GEP Category ObjectivesHON 340: Religion and Freedom: Can American Democracy Survive?Dr. Jason BivinsFall 2022, 3 CreditsT/Th 1:30-2:45 Dabney Hall 330Email: [email protected] Office phone: 919-515-6102Office: Withers Hall 447 Office hours: T/Th 12-1 and by appointmentCourse Description: For a variety of reasons, “religion” is one of the most controversial subjects in the modern world. Beyond sensationalism and outrage, though, modern societies have taken shape in part through complex debates about the role (or lack thereof) of religion in public life. At the core of these considerations are varied understandings of the relation between religion and freedom, terms which themselves have a wide range of meanings. This course explores these differing understandings by considering: legal arguments proposing8freedom of8religion, and the challenges of religious pluralism; arguments urging freedom from8religion, in defense of secular public life; and we will do these things through a rigorous historical and conceptual examination of the great issue of our time, the precipitous decline of democracy in America.Prerequisite: No prerequisites. Restricted to University Honors Program students. Open to other students by permission of the UHP.Corequisite: None.Enrollment restriction: None, other than as listed above.Course Materials: All readings are linked below or on the course Moodle page.Covid-related Resources and Policies:Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, public health measures have been implemented across campus.8 Please stay current through the Protect the Pack website (https://www.ncsu.edu/coronavirus/). Like you, I’m hoping that we are past the masking phase. But in order to make sure that’s the case, please be mindful if you are exposed. I will work with you to make sure you’re up to date on all course materials.Course Attendance: NC State attendance policies can be found at:8 https://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-03-attendance-regulations/ .8 Please refer to this course’s attendance, absence, and deadline policies below for additional details. If you are quarantined or otherwise need to miss class because you are ill or caring for someone who is, you will not be penalized regarding attendance or class participation. However, you will be expected to develop a plan to keep up with your coursework during any such absences.8Technology Requirements:% This course requires particular technologies to complete coursework.8 Be sure to review the syllabus for these expectations, and see go.ncsu.edu/syllabus-tech-requirements to find out more about technical requirements for your course. If you need access to additional technologicalsupport, please contact8the Libraries’ Technology Lending Service:8 https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/devices.GEP Category ObjectivesHON 340 is part of the following General Education Programs: Interdisciplinary StudiesGEP objective 1: Distinguish between the distinct approaches of two or more disciplines.- Course outcome: Students will distinguish between the critical analysis of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry (Literature), and the historical and discursive approaches of Religious Studies.- Means of assessment for outcome: Submission of writing assignments which summarize and reflect upon course readings. Ex: How and why do the authors of this week’s readings express the concept of “freedom” differently?GEP objective 2: Identify and apply authentic connections between two or more disciplines.- Course outcome: Students will draw connections between the critical analysis of fiction and poetry (Literature), and the historical and discursive approaches of Religious Studies.- Means of assessment for outcome: Submission of writing assignments which summarize and reflect upon course readings. Ex: How does the author’s basic understanding of religion shape how he or she understands and describes the public limits of free exercise? GEP objective 3: Explore and synthesize the approaches or views of two or more disciplines.- Course outcome: Students will interpret the texts we study through the lenses provided by larger historical processes and theoretical models.- Means of assessment for outcome: Successful completion of in-class written examinations. Ex:Describe the changing role and interpretation of the canon in Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity.Course Assignments:PLEASE SUBMIT ALL COURSE ASSIGNMENTS VIA EMAIL TO MEParticipation and Discussion (20%): You must show up to class well-prepared and ready to participate and listen well. This means completing all assigned reading prior to class. Classroom participation is evaluated on the following basis:A: Contributions are frequent and reflect excellent preparation. Consistently volunteers answers and asks questions that assist the learning of others. Class activities are enthusiastic and reflect diligence.B: Contributions are frequent and reflect thorough preparation. Often volunteers answers to questions. Frequently asks questions that assist the learning of the class as a whole. Class activities are approachedwith seriousness and diligence.C: Contributions are infrequent but reflect adequate preparation. Rarely volunteers answers to questions. Infrequently asks questions, but they are appropriate and helpful to class. Class activities are approachedwith diligence.D: Participates little or not at all in class.F: Contributions in class may be frequent but reflect a lack of preparation or are disruptive of the academic environment. Class activities are approached without seriousness and in a way that is disruptive to others in class.Weekly Reading Summaries/Analyses (10%): EVERY week, you will submit a 250-500-word critical response to the week’s readings (i.e. both Tuesday and Thursday readings for the week of submission). These must be submitted via email NO LATER THAN 5:00 p.m. each Wednesday. Please send to me and to your teaching fellow. These must demonstrate not only that you have read and understood the assigned texts, but that you have reflected on them, raised questions about them, and attempted to situate them in the ongoing conversations we develop. Each response must also include 2 questions I will select in advance to guide class discussion that Thursday. Fruitful questions might ask: “What is the social setting the author is responding to?” “How might we compare one reading to another?” “What assumptions shape this argument, and are they legitimate?” or “What does the