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Professor Jacqueline Mariņa Philosophy 331/Religion 231
Spiritual Foundations of Judaism, Christianity and Islam In this course we will be exploring the three major Western traditions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam from a theological perspective. The belief systems of each of these traditions, their understanding of human transformation, and the forms of life attending them will be analyzed. We will be examining what each of these traditions has to say about 1) The relation of God and world as envisioned in the doctrine of Creation; 2) Philosophical Anthropology (doctrine of the person) 3) Revelation 4) The Nature of Human Salvation and 5) The Nature of God. This examination will be conducted from a comparative perspective. We will proceed by looking at what each tradition has to say about each topic and compare their answers. This course will require a good amount of reading (an average of 50 pages a week) and thinking. Do not take the course if you are merely looking to fulfill a requirement and you think this class will be an easy way to do so. For many of you, this course will no doubt challenge the beliefs you hold. For some, this may present an opportunity for a deepening of their faith; for others, it will be an occasion for offense. Please do not take this course if you think you will find yourself among the latter group. Required texts can be bought at Von's. Other material can be found on the links on this syllabus posted on the course web site. Please make sure that you make yourself a hard copy of this material for use during class and discussion sections (recitations).
Course Requirements: You will be required to write two short (3-5) page papers on assigned topics. While you will have some choice regarding which papers to write, you must write something on two different religions. You will have three opportunities to turn in a paper. If you chose to write on the first set of paper topics, that paper will be due October 5th; papers on the second set of paper topics will be due November 5th; and papers on the last set will be due on the last day of class. You can find guidelines for writing an academic essay here. There will be a midterm and a final, and a few short quizzes will be given throughout the semester to ensure that you are keeping up with the reading. Each paper will be worth 24% of your grade; the midterm and final will be worth 15% each, and your quiz average will be worth 20%.I will ask for a photo to help me remember your name due the Wednesday of the third week of class; that photo will be worth the remaining 2% of your grade. Attendance is required. You can miss two classes, no questions asked, without penalty during the course of the semester. After that, you must present a valid excuse. If you don't you we reserve the right to dock five points off your final average for each class missed. While these measures may seem draconian, they are for your own protection. The students who miss class most often are also the students that generally do quite poorly. Office Hours: I will be available to see you on Wednesdays and most Fridays after 1:30 p.m. If this time is not convenient, you can either see the teaching assistant or schedule another appointment with me. My office is located in LAEB, Room 7134. My phone number is 494-3979. You may also reach me by e-mail at: marinaj@purdue.edu. The Teaching Assistant for the course is Paul Gould. His e-mail is pgould@purdue.edu, and his office hours are:Tuesdays 3-4 and Wednesdays 9-10. His office is located in BRNG 7154. In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines, and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances. Check this web page on a regular basis to keep up with new announcements. Links to the Schedule of Readings: |
What do Jews Believe? The Spiritual Foundations of
Judaism, David S. Ariel (New York: Schocken
books, 1995).