HISTORY 5308: HISTORICAL STUDIES OF RELIGION

Holden Hall 141

Spring 2005

TEACHER

John Howe Office Hours: MTWThF 11:00-11:45 am;

Office: 143 Holden Hall MTWThF 2:00-2:15 pm;

Telephone: 742‑1004 ext. 233 M 9:30-10:00 pm; and by appointment

E‑Mail: john.howe@ttu.edu

Web: http://www2.tltc.ttu.edu/howe (the best way to access this syllabus)

PURPOSES OF THE COURSE

To acquire a general knowledge of historiographical traditions concerning religion. To introduce problems involved in comparative study of religions. To provide general context for student research on particular historical problems related to religion.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Required Texts

Capps, Walter. Religious Studies: The Making of a Discipline. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995.

Kippenberg, Hans. Discovering Religious History in the Modern Age. Princeton / Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2002.

Taylor, Mark C. (ed.) Critical Terms for Religious Studies. Chicago / London: University of Chicago Press, 1998.

Required Reading

This graduate topics class is primarily a reading class. There will be specific assignments for each class, either from the required books or from reading lists that will be provided. The "Reading and Class Schedule" indicates how the course will proceed. Since student participation is a major part of the course, it is important to complete all assignments on schedule.

Book Reviews

Over the course of the semester, each student will write seven book reviews. Each review should not be much longer than two double‑spaced typed pages. Students should choose to review a variety of different materials. Students should be prepared to report orally in class on the works they review.

Examination

In the middle of the course, on Monday, February 28, there will be an examination covering the readings from the first half of the course. Questions will be multiple choice, identification, and essay.

Research Proposal

Each student will, over the course of the semester, prepare a two- to four-page summary description (about 800‑1500 words) of a specific historical research project related to religious studies. This description should indicate why the problem deserves investigation, offer a thesis relating to it which requires testing, and present a procedure for testing it (noting the type of sources to be used and where they would be found). The aim of this assignment is not to produce a formal thesis or dissertation proposal but simply to stimulate reflection about how to conduct historical research on a religious topic. The project description must be received by May 11, but early submission is strongly encouraged since proposals received prior to May 2 will be corrected and returned--rewritten versions can be resubmitted for a higher grade.

Class Attendance

Successful completion of the course requires regular attendance. Students who will need to miss more than three classes should not be enrolled because they will not be able to do their best work and fully demonstrate their knowledge.

GRADING

The course grade will be computed as follows: 50% from the seven book reviews (i.e., 7% from each, plus a free 1%); 15% from the research proposal; 25% from the examination; and 10 % from class participation.

The class participation grade is computed on the basis of attendance, class preparation, and class contributions by dividing students up at the end of the semester into three groups: 1) outstanding; 2) generally average; and 3) significantly below acceptable standards. In computing the course grade, the first group gets the class participation component credited as an `A'; the second group has these points dropped out (so they neither help nor hurt); and the third group has them credited as an `F'.

READING AND LECTURE SCHEDULE

[M Jan 17 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, University Holiday]

[Tu Jan 18 Last day for student‑initiated Drop/Add Refund]

M Jan 24 Introductions / Historical Studies of Religion

Capps xiii‑xxiii, 1‑104; “Religion, Religions, Religious" in Taylor 269-84;

Kippenberg 1-23

[M Jan 28 Last Day to drop course and receive a refund]

M Jan 31 Debates on the Essence of Religion / On the Origin of Religion

Capps 105-56; Kippenberg 24-64, 175-86

M Feb 7 The Description of Religion

Capps 157-208; Kippenberg 136-74

M Feb 14 The Function of Religion