HISTORY 5308: HISTORICAL STUDIES OF RELIGION
Summer I 2002
TEACHER
John Howe
Office Hours: MTWThF 10:00-11:00; MTWThF
2:00-2:15; and by appointment
Office: 143 Holden Hall; Telephone:
742-1004 ext. 233; 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 a framework to help
orient work on particular historical problems related to
religion.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Required Texts
Walter Capps. Religious Studies: The Making of a
Discipline. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995.
Photocopies.
Required Reading
This graduate topics class is primarily a reading class.
There will be specific assignments for each class, either from
the required book 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 have all assignments completed
on time.
Book Reviews
Over the course of the semester, each student will write six 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 Friday, June 14, 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 600-1200 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 a 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 one might conduct historical research on a
religious topic. This proposal must be received by Friday, June
28, but it can be submitted at any time over the course of the
semester: early submission is strongly encouraged, since problems
could be fixed and the proposal resubmitted up until June 28.
Class Attendance
Successful completion of the course requires regular
attendance. Students who will need to miss more than four classes
should not be enrolled because they will not be able to do their
best work.
GRADING
The course grade will be computed as follows: 45% from the six book reviews (i.e., 7.5% from each); 20% 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
W May 29 Introduction to Course / Historical Studies of Religion
Capps xiii-xxii, 1-52; Jonathan Z. Smith, "Religion,…"
[M Jun 3 Last day for student-initiated Drop/Add Refund]
Th May 30 The Essence of "Religion"
Capps 53-104
F May 31 Debates on the Origin of Religion
Capps 105-208
[M Jun 3 Last Day to drop course and receive a refund]
M Jun 3 The Description of Religion
Capps 209-265
Tu Jun 4 Language of Religion
W Jun 5 Traditions of Mysticism / Reports
Catherine Bell, "Performance"; Turner, "Are There Universals of Performance…?
Th Jun 6 Study of Ritual Practices
Howe, "Conversion of the Physical World" and "Creating Symbolic Landscapes";
Gill, "Territory"
F Jun 7 Sacred Geography
M Jun 10 Religious Biography: Hagiography and Testimonial / Reports
Peter Brown, "The Holy and the Grave…"
Tu Jun 11 Popular Religion
Read from List # 3: Civil Religion
W Jun 12 Civil Religion / Reports
Capps 267-348
Th Jun 13 The Comparison of Religions
Study
F Jun 14 Examination
Read from List #4: History of Religion--Asia
M Jun 17 Historical Study of Religion—Asia
Read from List #4: History of Religion--Asia
Tu Jun 18 Historical Study of Religion—Asia / Reports (Pelley)
Encyclopedia of Religion 1:60-69 and 89-96; 3:411-18
W Jun 19 Historical Study of Religion—Africa
Encyclopedia of Religion 3:387-399; 13:486-99 and 506-512
Th Jun 20 Historical Study of Religion--Latin America
Read from List #5: History of Religion—Europe
F Jun 21 Historical Study of Religion—Europe (Troyansky)
Read from List #5: History of Religion—Europe
M Jun 24 Historical Study of Religion—Europe / Reports (Rainger)
Read from List #6: History of Religion--U.S.
Tu Jun 25 Historical Study of Religion--United States (Iber)
Read from List #6: History of Religion--U.S.
W Jun 26 Historical Study of Religion--United States / Reports (Stoll)
Th Jun 27 Overview of the Problems Posed by Religious Studies
Finish Research Proposals
F Jun 28 11-1:30 FINAL: Pizza / Discussion of Proposals