COURSE SYLLABUS

RELI 2040-40 Religions of the Middle East: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
RELI 2040 40 (CRN: 15949)
Fall 2018
CHG <>
ONLINEhttp://drsethward.000webhostapp.com/2018/fall/COURSE_SYLLABUS.RME.Fall.2018.htm
OnlineUW: https://uwyo.instructure.com/courses/513024

Instructor: Seth Ward

Office Phone: 307 -766-WARD (9273). E-mail(s): sward@uwyo.edu
Mobile: 303-981-7561 E-Fax: 678-550-6288
Office: ROSS HALL 136 Office Hours:
Tu 4-5 p.m. (Preliminary)
Th 9:30-10:30 a.m. or by appointment.
Course Shell (Canvas /Wyocourses): Textbooks:
Online UW: https://uwyo.instructure.com/courses/513024 UW Bookstore Link (Campus)
UW Bookstore Link (Online UW)
SI Leader: Online UW SI Leader Office Hours:
Jacob Holden SI Sessions:
Instructor Website: http://drsethward.000webhostapp.com/ Link to display/download syllabus:
LINK

Sections in this syllabus:

BASIC COURSE AND SYLLABUS INFORMATION
GENERAL POLICIES
TEXT(S) AND READINGS
COURSE REQUIREMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS
COURSE OUTLINE

BASIC COURSE AND SYLLABUS INFORMATION

Course Description: RELI 2040. Religions of the Middle East: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. 3. [(Prerequisites:
none), CH, G<>] Analyzes origins and early years of three major religions that arose in the Middle East: Judaism,
Christianity and Islam. Looks at historical development, political and cultural context, and structure of each religion.
Prerequisites: None

This course is offered both Online and on Campus Classroom Fall 2016. CRNs are above.
This term the Online UW and Campus Classroom sections plan to follow the basic structure, sequence and requirements.
Nevertheless, some differences are inherent in that the Online UW sections are asynchronous and “virtual,” rather than
based on classroom meetings.
This syllabus was developed jointly for all sections and shows assignments, requirements and schedules for both
sections except as noted in this syllabus, or in the Canvas / Wyocourses for the relevant section. The structure of Online
and Classroom should be more or less the same.
This syllabus is designed for online viewing, and may be accessed at http://www.uwyo.edu/sward/2016/fall or in the
Canvas Course Shell. It can be printed directly from the online display.
This course is not available via WyoCast.
Canvas / Wyocourses, electronic resources and communication: We will be using Canvas / WyoCourses for electronic
support, even in the Campus Classroom section. The link to log into this course is given at the top of this syllabus. There
are a number of other ways to log into Canvas, for example http://uwyo.instructure.com, http://wyocourses.uwyo.edu, or
http://www.uwyo.edu/outreach/ocp/online-uw/index.html, or from a button inside WyoWeb. With few exceptions, such as
references to Canvas Help Documents, we will use “Canvas” and “Wyocourses” interchangeably when referring to the
electronic course shell.

Supplemental Instruction (SI): Supplemental Instruction (SI) will be offered for this course. SI is a program of the
ECTL. Make use of this opportunity! This will consist of out-of-class help sessions led by a student who
has previously taken and succeeded in this class. You are strongly encouraged to attend as many SI
sessions as possible – students who attend SI tend to earn better overall grades, get higher exam scores, and
understand the material better. The specific meeting times will be determined at a later date and
communicated in-class and via UW email.

2003 University Studies Program: Global Awareness (G) and Cultural Context-Humanities (CH). This course
fulfills the Global Awareness (G) and the Cultural Context-Humanities (CH) requirement of the 2003 University Studies
Program. Global Awareness (G) courses strive to broaden our perspectives through the exploration of viewpoints from
other societies, cultures, religions, or geopolitical regions. With an eye on both historical and contemporary experience,
Global Awareness courses are designed to encourage our ability to compare and contrast unique characteristics of world
cultures, challenge our assumptions about the ways of the world, understand the interconnectedness of global and local
concerns, appreciate aesthetic and artistic traditions, and to help us understand and embrace global cultural diversity.
Cultural Context-Humanities (CH) courses address ideas we have about our nature, our place in the world, and the ethical
dimensions of our actions. Inherent in the humanities is a values driven examination of human life. Through the study of
written, oral, performative, and visual texts, CH courses help us to learn how to examine, analyze, and engage original
and/or secondary humanities materials carefully and critically, and to understand and think clearly about human beliefs
and imaginative ideas.

Department of Religious Studies

Religious Studies webpage: http://www.uwyo.edu/relstds/
Instructor Webpage: http://uwyo.edu/sward/
Facebook: Religious Studies is on Facebook: Like
us! University of Wyoming Department of Religious Studies .

GENERAL POLICIES

Updated for Fall 2016: http://www.uwyo.edu/sward/2016/fall/course_syllabus.general_policies.htm

Disability Statement: If you have a physical, learning, or psychological disability and require accommodations, please
let the instructor know as soon as possible. You must register with, and provide documentation of your disability
to University Disability Support Services (UDSS) in SEO, room 330 Knight Hall. Academic honesty is expected, and
dishonesty will not be tolerated

Accommodations, sponsored and other absences: Students and faculty have a right to accommodations for disabilities
and recognition of religious holiday observances, observance of academic integrity, professional demeanor, and an
environment free from discrimination and harassment. This course follows standard University policies in these
matters. If you have a physical, learning, or psychological disability and require accommodations, please let the
instructor know as soon as possible, and register with, and provide documentation of your disability to University
Disability Support Services (UDSS). University sponsored absences are cleared through the Office of Student Life.
Medical documentation is presented directly to the Instructor. Bring documentation regarding class missed for medical
appointments, official University activities, or use of counseling or other services directly to the instructor in a timely
manner. If you cannot be in class for any reason, email notification to Instructor is appreciated.

Counseling, health and other services: The University of Wyoming makes a point of offering many services to students.
Please do not be hesitant to take advantage of these services, and please make and keep your appointments with them.
These and other services can make all the difference! Among them are:
University Disability Support Services: 307-766-6189, 109 Knight Hall, udss@uwyo.edu, www.uwyo.edu/udss/
University Counseling Center: 307-766-2187, 341 Knight Hall, uccstaff@uwyo.edu, www.uwyo.edu/ucc/
UCC After-Hours 307-766-8989.
UW Veterans Services Center: 307-766-6908, uw-vets@uwyo.edu, www.uwyo.edu/vetservices/.
Student Health: 307-766-2130.
Dean of Students: 307-766-3296. dos@uwyo.edu.
Wyoming Institute for Disabilities http://uwyo.edu/wind
Wyoming Assistive Technology Resources http://www.uwyo.edu/wind/watr/
STOPViolence: 307-766-3296, After hours 307-766-7867
National Suicide Help Line 1-800-784-2433.

Many of these services are completely confidential. Het and retain some sort of documentation from any of these offices
or for medical or personal reasons, even if it just confirms you were seen. Discuss these issues with the Instructor
promptly, and be prepared to submit documentation in a timely manner.

Academic Honesty: The University of Wyoming is built upon a strong foundation of integrity, respect and trust. All
members of the university community have a responsibility to be honest and the right to expect honesty from others. Any
form of academic dishonesty is unacceptable to our community and will not be tolerated [from the UW General Bulletin].
Teachers and students should report suspected violations of standards of academic honesty to the instructor, department
head, or dean. Other University regulations can be found at: http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/legal/universityregulations.htm.

Other Resources:
 Explore many services available to help you succeed, including tutoring, walk-in help, writing, and more:
http://www.uwyo.edu/studentaff/step/tutoring/

 CONTACTS for Learn, STEP Tutoring, Early Alert, Career Advising: April Heaney, AprilH@uwyo.edu is
director of Learn. Send STEP tutor center questions to Jess Willford, jwillfo1@uwyo.edu or
stepatuw@uwyo.edu. Early Alert questions to Dave Micus, dmicus@Uwyo.edu; Center for Advising questions to
Jo Chytka, jchytka@uwyo.edu.

 The Writing Center in Coe 302 is able to help writers at any stage of the writing process. With a focus on
teaching and learning, the Writing Center is not a "fix-it" shop; instead they help writers identify, articulate, and
implement possible solutions for struggles they face in their writing. The Writing Center is generally open M-F,
9am to 5pm, and you can make an appointment by stopping in or calling 307.766.5250. uwyo.edu/writingcenter.
 Oral Communication Center (uwyo.edu/cojo/occ) works to strengthen oral communication.
 Tutoring. http://www.uwyo.edu/seo/sss/tutoring-services/ .
 Early Alert gives students a chance to see a progress report of class grades within the first 4-5 weeks of the
semester. At that time, you will be invited to view your Early Alert report in WYOWEB. When you click on the
Students tab in WYOWEB, you will see Quick Links on the left side bar, go to EARLY ALERT grades. You will
see either a P for pass, or a D or F grade for each of your courses. If you have withdrawn from the class you will
see a W. Be sure to talk to your instructor if you have a D or F grade. Remember, this is a progress report—not a
final grade! This is an ideal time to visit with your instructor and/or your advisor to talk about your options and
avenues for support in the class (call 766-2398 for the Center for Advising & Career Services).
 STEP Tutor Center: The STEP Tutor Center in Coe Library offers free evening tutoring for over 40 courses.
Visit Coe Library between 6:00-10:00pm (Sun. – Thurs.) and see the STEP website for full details about tutoring
opportunities and other UW resources: www.uwyo.edu/STEP.
 Student Success Workshops: Come to Coe Library Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m. to hear strategies for exam preparation,
time management, breaking bad habits, note taking, and more. Workshops are held in classroom 121 on the lower
level of Coe. For a full schedule of workshops, see
http://www.uwyo.edu/studentaff/step/tutoring/workshops.pdf.

Syllabus:
 Updating this syllabus: The instructor may make changes to the syllabus as the course proceeds. These
changes may be announced in class (Classroom courses) or in Canvas/Wyocourses (Classroom courses or Online
UW) or via email, and an online version of the syllabus may be updated to reflect them.
Flexibility in class structure is crucial, which sometimes means that deadlines must also be
flexible. Nevertheless, deadlines can be very important: both classroom exercises and deadlines for ongoing
projects. Please contact me if you foresee any problem.
Format: This syllabus was designed as a Word Document and is available online as an HTML file. Replace
the .htm with .docx in the URL to download as a doc file.
Electronic Resources: Students must have access to WyoCourses, and to internet sites. Handouts,
assignments etc. may be posted electronically. Handouts, assignments etc. may be posted electronically.
Email: It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that email sent from a course shell, Wyoweb, or any other
University program goes to an email account checked regularly (I recommend daily!) to receive important
messages. Email sent to a student’s email@uwyo.edu will be considered sufficient means of communication with
a student.
Student Electronic Postings: for files posted to Canvas or sent by email, use approved formats such as .docx,
.doc, .pdf, .rtf; do not use formats such as .pages. If files are too large to load easily into the Course shell or to
email, it is preferable post a link or share to an internet-accessible copy on a shared drive such as Dropbox,
Google Drive, or Sharepoint.
Attendance: Regular, informed attendance and participation is crucial to success in this course and in just
about any professional endeavor. Please advise me about issues precluding attendance, before class if possible and
in any case in a timely manner. For example, send an email prior to class to confirm that road closure or
emergency precludes attendance that day.

Academic Calendar: http://www.uwyo.edu/acadaffairs/_files/docs/acadadmin_cal-2014-2020.pdf

Final Exams: http://www.uwyo.edu/registrar/class_schedules/fall2016/fa16finals.pdf#Fall2016FinalExams
This document has the procedure to be followed for final exam schedule conflicts. Please make any requests as soon as
possible. It is not possible to resolve conflicts less than one week before the beginning of Finals. Note: The Registrar
publishes an update about 30 days before exam week.
Final Submission: In general, anything you want to submit must be in before 11:59 p.m. Saturday night at the end of
Exam week unless there is prior permission of the Instructor.

Studying Religion in the academic classroom: Your participation, classroom participation, writings and other
contributions should be appropriate for the academic environment. Your contributions may reflect your religious beliefs
but should be phrased in language appropriate to the secular State University: they should be research-based, and sensitive
to the diverse views about religion and religious identities (including no religious identity) held by members of the UW
community. Your papers, presentations, and comments cannot be testifying or proselytizing (for example, “preach the
Gospel” or “call people to Islam”). They may convey an important insight about how a text, practice or belief relates to
“guidance for life” at least for those who follow the religious tradition to which it belongs, but must be fall within the
disciplined, respectful academic discourse about these topics.

OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES/STANDARDS:

This course is a comparative survey of three world religions with roots in the Middle East—Judaism, Christianity and
Islam—historically, culturally and conceptually related monotheistic traditions. There will be brief mentions of other
Middle Eastern and Western traditions such as Zoroastrianism and some religious communities in the modern US. We
will examine each tradition in depth, and provide context through sustained self-statements by 20th and early 21st century
authors, and will examine how the religions interact in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. The course is therefore divided into
an introduction, 3 blocks for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and a unit in which these are tied together and to the Middle
East. The final block of the course is a symposium, including oral presentation and discussion of student term papers, as
well as review and assessment. Each of the three major blocks concludes with an important book about the nature or
future of the religious tradition.
Contents:
A basic knowledge of Judaism, Christianity and Islam: History/Personalities; Literature/Scriptures; Beliefs and
practices.
Knowledge of basic terms, concepts, and ideas of each religion
 Familiarity with issues facing each today.
Understanding religious and to an appropriate extent, linguistic and ethnic diversity in the Middle
East, Jerusalem and the Holy Lands.

Skills and methodologies:

close textual reading including reading strategies for scripture and sacred literature;
assessment of authority and responsibility of primary sources, secondary sources;
writing and discussion skills;
peer-to-peer review and assessment; and
“critical empathy.”

TEXT(S) AND READINGS:

The textbooks for this course are also listed at the UW Bookstore course textbook wizard. They are also listed below.
The direct textbook wizard link (preselecting this course) is:
Classroom: https://wyoming.verbacompare.com/comparison?id=436308
Outreach: https://wyoming.verbacompare.com/comparison?id=436794
(These booklists are the same for both sections).

This website will help you buy books by course, compare prices with other booksellers, and apply any funds you may
have available through your university financial aid or other account. Sometimes books may be found on other websites or
locations at substantially reduced prices, although be careful, as often students purchasing outside the Bookstore find they
have purchased the wrong item.

Some students may prefer electronic versions, paper, hardcover, or other editions of these books. Some of these books
may be available in the library or as e-books or even downloadable as open-access PDF. Sometimes there is a distinct
advantage in one version over the other; for example, your computer can read PDF versions aloud, as, according to what I
understand, can Kindle and many other such devices.

Please note that any recent edition of these books may be acceptable. In the event that pagination or chapter markings are
not identical with the edition used in class (or not available in an online version), student is responsible for determining
that the edition is identical to the classroom edition or nearly so, and for finding assigned passages in the edition.

Scriptures: Students should have access to a Bible and Qur’an as needed; on line versions are not
ideal but are acceptable. I strongly recommend a print edition though. For some suggestions see
http://uwyo.edu/sward/Bible&QuranWebsites.htm. A note on the printed Qur’an with translation I
have usually recommended for coursework use: http://uwyo.edu/sward/onusingqurantranslation.doc

The above does not imply any recommendation about how books may be ordered or whether to use electronic versions.

Title: Christianity: A Very Short Introduction

Author: Woodhead
ISBN: 9780192803221
Status: Required
Oxford University Press 2005
 Title: Islam: A Very Short Introduction
Author: Ruthven
ISBN: 9780199642878
Status: Required
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 2012

Title: Judaism: A Very Short Introduction

Author: Solomon
ISBN: 9780199687350
Status: Required
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 2014

Title: Heretic: Why Islam Needs Reformation Now

Author: Hirsi Ali
ISBN: 9780062333940
Status: Required
Copyright: 2016

Title: Not in God's Name

Author: Jonathan SACKS
ISBN: 9780805243345
Status: Required
Publisher: Schocken, 2015.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS:

SHORT PAPERS (and several very short papers)

Submit four short papers during the course: “assigned” short research note, scripture, current events/contemporary
issue, and “open topic.” These papers are designed to promote classroom discussion: be prepared to present your papers
to small groups or to the entire classroom, with sessions in each of the main blocks of the course (Judaism, Christianity
and Islam) designated for this purpose. (Online UW: present short papers in Discussion sections).

At the end of the course, submit an assessment paper of similar length.

Target length for each of these papers: about 2.5 pages (500 -1000 words).

Distribution requirement: In the four short papers, you must cover topics or texts in Judaism, Christianity and Islam; the
individual papers may be relevant to a single religion only or may be comparative. You’ll be asked to write a few
sentences showing that you met this requirement.

Short research note, scripture and current events/contemporary issue: Three dates (Classroom) or discussion
sections (Online UW) are scheduled for student presentations of these papers. Plan to present the short research note for
the first, the scripture paper for the second and the current events paper for the third. We’ll try to include the Open Topic
paper in the third section as well although there may need to be a separate time for this.
You may switch the order if you prefer, preparing, for example, the scripture paper for the first short paper discussion
and the Short Research Note for the second.

Deadlines:
Classroom: Be prepared to present paper in class on the date indicated in course outline; Final draft of short papers due
that evening at 11:59 PM.
Online: Discussion will begin after the due date for the papers.

Short Research Note, Scripture and Current Events papers

1. Short Research Note: Short Research Note on a topic for oral and written presentation. Pick one topic from a
matrix of suggested topics. We will take care of this in class (Classroom) or in a Discussion or Page in Canvas
(Online UW). Your Short Research Note should identify and explain the subject of the paper, placing it in the
proper context of person or persons, main identification, time and place (“Who What When and Where”), show
you have found relevant comments in our textbooks, from recommended readings (at the end of the textbooks),
from at least one academic book and one peer-reviewed article. It is ideal to find and cite at least one “primary
source.” Your research note should demonstrate ability to write professional, academic English, in a neutral tone
suitable to Religious Studies. Your research note should conclude with a paragraph summarizing your most
important findings, and drawing a conclusion about the significance of the subject. Some Religious Studies
courses require Chicago Manual of Style footnotes for references. This system is required for this paper: your
paper should have multiple footnote references.

2. Scripture Paper: The religious traditions we are studying all give priority to texts that are considered to be
Scriptural; regular recitation, study, exegesis, and homiletics based on these texts are intrinsic to the lived
religious life in all of them, albeit in different ways. This course will attempt to embed scriptural study by
students, and to give this activity weight by having students submit a Scripture Paper. Choose a passage or
passages from Hebrew Bible or Tanach for Judaism, Christian Bible (which includes Old testament as well as
New Testament, and for Catholics and many non-Protestants, works considered “Apocryphal”), or Qur’an. You
may choose narrative, poetic, legal or other material, and work on a single passage or a number of passages based
on a single theme. If you have done a Scripture analysis in a different class, taught by me or a colleague, please
chose a new topic or make sure to go beyond what you have worked on before.

The paper must show a careful reading of a Scriptural text from Judaism, Christianity or Islam, and demonstrate
familiarity with both “religious” and “academic” studies of the text, by referencing at least four different
commentaries or articles on your passage(s), reflecting varied religious, and secular or academic approaches to
your text.

This exercise has two goals, ideally you can do both although some Scriptural texts that are good topics for this
exercise may not lend themselves to both goals. (a) “document analysis.” Offer an analysis of a document, not
simply recording views written about a theme it suggests, or summarizing its contents. Instead, refer to academic
scholarship and religious learning while analyzing and discussing the text. (b) “guidance for life” or at least
guidance for religious practice. As appropriate to the passage(s) selected, your paper may address an appropriate
lesson or lessons or guidance for those within its community, and/or a critical conclusion about its meaning and
importance. Remember though that this exercise expects you to reference both “religious” and “academic” or
“secular” approaches. You do not have to take sides, although you may, in which case you must be sure to do so
with an academic “voice” or language appropriate to the secular university.

3. Current Events / Contemporary Issues Paper: Keep up with current events. Be prepared to discuss current
events related to our course theme from time to time, and submit one short paper on a contemporary issue, based
on current events. This could include journalistic reports about one or more events, persons or places in the news,
publication of a new survey or book or work of art, or any contemporary issue that qualifies as “current events.” It
should reflect a broader perspective than simply a news article, and demonstrate use of multiple sources,
background research, critical analysis, and contextualization. Paper should demonstrate ability to go beyond a
news report, linking the issues with textbooks, primary and secondary sources including e.g. databases, academic
books and articles, and comparable reporting. It is easy to check editorial opinion and news analysis as well as
news reports, and to offer critical analysis of websites or media editorial bias. This paper should draw a
 conclusion about the relevance of the Current Event/ contemporary issue to the themes of our course, or to
understanding the role of religion, or of a particular religion, in today’s world.

Open Topic Paper

4. Open topic: This can be on any topic of your choice relevant to the course. Discuss a work of literature,
film, music, art or architecture, popular culture; religious sect or movement; holiday or contemporary issue, or
any topic mentioned in class that you’d like to know more about. Be creative! Note that a film or several films
may be reviewed over 2 ½ pages for the “open topic,” but if you view a relevant film with family or friends and
talk about it, it could be a “field experience” as described below.

In part the Open Topic paper is required in order to facilitate completion of the Distribution requirement. You’ll
be asked to write a short statement (3-4 sentences) showing that you’ve completed the distribution requirement.

Assessment Paper
5. Personal, Symposium and Course Assessment (see under Term Project) Due at end of course. Described below.

Very Short Papers

The Book Review should be carefully written; the distribution statement and Field Experiences may be written up
informally, as if writing a quick email.

1. Distribution Statement: Submit three or four sentences briefly reviewing your short papers, showing that you
met the distribution requirement. Informal; 40-60 words.

2. Book Review: Normally, a book listed in the “Further Reading” section of one of the Oxford Very Short
Introductions, ideally (but not necessarily) related to your Term Project. In special cases, with instructor
approval, it may be another academic book or personal religious statement published since 2000, suitable for
classroom discussion. Classroom: For full credit, bring the book to class on Book Review day. This may be
incorporated into your Term Project Progress Report. 200 words.

3. Holiday or Ritual Exercise. Everyone will get a holiday or festival or other event, or a ritual or prayer, assigned
to present to the class. At the time this syllabus is written, it is not yet clear how this will work in the Online UW
section. In the Classroom section, presentations will be close to the occurrence of the holiday. There will be a

3. Field Experience. All students are required to submit at least two “field experience reports” but may submit
more for extra credit. These must be activities outside of regular class time.
a. “Place of Prayer” experience: At least one of these reports should be about attending a religious service,
visiting a place of worship or other sacred space, attending a religious event, or interviewing a religious
leader, outside your own tradition. (Should such a visit occur during class time, it is not acceptable for
this requirement).
b. Other possible Field Experiences include relevant activities outside of class: a lecture or event
recommended by the Instructor, a tour or lecture, a museum exhibit, a film or films seen and discussed
with friends or family, or performance, or other activity. Each write-up can be as short as a paragraph or
two, but may be longer. It should describe the experience in sufficient detail, and offer an assessment or
conclusion. A generic description might give you some ideas:
http://uwyo.edu/sward/termproject/Field%20Exercise.htm . A Field Experience report can be done at any
time but all will be due by Wednesday night of the last week of the term. (informal; 60-100 words per
experience).

Your Term Project may be an outgrowth of one of these short papers, or a totally different topic.

TERM PROJECT:
Prepare a Term Project on a topic you propose; your topic may be an outgrowth of course readings, short papers or
exercises, or any other topic you believe is relevant to the course. Normally the Term Project includes a research paper
and summary, and presentation and class discussion of your paper. The Term Project is an individual project although
classmates may in many cases share or coordinate as part of peer review and the Symposium. Responses to generic
“Frequently Asked Questions” are available on the internet.

Preparing the Term Project will involve scheduled deadlines for:

1. Initial short description (3-6 sentences, plus informal mention of primary and secondary sources).

2. Progress Report: An update showing your progress on this project. Ideally, report on research questions, thesis
statement and paragraph, discussion of bibliography showing evidence of reading, quotations etc., a brief review of a
book relevant to the project (this may be the book you review for the “very short paper,”) main points of organization
and significance, and your research plan. There is no required format although you may find the “Research
Preparation Exercise” format to be helpful. Your initial description and progress report provide the opportunity for
Instructor approval and feedback regarding the viability of your project and suggested avenues for research or
directions for focus. Your paper should grow organically and may differ from what is envisioned in this report, but a
complete change of topic may require a new Progress Report. (usually 3-5 pages)

3. Instructor Conference, Rough Draft and Peer Review: confer with instructor at some point while preparing your
Term Project; submit Rough Draft for peer review; Review other papers, respond to reviewer comments, revise paper
as needed. Meet with the Instructor individually or in a small conference, via Canvas or phone if necessary. In
some cases, a conference with the S I Leader or an in-class discussion may suffice.

4. Term Project Submission: Submit (a) your paper (b) a summary (abstract) and (c) Presentation Aid—
which may be a PowerPoint, a Poster, a digital presentation, handout or other item. Timely submission of
the paper and summery (abstract) is a prerequisite for presenting the paper in the Symposium. Students may
however elect not to present their papers in the Symposium; a presentation is a necessary prerequisite for
earning an A or B in the course.

5. Symposium: The last weeks of the course will be a symposium based on term projects. Students read and discuss
classmate papers and presentations.

6. Assessment Paper: A brief written review and assessment exercise is due at the end of the course, about 2-4 pages
total. This paper is designed for personal, symposium and course assessment. Discuss about five papers from the
Class Symposium, showing familiarity with the written paper as well as with the presentation, and identify the two
best papers and explain why you reached this conclusion. (In discussing the two best papers, do not chose your own,
and please consider that there is no implied comparison to the quality of your own work). In addition, this paper must
include a personal and course assessment, including some or all of the following: (a) review the course as a whole, its
strengths and what needs improvement (b) review the course in the light of the goals you had for the course and
whether you achieved them, and the value of your own contributions to the course; (c) Assess the strength of your
own Term Project; (d) discuss revisions you might make in your own Term Project, including revisions based on
Symposium Input; and (e) things you might have done differently.

If you wish, or have been asked to do so, you may submit a revised version of all or part of your Term Project with this
assignment.

EXAMS AND ASSESSEMENTS:

Quizzes: Three 10-minute review quizzes based roughly on the major blocks of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Final: There is a Final Exam in this class.

Classroom Section: The final will be on the date established by the Registrar in the room where the class met during the
term.
Online Section: Quizzes and Exams will be asynchronous, but in general students will have a broad “window” in which to
start the quiz or exam but once started, only a limited number of minutes in which to complete.
ATTENDANCE, INFORMED PARTICIPATION and OTHER ASSIGNMENTS

Regular attendance and informed oral participation is required. These are prerequisite for passing the course.

1. Classroom exercises, including homework, brief reports, review sheets or notes on the reading, and so forth.
2. Oral Presentations, Homework, short papers, etc. Students will be assigned short holiday or prayer reports,
leading a discussion at about the time of the holiday.

Classroom: Attendance is expected at any guest lectures, tours, media or other items during regular classroom hours,
whether in the classroom or off-site. In general no activities outside regular class hours can be required although they
can be strongly recommended. Any visit, lecture, or other item done outside class hours can be written up as a field
experience, unless it is a “makeup” class session.

OnlineUW: Attendance is judged from such things as logons, posting, interaction with the course or with the instructor,
and so on. This online course is “asynchronous” which means that there is no required time during the week when you
must be online.

Grading

Semester Grade system: University of Wyoming semester grades are letter grades with pluses and
minuses used at the discretion of the instructor. The Department of Religious Studies has adopted a policy
of whereby all courses in the department will use plus and minus grading.

Grading in this course seeks to reflect and measure achievement of the course general goals discussed
above, and progress made towards achieving them, rather than quantitative calculations based on point accumulation. The
grade expectations listed here take precedence over any grade calculations or course percentages.

A or B: Students meeting the general goals for the course—including demonstrated growth in critical thinking,
appropriate articulation, and increased methodological and theoretical proficiency—earn A or B. Preconditions for
achieving at least a C or a grade higher than C+ are indicated below.

Those who do not demonstrate desired growth or achievement but do achieve a minimum to pass the course, earn C or
occasionally D.

Timely submission of an acceptable Term Project, regular attendance and participation, and the minimum two field
experiences are required to pass the course, and normally will be sufficient to earn at least the grade of C. The above plus
an acceptable oral, poster and/or digital presentation (or online presentation in Online UW) is required to earn above a C+.

F may be assigned for failing to complete the course, unsatisfactory performance, for insufficient attendance and
participation, failure to submit the written portion of the term project on time, a missing required submission (even if it
assigned a tiny overall percentage of the final grade), academic dishonesty or failure to withdraw or terminate by the
Registrar’s deadline. Excused absences or non-attendance for medical, family, or other considerations will be honored
especially if Instructor is advised in advance, but F may be assigned as a final grade for excessive absences, even if
justified, or for failure to advise on a timely basis or to make timely alternate arrangements.

Normally a request for a grade of Incomplete must be initiated by the student and follow procedures established by
Instructor and Registrar.

The Gradebook in Canvas may facilitate tracking grades or completion for assignments, projects or the course, but the
electronic gradebook calculations are misleading or difficult to interpret (for example, a grade displaying of 0 out of 0
might mean the work was completed). Canvas Gradebook calculations are not used at all in determining final grades.

Percentages for grades and weight in course will be adjusted based on the realities of the course. Qualitative assessments
and the above considerations, including prerequisites for earning various grades, take precedence over these percentage
guides. For some further comments see http://uwyo.edu/sward/semestergrades.htm.
 Quizzes and Exams 20%
3 quizzes aggregate 12%
Final exam 8%

Four Short Papers 20%

5% each 20%

Term Project 30%

Initial idea, Progress Report, Rough Draft, Instructor 10%
Conference about project, Peer Reviews, Symposium
Participation, Assessment, etc.
Submitted Paper 15%
Oral Presentation 5%

Classroom attendance, participation, exercises and Field 30%

Experience
100%

Per the Religious Studies departmental grading policy, the following grading scale will be used:
Grade Percentages
A 93-100
A- 90-92
B+ 88-89
B 83-87
B- 80-82
C+ 78-79
C 73-77
C- 70-72
D+ 68-69
D 60-67
F 59 and below
.
COURSE OUTLINE:

During the course, we will read the three Oxford guides to the main religious traditions in their entirety and discuss some
broader issues and short student papers. The we will read books by Lord Sacks and Ayan Hirsi Ali, and learn about some
of the old, new and secret religious traditions. Finally, we will have a class Symposium.

For each class, students should identify five key terms in the reading, write a short statement about something in the
reading (about 5 sentences) and prepare questions for classroom discussion.

Students should expect modifications of the syllabus. These will be announced in class (or changes made via Canvas
for online students).

Exam Week and Final Exam.

Classroom: Final Exam is Thursday, December 15 1:15 am - 3:15 pm, in regular classroom.
Online: final available throughout Finals Week.
Schedule and Issues: http://www.uwyo.edu/registrar/class_schedules/fall2016/fa16finals.pdf#Fall2016FinalExams
The Registrar publishes an update about 30 days before exam week. Please bring any exam-week issues to the
instructor’s attention by Nov. 30. Submissions after 11:59 p.m. Saturday night of Exam week require explicit prior
permission of the Instructor and may generate an Incomplete.

Due Dates may be further modified in class or on Canvas.

 Date Reading assignments etc. Short Papers, Term Project
Assignments Due
1 Aug. INTRO: An Introduction to the three faiths: a polemic, a prayer and a
30 credo. What is religion? Websites, documents. Kuzari, What is
Religion?.websites
Brief intro to ancient religions.
Discussion of Kuzari Scriptures and Creeds.
Classroom: describe “Place of Prayer” fieldwork.
2 Sept. 6 Judaism 1-54, Thirteen Principles (137).
Scripture.
Judaism 55-84.
Marriage, Status of Women, Women of the Wall, JOFA, Tefillin,
3 Sept. Judaism 85-end
13 Kosher Food Exercise
Short Research Note, Current Events, and Scripture Discussions Short Paper I (Short Research
Note)
4 Sept. Christianity up to p. 70
20
Christianity 71-108
Women Gender issues.
5 Sept. Christianity 109-150
27 Global South, Eastern Christianity (Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syrian, Copts,
etc.)
Short Research Note, Current Events, and Scripture Discussions Short Paper II (Scripture)
6 Oct. 4 S I session
Quiz I
Islam, 1-56
7 Oct. 11 Islam, 57-99
Sharia, Women, Sufism, Jihad
Islam, 100-163.
8 Oct. 18
Short Research Note, Current Events, and Scripture Discussions. Short Paper III (Current
Begin Open Topic Paper discussions Events/Contemp. Issue)
9 Oct. 25 S I Session or Guest Lecture or Research Day Initial Idea
Quiz II
Briefly discuss initial term project ideas
Begin Discussion, Heretic, Not in God’s Name
10 Nov. 1 Discussion of Heretic Open Topic Paper, Distribution
Paper
Discussion of Not in God’s Name
11 Nov. 8 Book Review Day. Book review & Progress Report
New, Old and Secret:
Secret Sects: Crypto-Judaism and other Hidden Religions. (e.g. Druzes and
Dönme).
12 Nov. Other Middle East Religions: Zoroastrian, Eastern Christianity (Greeks, Rough Draft Due; Peer Review
15 Maronites, Assyrians etc. Yazidis. Sabi’ans. Druse. Qaraites and Day
Samaritans, Alawis and Alevis. Dönme.
.
New Religions: Bahai, Mormon, “Kabbalah Center” Term Project (Paper, summary,
Presentation) Due Sunday night
11:59
13 Nov. Quiz III
22 “Old, New, and Secret Religions” completed.
Begin Symposium I
 Date Reading assignments etc. Short Papers, Term Project
Assignments Due
14 Nov. Symposium II
29
Poster Day, Symposium III
15 Dec. 6 Symposium IV
Assessment of class, discussion of Field Experiences, Review Exercise for Field Experiences due before
final, etc. class
ex Exam Online: final available throughout Finals Week. All work beside Final Exam must
a Week be turned in by Saturday Night
m Dec. Dec. 15 (!) 11:59 PM.
18
MATRIX for SHORT RESEARCH NOTE
FOUNDING PERSONALITIES KEY MOMENTS IN HISTORY BELIEFS, MOVEMENTS, IDEAS,
Abraham 95 Theses CONCEPTS
Ali Council of Nicea Antisemitism
Bahaullah Crucifixion Assimilation
Hussein b. Ali Crusades Chastity among Priests
Ibn Abd al-Wahhab Destruction of the Temple (70 CE) Christology
Jesus End of the Caliphate (1924) Conversion
Joseph Smith Holocaust Crypto-Judaism
Judah the Prince Islamic Conquest Immaculate Conception
King David Islamic Conquests (c. 630-711 CE) Kabbalah
Luther Islamic revolution in Iran (1979) Monotheism
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad King Josiah’s Reform Muslim Brotherhood
Moses Manzikert Nicene Creed
Muhammad Mongol invasions Progressive Muslims
Noble Drew Ali Napoleon and Islam Reform Judaism in America
Paul Napoleon and the Jews Shia
Peter Spanish Expulsion 1492 Sufism
Rabbi Philip Berg Vatican II Virgin Birth
Zoroaster Zionist Congress Wahhabi movement
KEY FIGURES PRACTICE OTHER
Abraham Isaac Kook Baptism Art
Akiva Bar and Bat Mitzvah Bahai Religion
Al-Ghazzali Circumcision Church Architecture
Al-Qaradawi Eucharist Church Music
Averroes Fasting Druze religion
Ayaan Hirsi Ali FGM Film
Constantine Five Pillars of Islam Mahdi
Eusebius Kosher Modernity
Herzl Lectionary (Scripture Reading cycle) Mosque Architecture
Joseph Caro Marriage (pick a religious tradition) Religion and State-Israel
Joseph Smith Mass Religion and State-Middle East
Judah Ha-Levi Passover Salafism
Maimonides Prayer-Christian Spirituality
Muhammad Abduh Prayer-Jewish Synagogue Architecture
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Prayer-Muslim The Enlightenment
Rabbi Solomon b. Isaac (Rashi) Reconciliation (Sacrament) Why study Religion?
Sayyid Qutb Shema Yisrael Women of the Wall
Thomas Aquinas Tefillin Women’s Issues-Pick a tradition
PEOPLE SACRED SPACE AND TIME SACRED &RELIGIOUS TEXTS
“Oriental” or Eastern Catholics Aya Sophia Mosque Avesta
Coptic Christians Baha’I Shrines in Haifa, Akka Cantorial Music
Demography-Christian Churches Chanting Scriptures
Demography-Jewish Dome of the Rock Commentary
Demography-Muslim Easter Hadith
Eastern Churches Hanukkah Hebrew and Yiddish
Gnostics Heavenly Jerusalem Hebrew Bible
Greek Orthodox Holy Sepulchre Church J E P and D
Hasidim Id al-Adha Liturgical Poetry (pick a tradition)
Ibn Taymiyyah Ka’bah Midrash
Irenaeus of Lyons Land of Islam Mishna
Lubavitcher Rebbe & Chabad Land of Israel New Testament
Maronites Mosques Patristic Literature
Protestants Paradise Prayerbook(s)
Sacred or Holy or Chosen People Pilgrimage Qur’an
Umma Rosh Hashanah Synoptics, Q, M L and John
Shabbetai Tzvi Synagogues Talmud
Sholem Aleichem Temple Mount in Jerusalem Zohar
Holidays etc. occurring during term

Specific Dates
Rosh Hodesh (9/3-4, 11/1-2, or 12/1)
Nativity of Mary 9/8
Wuquf Arafat 9/11
Id al-Adha 9/12-13
Holy Cross 9/14
Ghadir 9/20
Feast of the Assembly (Yazidi) 9/23-10/1 (?)
General Conference (LDS) 10/1-2
Rosh Hashanah 10/3-4
Fast of Gedalia 10/5
Ashura 10/11
Yom Kippur 10/12
Sukkot starts 10/17
Birth of Bab 10/20
Shemini Atseret, 10/24
Simchat Torah 10/25
Reformation Day 10/31
Holocaust Remembrance Week at UW 11/6-12
Birth of Baha’ullah 11/12
Arba’in 11/20
1st Sunday in Advent 11/27
Sigd 11/30
Immaculate Conception 12/8

General
Sabbath (any)
Friday (any)
Sunday (Catholic)
Sunday (Evangelical)
Sunday (LDS)
Daily Prayers (Jewish)
Daily Prayers (Catholic Religious Orders)
Daily Prayers (Muslim)
Daily Prayers (Bahai)
Daily Prayers (Yazidi)
Birth
Marriage
Funeral

Tentative List of Primary Sources

Primary Source
Kuzari
13 principles,
Mishna, Talmud.
Torah Chanting
Rashi, Saadia, Ibn Ezra. Holidays and Prayers
Mendelssohn, Sholem Aleichem, Heschel, Steinsalz, Oshri
(student selected Hebrew Bible texts)
Nicene Creed, Non-Canonics,
Aquinas, Luther, Counter Reformation
Vatican II, Nostra Aetate, Liberation.
(student selected Christian Bible texts)
Qur’an, Hadith
Qur’an Jesus Texts, Ghazzali
Qur’an Chanting
Fiqh Akbar, Ibn Taymiyyah, Surat al-Nur
Sufi texts, Rabia; Sayyid Qutb. Qaradawi.
(student selected Qur’an Texts)
Selection of Mormon, Bahai and Kabbalah Center texts