HUMAN SPIRITUALITY 108 Fall 2014 25751 905 Tuesday 4 6 40 p m MCALC 2100 Esther Nelson Instructor Office Hours Tuesday 3 p m and by appointment 14 North Laurel St Room 1 Telephone 827 3409 Email enelson vcu edu Murray Ellison Instructional Aide Email ellisonms2 vcu edu Course Description This course examines the nature of spirituality as well as the varieties of ways people have expressed their spirituality throughout time and place We will look at sacred stories scripture rituals communities symbols and concepts of the holy sacred all of which are or can be expressions of spirituality Our approach will be mainly through the use of literature Course Objectives 1 To enable students to think critically about religion spirituality along with its role in society and culture 2 To help students understand that religion spirituality does not function independently in society and culture but is inextricably connected with history geography economics and politics 3 To grasp and own a vocabulary as well as concepts that enable students to navigate in the academic discipline of religious studies 4 To show the many and wide variety of ways that humans express themselves religiously and spiritually Required Texts What is Religious Studies A Journey of Inquiry Kristin M Swenson Esther R Nelson Pieces of White Shell A Journey to Navajoland Terry Tempest Williams Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe The Rapture of Canaan Sheri Reynolds Siddhartha Hermann Hesse COURSE PACKET FROM UPTOWN COLOR ASK FOR PACKET 10 1205 W Main St Phone 804 353 2679 Texts with the exception of the packet from Uptown Color are available from the VCU Bookstore Texts undoubtedly can be purchased more cheaply in any number of local used book stores or online I encourage you to do so Each text serves as another teacher and should be read with care The weekly quizzes to a large degree although not exclusively will be based on material from our readings Grading 1 Quizzes 75 There will be twelve 12 quizzes during the semester one every week I will drop the two 2 lowest grades Your final quiz grade will be the average of ten 10 quizzes QUIZZES CANNOT BE MADE UP It is your responsibility to keep track of your quizzes as they are handed back 2 Final Exam 25 There will be a final exam on the last day of class December 2 2014 This exam matching and short answer will cover material we ve studied throughout the semester The best way to prepare for quizzes and the final exam is to attend class be alert during class and keep up with assigned readings Attendance This course is a co operative venture Your presence in class as well as your engagement with the material is expected Attendance will be noted each class period Missing class for any reason can and probably will impact your grade negatively Illness and emergencies may make you eligible to petition the ARAC committee for a late withdrawal Students are responsible for the material covered during any absence s NOTE There are no EXCUSED absences only absences CELL PHONES SHOULD BE TURNED OFF DURING CLASS Important Dates August 27 Last day of add drop and late registration September 5 Deadline for students to provide advance written notification to instructors of intent to observe religious holidays October 31 Last day to withdraw from a course with a mark of W December 2 Final Exam All students are responsible for the information on the subjects listed below This information can be found at www provost vcu edu faculty resources academic affairs syllabus statements 1 VCU Email Policy 2 VCU Honor System Plagiarism and Academic Integrity 3 Student Conduct in the Classroom 4 Students with Disabilities 5 Statement on Military Short Term Training or Deployment 6 Absences for Students Representing the University 7 Campus Emergency Information 8 Important Dates 9 VCU Mobile 10 Class registration required for attendance 11 Withdrawal from Classes 12 Student Financial Responsibility Spirituality exists wherever we struggle with the issues of how our lives fit into the greater scheme of things This is true when our questions never give way to specific answers or give rise to specific practices such as prayer or meditation We encounter spiritual issues every time we wonder where the universe comes from why we are here or what happens when we die We also become spiritual when we become moved by values such as beauty love or creativity that seem to reveal a meaning or power beyond our visible world An idea or practice is spiritual when it reveals our personal desire to establish a felt relationship with the deepest meanings or powers governing life Robert C Fuller Spiritual But Not Religious RELIGION A set of beliefs practices and social structures grounded in a people s experience of the holy that accommodates their emotional social intellectual and meaning giving needs FORM SUBSTANCE FUNCTION Beliefs Scripture myths symbols Holy Emotional hope order Practices rituals ceremonies Harmonizing subordinating Social relationships the self to the holy Social structures organization leadership Intellectual meaninggiving needs Information about the Religious Studies Program at VCU The Religious Studies Program in the School of World Studies is guided by the idea that becoming knowledgeable about humanity s religious traditions is vital to promoting global understanding cooperation compassion and community Through academic teaching scholarship study abroad programs and public engagement Religious Studies faculty and students are building bridges to a socially just and sustainable world The advising office link is https booknow appointmentplus com 4hn6ytm6 10 Major requirements 33 credits RELS 108 Human Spirituality 3 RELS INTL 311 Religions of the World Eastern religions 3 RELS INTL 312 Religions of the World Western religions 3 RELS 340 INTL 341 Global Ethics and World Religions 3 RELS 490 Senior Capstone Seminar 3 Religion society and culture electives select two courses from list 6 below RELS electives select an additional four courses from list below with at 12 least 6 credits at the 400 level TENTATIVE SCHEDULE Fall 2014 Readings are due on the date indicated August 26 First day of class Introduction Video What Do You Believe September 2 Course Packet Spiritual or Religious False Dichotomy Symbol Ritual Myth and Metaphor The Appearance of the Sacred Video Divining the Divine Quiz 1 September 9 What is Religious Studies A Journey of Inquiry Course Packet The Color Purple in conjunction with chapter 4