HUMAN SPIRITUALITY 108Fall 2014 (#25751 905)Tuesday 4 - 6:40 p.m.--MCALC 2100Esther Nelson (Instructor): Office Hours: Tuesday 3 p.m. and by appointment 14 North Laurel St., Room 1 Telephone: 827-3409 Email: [email protected] Ellison (Instructional Aide): Email: [email protected] 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 Objectives1. 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.NelsonPieces of White Shell A Journey to Navajoland Terry Tempest WilliamsThings Fall Apart Chinua AchebeThe Rapture of Canaan Sheri ReynoldsSiddhartha Hermann HesseCOURSE PACKET FROM UPTOWN COLOR--ASK FOR PACKET #101205 W. Main St., Phone: 804 353-2679Texts, 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.Grading1. 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.AttendanceThis course is a co-operative venture. Your presence in class, as well as your engagementwith 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 DatesAugust 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 ExamAll 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-statements1. VCU Email Policy2. VCU Honor System: Plagiarism and Academic Integrity3. Student Conduct in the Classroom4. Students with Disabilities5. Statement on Military Short-Term Training or Deployment6. Absences for Students Representing the University7. Campus Emergency Information8. Important Dates9. VCU Mobile10. Class registration required for attendance11. Withdrawal from Classes12. 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 FUNCTIONBeliefs (Scripture, myths, Holy Emotional (hope, order)symbols)Practices (rituals, Harmonizing/subordinating Social (relationships) ceremonies) the self to the holySocial structures Intellectual/meaning- (organization, leadership) giving needsInformation about the Religious Studies Program at VCUThe 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.appointment-plus.com/4hn6ytm6/10 Major requirements (33 credits) RELS 108 Human Spirituality 3RELS/INTL 311 Religions of the World (Eastern religions) 3RELS/INTL 312 Religions of the World (Western religions) 3RELS 340/INTL 341 Global Ethics and World Religions 3RELS 490 Senior Capstone Seminar 3Religion, society, and culture electives (select two courses from list below)6RELS electives (select an additional four courses from list below, with atleast 6 credits at the 400-level)12TENTATIVE SCHEDULEFall 2014Readings are due on the date indicatedAugust 26 First day of class--IntroductionVideo--What Do You Believe?September 2 Course Packet Spiritual or Religious? False Dichotomy