that immediately come to mind when the terms "Muslim" or "Islam" are used?

* Are the majority of stereotypes regarding Islam positive or negative? Why do you believe that is the case?

* If you are asked to name Muslims (either contemporary or historical), who comes to mind?

* Is the Western media fair in its coverage of Islam? Explain your position.

Defining terms: Muhammad, (pbuh), Muhammadanism (sic), Islam, Muslim, Allah

Muhammad:

"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level. It is probable that the relative influence of Muhammad on Islam has been larger than the combined influence of Jesus Christ and St. Paul on Christianity. . . . It is this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Muhammad to be considered the most influential single figure in human history."

Michael H. Hart, THE 100: A RANKING OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS IN HISTORY, New York: Hart Publishing Company, Inc., 1978, p. 33.

FYI: Here's the complete and updated list of "The 100" from Hart's most recent edition of the book.

Just because it's interesting, here's a different list from a recent book. The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: How Characters of Fiction, Myth, Legends, Television, and Movies Have Shaped Our Society, Changed Our Behavior, and Set the Course of History

Sacred Literature of Islam

The Qur'an (sometimes seen as Koran): The Holy Book of Islam

Additional sources of wisdom: Sunnah and Hadith The Hadith is the collection of sayings, teachings, and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad. They were recorded by his followers.

The Sunnah is the example of leadership, belief, and guidance provided by the life and actions of the Prophet Muhammad. For Muslims, it transforms belief in God into a culture and a civilization, allowing a way of life.

The Five Pillars of Islam:

Defining terms: shahadah, salat, zakat, sawm, hajj

Beliefnet: The Five Pillars- This is an easy introduction to the Five Pillars and their meanings in Islam.

A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam: This site also provides an introduction to the Five Pillars.

DO THIS: Choose either of the two sources and introduce yourself to the Five Pillars. You and a partner will be responsible for selecting one of the pillars to present in class. Look for Internet resources, check the books I have, etc.

HOMEWORK for Islam - Day #3

Remember that the entry at the top of the blog has all of the due dates and links for assignments.

NOTE: You have probably noticed (or will notice) that I am gone today. I am home with one of my girls. Please follow the blog for today and make good use of your time. My plan was to show the video excerpt today, so this won't affect our schedule at all.

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"I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. " - Mahatma Gandhi 

Muhammad and the Origins of Islam

Ideally, you should begin reading the Islam chapter in Huston Smith's The World's Religions. Please try to make some progress there by the time we next meet.

Islam: Empire of Faith Sometimes, things just work out. More than ten years ago, PBS debuted this series and the accompanying web site just as we began our study of Islam. Today, you will watch the first fifty-five minutes of the series that introduce Islam and the events in the life of Muhammad.

Here is a link to a YouTube posting of the first portion of the video. I am expecting you to watch the 54 minutes here.

Defining terms: bedouin, jinn, Mecca, Khadijah, Ka'aba, Yathrib (Medina), Qur'an (Koran), Five Pillars, muezzin

Islam: Empire of Faith- This is the web site produced by PBS to accompany the video. It's really good.

HOMEWORK for Islam - Day #2

The Christianity Short Essay questions are posted. Thursday, December 20th seems a logical due date to set for those.

Due dates and links for all other assignments can be found on the entry at the top of the blog.

 

We'll more or less wrap up our new material on Christianity today. As long as you don't annoy me too severely, my plan is to give you a copy of the Christianity quiz to do in class using notes/resources near the end of the hour.

Trends Within Modern Christianity: This is by no means a complete listing. Notice that we are largely avoiding denominational differences here.

DISCLAIMER: I suppose this probably isn't necessary, but I want to make it clear that these links are here to provide a variety of perspectives, and none of them carry any sort of endorsement by me or the class or the school or whatever... Consider them "primary" sources, and interpret them as you see fit.

Ecumenism: Ecumenical movements within Christianity strive to recognize the diversity among Christian groups and work toward reconciliation. (In its most idealistic format, an ecumenical movement may seek to do the same among different religious traditions.)

• Unitatis Redintegratio - Decree on Ecumenism - Vatican Conference II
  
• Ecumenism - Here's an update from a very Christian-based organization calling itself the Jeremiah Project
  
• World Council of Churches - Homepage

Evangelicalism: Broadly speaking, this refers to the teaching of Christian gospel in an attempt to convert others to Christianity. This tends to be associated with Protestant denominations. One modern manifestation of this movement has been the spread of "televangelists" with which many of you are familiar. Some of the most prominent (and controversial) have included Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Bakker, and Jerry Falwell.

• "What is an Evangelical?" - Here's an essay from the "Worldwide Church of God."
  
• "What does it mean to be born again?" - This is from a site called GotQuestions.org
  
• Current Televangelists - The TelevANGEList Network Here's a list of links to many of the current crop of televangelists.
  
• "Where does world-famous televangelist's money go?" - This is the transcript of an NBC News/Dateline report focusing on Benny Hinn, one of the most well-known of modern televangelists. He is perhaps best known for his claim of being a "faith healer."

Fundamentalism: Within any religion, a fundamentalist is one who interprets scripture and belief at a literal level. Again, this would be more commonly heard in reference to certain Protestant groups.

• Christian Fundamentalism - A List of Resources - Jerry Seay (College of Charleston)

This contains a number of resources, both from within and outside of the fundamentalist viewpoint.

Liberation Theology: "What must be done? as opposed to "What must I believe?" This movement grew out of the Catholic Church in the 1960s. It attempts to address and redress inequalities and oppression through a Christian perspective. Most of the early focus of the movement was in Latin America, but it has certainly spread to other areas. Later, other groups adopted the principles of the movement to seek similar reforms.

• Liberation Theology Resources Online
  
• Preliminary Notes on Liberation Theology - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (You might know him better as Pope Benedict XVI...)

HOMEWORK for next session - Monday, December 17th

You could begin making progress reading the Islam chapter in Huston Smith's The World's Religions.

The Christianity Short Essay questions are posted. Thursday, December 20th seems like the logical due date to set for those.

We'll look at either doing the Christianity quiz in class/ open notes/book on Friday or just sending it home with you. That decision will depend on how far we get with these last couple of topics.

Denominations influenced by Christianity: This is a tricky area. Generally speaking, members of these faiths label themselves as Christians. Many "mainstream" Christians consider these faiths to be on the "fringe," if they recognize them as Christian at all. The issue of the "label" is probably of secondary concern to an understanding of the beliefs themselves.

DO THIS: You will look at one on these three groups. In addition to the web resources, be sure to get the corresponding handout from me. (You can write on these or highlight them if you want.) Note that these articles were written by adherents (believers) of the faith, and be aware of the influence that might have upon their positions.

You and you group members need to prepare evidence for both sides of this question: Should the (insert group) be considered Christians? In other words, make the case for the faith being considered Christian. In addition, show us the reasons why others may dispute that claim. You should introduce us to the basics of the faith's history and founders, key beliefs, and unique features during your discussions.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: 

Although they are working to remove this label, these are the people commonly referred to as Mormons.

Official Website: This is the official webpage of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

lds-mormon.com: This site claims to objectively discuss "the good, the bad, and the ugly" regarding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. There are a number of resources linked here.

Jehovah's Witnesses:

Watchtower: This is the newly created "official" web site of Jehovah's Witnesses: As the title implies, this official site is maintained by those who are Jehovah's Witnesses.

Freeminds.org - formerly known as Watchers of the Watch Tower World: An organization calling itself Free Minds, Inc. maintains this web site, claiming to "keep an eye" on the Watchtower. The disclaimer at the bottom reveals more about their mission.

Christian Scientists: 

Note: This group is in NO way affiliated with the Church of Scientology. Do not confuse the two. In addition, this organization publishes The Christian Science Monitor, a highly regarded daily newspaper. Its coverage of domestic and international affairs is excellent, and the vast majority of it is not in any way directed by a religious agenda.

The Church of Christ, Scientist: This is the official web site of the organization whose members are commonly referred to as Christian Scientists.

The Testimony of Carolyn Poole: This is an article written by a woman who explains her reasons for leaving the church.

HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Friday, December 14th

You should be finishing up the Christianity chapter in Huston Smith's The World's Religions.

The Judaism Blog Entry and Buddhism Short Essay questions are now past due. Links and due dates for all assignments can be found at the top of the blog.

The Christianity Blog Entry should be posted by Monday, December 17th.

We can use the blog to hold "conversations" about reading in Huston Smith's The World's Religions. We'll certainly talk about some of the readings in class, but this gives you another chance to share your ideas. You may respond to one or more of the questions, and you can also react to comments posted by others. I'll expect a comment of one good paragraph or more. (To me, that means 5-6 sentences at a minimum.) You do not need to worry about perfect grammar, spelling and punctuation, but they should be understandable. Remember that this is a public site, and you are responsible for the content of your postings.

Assume that each comment is worth 5 points. (5 points for solid or better comments, 4 for comments somewhat short of expectations, 3 or fewer for last-minute, little to no effort postings, and no points for those who have not posted.)

All posts should be made to this blog entry NO LATER than the beginning of class time on Monday, December 17th to be considered on time.

1. What elements of Christianity did you find most intriguing or appealing, based on your reading? What was most difficult to accept or understand?

2. What is your understanding of the "Kingdom of God" that Jesus proclaimed? A place of psychic serenity? A human community of justice and equality? An otherworldly afterlife?

3. "We are given too few details to know exactly what happened after the crucifixion," says Smith (p. 329). What do you think might have happened?

4. What is the essential message of the "Good News" proclaimed by Christians? How does the "Christ of Faith" differ from the "historical Jesus"?

5. Central theological doctrines of Christianity include the Incarnation, the Atonement, and the Trinity (p. 339f). Which of these concepts, if any, is of particular interest to you? Why?

These questions are excerpted from Understanding the World's Religions: A Study Guide to Huston Smith's The World's Religions by Gary Kowalski.