Religion in Asia (Rel 2315; Sections 023A; 023B; 023C) Monday/Wednesday, Period 5 (11:45 12:35), Matherly 18 Section Meetings on Friday Instructor: Ms. Jaya Reddy Office: Anderson 119 Office Hours: Mondays 2:00-5:00 p.m. Email: jreddy@ufl.edu Telephone: 352-273-2926 Teaching Assistant: Ms. Alysia (Ali) Radder Office: Anderson 009 Office Hours: Mondays & Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m. Email: aradder@ufl.edu (please use E-learningmail to contact me) Course Description This introductory course surveys a broad range of religious concepts and practices of various religions in Asia. Our survey will include Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism and Shinto. These religions have played important roles in the cultures, history and literatures of the Indian subcontinent, Southeast, Central and East Asia. Students will be exposed to the emergence of these religions and their interactions with other religions in Asia. As a broad survey course we will not be able to study the historical and cultural developments of each tradition in detail. We will pay more attention to meta-traditions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, and the geographical focus of this course will be India, China and Japan. There are no prerequisites or prior knowledge required of religion in Asia or of the languages, cultures and histories of Asia. However, students will be expected to be respectful, open and committed to the study of these traditions and our learning environment. Course Objectives By the end of the semester, students will be able to: identify traditions, beliefs and religious practices of major religions in Asia; demonstrate knowledge of the patterns in the spread of these religions in Asia. Evaluation Requirements 1. Mid-term Exam (30%). A fifty minute midterm exam will be held in class. It will consist of identifications, short answer responses, and one essay question. Review sheets will be provided in discussion sections. 2. Final Exam (30%). A fifty minute final exam will be held in class. Same format as the midterm. 3. Analytical Essay (15%). One five-page essay discussing religious elements and concepts represented in a film. Students may choose one of three films placed on reserve.
4. Quizzes (15%). Brief, short-answer or multiple-choice quizzes may be given at any point during the semester, either in lecture or on E-learning. Lecture quizzes will be unannounced ( pop quizzes). Online quizzes will be announced in lecture or via email at least one day in advance. Expect about six to eight quizzes during the semester. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped. 5. Class Participation and Attendance (10%). A class participation grade will be determined on the basis of attendance and active contribution in the classroom in Friday discussion sections. An attendance sheet will be distributed at the beginning of each class, and each absence will be penalized, except those will appropriate documentation of medical or other emergency. Informing the instructor or TA of an upcoming absence is a welcome courtesy, but this alone does not constitute an excused absence. Attendance Policy Two unexcused absences are permitted, but for each additional unexcused absence, 2 points will be deducted and 1 point will be deducted for every episode of tardiness. Leaving class early without the instructor's permission and disrespectful behavior (examples: talking during lectures, sleeping, answering cell- phones, text- messaging, reading the paper, and rudeness to the instructor, assistants or fellow students) will result in deductions for unexcused absences. Grades Individual grades will be in percentages only, until calculated as a letter grade for your course GPA at the end of the semester. Grade Proportion Grade Scale Grade Value Midterm Exam 100-93=A A 4.0 Final Exam 92-90=A- A- 3.67 Analytical Essay 89-86=B+ B+ 3.33 Quizzes 85-82=B B 3.00 Attendance & Participation 81-79=B- B- 2.67 78-75=C+ C+ 2.33 75-72=C C 2.00 71-69=C- C- 1.67 68-66=D+ D+ 1.33 65-62=D D 1.00 61-60=D- D- 0.67 59-0=E E 0.00 Policy Statements Academic Honesty is taken very seriously in this course. Please take a moment to re- familiarize yourself with the official UF guidelines and regarding academic honesty and the honor code: https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/advising/info/student- honor- code.aspx#honesty
Students found to have cheated, plagiarized, or otherwise violated the Honor Code in any assignment for this course will be prosecuted to the full extent of the university honor policy, including judicial action and the sanctions listed in the Student Honor Code. For serious violations, you will fail this course. Students with Disabilities will be accommodated to the fullest extent possible; if you have any special needs, please register with the office of the Dean of Students. See: http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/ Make-up exams will not be given in principle. They will be given, however, in cases of medical emergencies or scheduling conflicts caused by the University Registrar. In such cases appropriate documentation must be provided (doctor s note, etc.). Religious Observances Students who anticipate being absent from class due to the observation of a religious holiday not already accommodated by the university must provide notice of the date(s) to the instructor, in writing, no later than Friday, January 19, 2013. Student Athletes Student athletes must provide written documentation from their sport s administrator regarding dates of any classes they will miss due to participation in athletic events. A written record of all dates that will be missed must be submitted to the instructor no later than Friday, January 19, 2013. OTHER POLICIES, RULES, AND RESOURCES 1. Handing in Assignments: Assignments due in class should be handed directly to your TA. If you cannot attend class on the date due, or if papers are due on a date when there is no class, please turn papers in to J. Reddy s mailbox in the Department of Religion office, in Anderson 107. DO NOT slip papers under an office door. Please also keep a dated electronic copy of all your papers. 2. Late or Make-Up Assignments: You may receive an extension on an assignment only in extraordinary circumstances and with prior approval from the instructor. If an extension is not granted, the assignment will be marked down 1/3 grade (e.g., from B+ to B) for each day late. 3. Completion of All Assignments: You must complete all written and oral assignments and fulfil the requirement for class participation in order to pass the course. 4. Common Courtesy: Cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off during class. Students who receive or make calls or text messages during class will be asked to leave and marked absent for the day. The instructors may ask students engaging in disruptive behaviour, including but not limited to whispering or snoring, to leave the class. If that occurs, the student will be marked absent for the day. 5. Computer Use in Class: You may take notes on a laptop, tablet, phone, or similar device ONLY WITH PRIOR PERMISSION OF THE INSTRUCTOR. Such permission is usually granted only in cases of documented disabilities.
7. Counselling Resources: Resources available on-campus for students include the following: a. University Counselling Center, 301 Peabody Hall, 392-1575, personal and career counselling; b. Student Mental Health, Student Health Care Center, 392-1171, personal counselling; c. Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS), Student Health Care Center, 392-1161, sexual counselling; d. Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career development assistance and counselling. 8. Software Use: All faculty, staff, and students of the University are required and expected to obey the laws and legal agreements governing software use. Failure to do so can lead to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator. Because such violations are also against University policies and rules, disciplinary action will be taken as appropriate. Textbooks (Required) Miller, Barbara Stoller. The Bhagavad Gītā Krishna's Counsel in Time of War (Columbia University Press, 1986). [BG] Narayan, R. K. The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic (Penguin Classics, 2006). [RAM] Oxtoby, Willard G. ed., World Religions: Eastern Traditions, 3rd edition only (Oxford University Press, 2010). [WR] Supplementary Readings A series of required supplementary readings will be available for download via the Sakai e- Learning site for this course. Please note that there is no separate course packet available for purchase, and no handouts of these readings will be provided in class it is the responsibility of the student to download the appropriate files and remain current with the readings. Readings available on Sakai will be marked with a '*' in the course schedule below. Schedule of Readings Reading assignments are to be completed before coming to class. Please note that this schedule of readings is subject to minor modifications. All changes in the syllabus will be announced in class and posted on the Sakai site. Course Schedule Week 1: Introduction to the Course; Harappa & Vedic Civilizations M - 1/7 W - 1/9 F - 1/11 Introduction to the course. No reading WR Chapter 1; Harappa; Vedic Civilization : http://www.harappa.com WR 33-34.
Week 2: Religion in India; Vedic Traditions M 1/14 WR 30-39; *Fieser & Powers, pp. 8-18; W 1/16 F 1/18 Film: Altar of Fire (http://anth.alexanderstreet.com) Week 3: Brahmins, Renouncers, Yogins M 1/21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day; No Classes W 1/23 Upanishads, Vedanta Philosophies: WR 39-43; 55-58; *Olivelle, P. ed., Upanishads, pp. 266-277. *Miller, Barbara S. Yoga: Discipline of Freedom (Berkeley: University of California, 1996), pp. 3-18 F 1/25 Week 4: The Great Epics of India, The Ramayana M 1/28 W 1/30 F 2/1 WR 43-55; RAM; Finish RAM; In class film: Sita Sings the Blues Week 5: The Great Epics of India, The Mahabharata The Bhagwad Gita and Hindu Theism M 2/4 BG: Read the entire book. W 2/6 BG: Pay particular attention to chapters 1-6, 10-12 and 18. F 2/8 Week 6: The Path of Devotion: Bhakti; Modern movements M 2/11 Bhakti; WR 61-77; 79-93 W 2/13 Bhakti poets: *Hawley & Juergensmeyer, pp. 35-61(Kabir); pp. 119-139 (Mirabai). In class film: Sant Tukaram (1936). We will not be able to see the entire film in class; View the rest of the film before Friday s discussion section: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-4mvbeoope F 2/15
Week 7: Islam M 2/8 *Hussain, pp, 209-229; 242-248; W 2/20 *Hussain, pp. 235-242; 248-258; 261-269 F 2/22 Week 8: Sufi Traditions M 2/25 W 2/27 F 3/1 *Hussain, pp. 233-235; *Ernst & Lawrence, Sufi Martyrs of Love: The Chishti Order in South Asia and Beyond, pp. What is a Sufi Order? pp. 11-26. *Ernst & Lawrence, Sufi Martyrs of Love: The Chishti Order in South Asia and Beyond, pp. The Core Chisthi Practices, pp. 27-46. Week 9: Spring Break; No Classes. March 2 9 Enjoy the Break! Week 10: Jainism M 3/11 WR 146-172; W 3/13 *Fieser & Powers 56-69; In class Film: Ahimsa F 3/15 Week 11: Sikhism M 3/18 WR 108-124 W 3/20 F 3/22 WR 124-140; *Hawley & Juergensmeyer, pp. 68-90 (Nanak). Week 12: The Teachings of Gautama Buddha M 3/25 WR 178-201, *Fieser & Powers, pp. 80-97 W 3/27 F 3/29 In class film: The Story of Buddha WR 205-211; 227-229; *Fieser & Powers, pp. 98-108 Week 13: Buddhism Beyond South Asia M 4/1 Theravada in Sri Lanka & Southeast Asia: WR 202-205; 224-227; 236-243
W 4/3 Vajrayana in Tibet: WR 220-224; 229-231; *Fieser & Powers, pp. 108-117. F 4/5 Week 14: Buddhism in China and Korea M 4/8 WR 211-217; WR 236-237, 243-244; 256-266; W 4/10 F 4/12 *de Bary, The Buddhist Tradition in India, China and Japan, Chapter 5, Buddhism Comes to China, pp. 125-138. Week 15: Confucianism and Daoism M 4/15 WR 266-276; 286-294; *Fieser & Powers, pp. 145-166. W 4/17 WR 294-304; *Fieser & Powers, pp. 173-186, 189-205 F 4/19 Final Section Week 16: Japanese Religions M 4/22 WR 330-341; 350-354; 217-220 W 4/24 April 25-26 Last day of classes; Review/Conclusion. Examination Reading Days No Classes Final Exam: April 29-May 3