READING AND EXAM SCHEDULE   Fall 2009
PL 203  21113   Introduction to the Study of Religion
TR 12:30-1:45  Room 224 Science East
Office 518 Macklin Tower
 Office hours: 1:00-1:50 MWF;  other times by appointment
 Telephone 240-567-7428 
 e-mail: bill.soderberg@montgomerycollege.edu
Web Page: <www.montgomerycollege.edu/~bsoderbe>

The fastest way to my web page is through Google: type in "Bill Soderberg." You may also access my web page with the “search” function on the Montgomery College website. Click on “search,” type in all or part of my last name, Soderberg, and click on “web page.”

TEXTBOOKS:
William Soderberg, The Game of Philosophy, University Press of America, 2000.
(Abbreviated GP below)
Mary Pat Fisher, Living Religions, Prentice-Hall, 7th Ed., 2008.
(Abbreviated LR below)
Some assignments will be from my web page.

WEEK 1

Sep 1   The Rawls Game
Sep 3    GP 3-8: moral and religious perspectives

          LR 1-13

Topic for discussion: Is self-interest, altruism or fair-mindedness the moral point of view?

WEEK 2

Sep 8     LR 14-28
              GP 129-130, Introduction to Multicultural Perspectives
              GP 140-142, African perspectives

Topic for discussion: Vine Deloria, a native American author, has written that Euro-Americans often view nature as hostile. Do you agree with Deloria’s claim?

Sep 10    INDIGENOUS SACRED WAYS
               LR 32-49
               GP 145-146, Native American

Topic for discussion: Are stories about the origin of things primarily intended to tell how the universe was formed?

WEEK 3
Sep 15     LR 49-69

          GUEST LECTURE

Sep 17    HINDUISM
                 LR  72-85

Topic for discussion: Is a caste system unjust?

WEEK 4
Sep 22     LR  85-96
Topic for discussion: Do arranged marriages work?  

Sep 24      LR 97-117

     GP 136-140

Topic for discussion: Why do think so many people accept a belief in reincarnation?

WEEK 5  

Sep 29      JAINISM
                  LR 120-132

Topic for discussion: Do you find any good reasons for people to follow a way of life that runs contrary to the prevailing culture?

Oct 1      Review

WEEK 6

Oct 6   EXAM 1

Oct 8         BUDDHISM
                   LR 134-147
Topic for discussion: Can a group committed to non-violence be taken seriously?

WEEK 7

Oct 13       GP 134-136

Topic for discussion: Does vegetarianism result in a more efficient use of land resources?

Oct 15        LR 147-161
Topic for discussion: Why do you think Buddhists avoid telling origin stories?

WEEK 8 

Oct 20      DAOISM AND CONFUCIANISM
                 LR 182-199
                 GP 130-133

Topic for discussion: Is it possible to balance male and female elements, or must one dominate the other to preserve stable relationships?

Oct 22       LR 199-211
Topic for discussion: Is family love the highest form of love?

WEEK 9

Oct 27      SHINTO
                  LR 215-229
Topic for discussion: Can a child be raised well without a concept of sin?

Oct 29  EXAM 2

WEEK 10
Nov 3     ZOROASTRIANISM  LR 231-234
Topic for discussion: Should persons be concerned with heaven or hell in an afterlife?

       JUDAISM   LR 235-25

Nov 5      LR 2256-275
Topic for discussion: Is human society based on some type of agreement?

WEEK 11

Nov 10    LR 275-291
               GP 37-38 Maimonides
Topic for discussion: Are most (or all) religious laws based on good reasons?

Nov 12    CHRISTIANITY
                LR 295-330

Topic for discussion: Should a human being be regarded as divine?

WEEK 12

Nov 17     LR 330-358
                GP 27-29 Augustine

Topic for discussion: Is rule by the few more stable than rule by the many?

Nov 19     LR 358-372
                GP 32-34 Aquinas

Topic for discussion: Should all human potentials be realized or fulfilled?

WEEK 13

Nov 24        ISLAM
                   LR 376-398
                   GP 143, Mawdudi, An-Na'im
Topic for discussion: Should laws be made against practices that can lead to addiction?

Nov 26        THANKSGIVING BREAK: NO CLASS      

WEEK 14

Dec 1         LR  399-412
Topic for discussion: Should interest (on money) be prohibited?

Dec 3          LR  412-430
                     Website: Some passages on Jihad (from the Qur-an)
Topic for discussion: Can a person attain perfection?

WEEK 15

Dec 8         GP 103-105 Descartes’ ontological proof for the existence of God

Topic for discussion: Can one be certain that God exists?

Dec 10       GP 105-110 Aquinas’ and Paley’s proofs for the existence of God

Topic for discussion: Is it reasonable to believe in God?

Dec 15          12:30-2:30 Final Exam