in this subject we will examine what religions are, what science is, and some major examples of each. we will ask questions about how each discipline goes about posing and answering major questions of importance to its practitioners. we will also discuss how these disparate ways of examining the world and its meanings might be reconciled, and might focus on similar topics but bring different ways of "thinking" to the analysis of those topics. any question about the complex interaction of these disciplines is fair game for discussion, and we must strive not to offend each other when we raise these questions.
class meetings are tues. and thurs. 2:30-4:00 in 24-402.
i expect that students will find topics of particular interest to them which they will research to some depth and then report on to the rest of the class, as well as write a term paper on that is due on the last day of class.
students will also give a number of oral presentations on topics from the readings which will be written up as one page papers. there will be about 5-7 of these one page papers.
the readings for this subject will be drawn mainly from the various books listed here. they are available at the HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL BOOKSTORE (look at www.mapquest.com for a map of how to get there if the directions are inadequate).
- moojan momen, the phenomenon of religion: a thematic approach, (oneworld, oxford, 1999)
- john esposito, islam: the straight path, (oxford, new york, 1998).
- kenneth cragg, ed., readings from the quran,(sussex, portland, 1999).
- stephen mitchell, trans., bhagavad gita,(harmony, new york, 2000)
- roger eastman, ed., the ways of religion: an introduction to the major traditions, (oxford, new york, 1999).
- lee smolin, the life of the cosmos, (oxford u. press, new york, 1997).
- ernst mayr, this is biology, (harvard u. press, cambridge, ma., 1997)
assessment will be on the basis of your performance in the following:
- class discussion,
- oral reports on readings and their one page summaries,
- written work of at least 15 pages, due on last day of class (can be one or two papers)PAPERS
- oral report on your research project during last weeks of class
READINGS
2/4,6 -- what is religion, how is it studied?
momen, introduction; chap. 2 for world religions in a nutshell; chap. 4 on religious experience; pp. 148-53 on langauge of faith.
students to report in class and write one page on a selection from chap. 3, theories of religion; chap. 5, pathways to religious experience; chap. 7, scientific understanding....
2/11,13 -- islam
esposito, islam -- the straight path, especially chaps. 1-3; if you are particularly interested in islam in the modern world read chaps. 4-6. we will discuss how to incorporate these.
cragg, readings from the qur'an, focus particularly on readings dealing with god and his praise, god in creation, and prophets.
students will choose a passage from the qur'an on one of these topics and discuss it in class, and write a page on it.
2/13 -- karim lakhani will discuss aspects of islam
look at these websites before he comes:
1)How the Saudis betrayed Islam tinyurl.com/56ml
2)Islamic Studies' Young Turks chronicle.com/free/v49/i03/03a01401.htm
3)Question and Answers with Khaled Abou El Fadl chronicle.com/colloquylive/2002/09/muslim/
4)The Place of Tolerance in Islam tinyurl.com/5e9j
2/18("monday")
2/20,25,27 -- islam
cragg, focus on readings on muhammad, faith, society, judgement.
students will choose a passage from the qur'an on one of these topics and discuss it in class, and write a page on it.
3/4,6 -- hinduism
eastman, ways of religion , pp. 13-75.
mitchell, trans.,bhagavad gita
students to report in class and write one page on a selection from these works.
3/11,13-- hinduism
students to report in class and write one page on a selection from the bhagavad gita .
3/18,20-- a quick look at judaism and christianity as comparisons to the foregoing.
eastman,ways of religion, 286-335, 336-395.in addition to these selections in the eastman book, look at the following in any bible you want.
genesis 1-3; 17-22; 25:12-18. some of the important early stories
exodus 19-21; 25. the basics of judaism
amos 2-4. a typical reformer
john 6. a mystical view of christ
acts 25-26. paul's conversion and defence of his behavior
romans, in entirety. the basics of christianity
3/20 -- DUE: one page summary of final paper and list of some sources.
3/25,27 -- spring break.
4/1,3 -- physics, lecture by peter dourmashkin, senior lecturer in physics,
read: smolin, the life of the cosmos, 1-72; 257-300.
students to report in class and write one page on a selection from this works.
4/8,10 -- how science works
read: mayr, this is biology 24-63;
barbour, religion and science, 77-161 (on reserve) -- includes some interesting comparisons to religion
students to report in class and write one page on a selection from these works.
4/15 -- holiday
4/17 -- biology
read: mayr, this is biology, 1-23, 64-106, 248-270.
students to report in class and write one page on a selection from this works.
4/22 -- human nature, barbour, 253-280.
4/24 -- religion and science interacting --- barbour, 281-330.
4/29, 5/1 -- reports
5/6,8 -- reports
5/13,15 -- where have we been?
ALL PAPERS DUE, WEDS. MAY 15