Religion 351: World Religions

Brother Brian Kinghorn

Taylor 213 Phone: 496-3945 email: kinghornbr@byui.edu

Required Texts:
-Religions of the World; A Latter-Day Saint View, Spencer J. Palmer et. al

Objectives:
1. The student will explore the different religions of the world and better understand their history, doctrine, practices and
influence on the peoples of the world.
2. The class will discuss and compare the best each religion has to offer and d some of the connections with our own faith.
3. You will come closer to your Heavenly Father as you see some of the different ways His children worship.

Your grade this semester will be based on the following areas:

Daily preparation:
Each day you will be able to earn a total of 10 points. Five of those points come for having studied the materials
for that day’s discussion. Most of that will come from the text although there may be additional readings or assignments
from time to time. Five more points are given for coming to class on time (if not on time deduct 2 points). There will be a
total of 240 points possible. (Missing more than five times overrides all other considerations and a failing grade will be given)

Quizzes and tests:

At the conclusion of each chapter in the book (except 1, 13 & 14) can be found a list of terms on which you will
be quizzed. They will also form a major portion of the mid-term and final tests. Each quiz will be worth 10 points for
total of 110 points and the mid-term and final will each be worth 100 points. See the calendar for due dates.

Personal Project:
This semester you will complete a project, of your choosing, which will be geared to help you understand or learn
about one of these religions...or an aspect of one of these religions, more completely. The objective would be to allow you
learn something in a manner which would interest you and would be both fun and exciting. It is expected that you will
spend considerable time on this project (upwards of 15-20 hours) and that at the conclusion of the semester you will share
it with the class at our project fair. This assignment will be worth 200 points (50/proposal, 150 final report).

Comparative paper:
Often people take the best that they have and compare it with the worst of someone else....and that just isn’t fair.
For this assignment you are to pick one of the religious traditions we are studying and explore some of the very best it has to
offer. Look for things that you admire and perhaps are even a little envious of and discuss those elements in light of the
gospel. I would expect that you will use the scriptures (at least 2) and the writings of the church leaders (again 2) as you
compare these two religions. I would expect the paper to be between two and four pages. This assignment will also be
worth 200 points.

Group presentation:
You will be grouped with several others from the class and are to prepare a presentation on one of the 6 major
religious traditions we are studying. Your group is to explore the effect of the religion on not on the people who live in the
countries but other areas of the world. Be sure to also explore political influence (or lack thereof), cultural and linguistic
affects. These will be presented to the class using PowerPoint or some other presentation method. Be sure to include
pictures and other items. The project is will be graded as a group with 300 points possible. Every person in the group will
receive the same grade so make sure that the workload is shared evenly. Please be aware of a 20 minute time limit.

Case Study:
This semester your group (from the assignment above) will develop a case study relating to your religion and our
own. This case needs to be written by your group in a collaborative manner and needs to centered around some sort of
interaction between a Latter-day Saint college student and a believer of the faith (at whatever level) you chose for your
group. On October 27th you will share your case with the other groups in class for a discussion and resolution of the case.
They will also be providing a critique on the case for me to use in the grading. This assignment is worth 100 points.
 Winter Calendar 2011
Date Class Discussion Reading Date Class Discussion Reading
1/5 Course overview 2/23 Taoism Ch 6
1/10 Course introduction Intro and Ch 1 2/28 Confucianism Ch 7
1/12 Hinduism Ch 2 3/2 Shinto Ch 8
1/17 NO CLASS 3/7 Chinese & Shinto presentations Case Study due
1/19 Hinduism Gita excerpts 3/9 Zoroastrianism Ch 9
1/24 Hinduism Current event 3/14 Judaism Ch 10
1/26 Jainism Ch 3 3/16 Judaism current event
1/31 Buddhism Ch 4 3/21 Christianity Ch 11
2/2 Buddhism Dama Pada excerpts 3/23 Islam Ch 12
2/7 Buddhism current event 3/28 Islam Qu’ran excerpts
2/9 Hindu & Buddhist presentations 3/30 Islam current event
2/14 Sikhism Ch 5 4/4 Project Fair in Taylor 180
2/16 Chinese experience/Case 4/6 Islam & Judaism Presentations
2/21 NO CLASS

Due Dates:
January 19th Project proposal due March 23rd Comparative Paper Due
Mid Term Test in Testing Center Feb23-26 April 4th Final Project Report Due
March 7th Case Study Due Final in Testing Center during testing days

Grading breakdown:
94% - 100% = A 90% - 93% = A- 87% - 89% = B+ 84% - 86% = B
80% - 83% = B- 77% - 79% = C+ 74% - 76% = C 70% - 73% = C-
67% - 69% = D+ 64% - 66% = D 60% - 63% = D- Below 60% = F

Caveat: The instructor reserves the right to make and necessary adjustments to the course throughout the term. Students will be
informed of any changes that will be made.

Electronics in class: Please don’t get distracted or distract others, I may ask you to leave them behind if it is a problem.

Children in class: School policy states that children should not be brought to class. If there is an emergency please contact me.

Late Papers: Papers are due in class on the due date (unless the paper or assignment is to be turned in on I-Learn), anything after that
is considered late and will be accepted for half credit. If you know that you will be gone on the due date it is expected that the paper
would be turned in before you leave. The same holds true for tests and quizzes.

Students with Disabilities:

In compliance with applicable disability law, qualified students with a disability may be entitled to “reasonable accommodation.”
It is the student’s responsibility to disclose to the teacher any special need she/he may have before the end of the first week of class.
If you have a diagnosed disability or believe that you have a disability please call 496-1158 to meet with Dr. Richard “Red” Taylor,
the director of the Services for Students with Disabilities for assistance. In compliance with applicable disability law, qualified
students with a disability may be entitled to “Reasonable accommodation”.

Absence Policy: School Excused Absences: Students who miss class due to a school excused absence must clear that absence with the
teacher prior to the day(s) missed. A written permission slip signed by the proper instructor or advisor must be brought to the teacher
and a plan to make up the missed materials implemented. School excused or illnesses verified by a doctor may be made up within
three days of the absence. Missing more than five times overrides all other considerations and a failing grade will be given.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an education program or
activity that receives federal funds, including Federal loans and grants. Title IX also covers student-to-student sexual harassment. If
you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender based discrimination, please contact the Personnel Office at 496-1130.

Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere which reasonably accommodates
qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability which may impair your ability to complete this course successfully,
please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities Office, 496-1158. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for
all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by this office. If you
need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution
through established grievance policy and procedures. You should contact the Personnel Office at 496-1130.