Class meets Wednesdays from 6:30 - 9 pm in Classroom D of the Baptist World Congress classroom building
This is an online resource for students participating in the class.
Professor David Dault, Assistant Professor of Bible and Theology, American Baptist College
My office is on the second floor of the Library.
Office Hours this Fall: Wednesdays 4:15 - 5:15pm, and by appointment
You can email me at dault.work@gmail.com
When writing me, please put TH 409 in the subject line
TH 409 Midterm Study Guide.doc
The following texts are required for the course
To print the online texts (when there are such texts assigned in the course) - I would recommend going to the 'File' menu and selecting 'Print Preview' - you should then see the text laid out properly for standard paper. Look to make sure words aren't being cut off on the edges in the preview. From there you can press 'Print' and all should be well. If cut-offs are happening you will need to find out how to adjust that particular machine's settings, or another option would be to 'Select all' in the edit menu, and copy and paste the text into a Word document and print from there.
Some tips on reading academic texts
Purpose of the class: The purpose of this class is to familiarize you with the methods of analysis involved in the field known as "Philosophy of Religion." To this end, we will study and discuss a basic general text to establish the "theory" of the subject. From there we will move to study several texts concerning non-Christian forms of religion to explore the "practice" of the subject.
You will be responsible for knowing and understanding the content of the assigned textbooks, content of the lectures, and class discussions. Class participation will be a significant portion of your final grade.
By the end of the course a successful student will have demonstrated (through class discussion, participation, projects and performance on tests) a grasp of the theoretical tools involved in the study of the Philosophy of Religion, as well as the application of those tools to specific cases of non-Christian religion studied in the course. Through these explorations, it is hoped that a more robust critical understanding of the Christian faith itself will grow for the student.
Details about the written assignments will be given in class and posted as hyperlinks in the schedule below. Please refer back to this website as the course proceeds for updated information.
8.20.08 - Introduction to the course, syllabus review, preliminary lecture and overview
8.27.08 - TH 409 Glossary 1 Eliade, Sacred and Profane, Introduction and Chapter 1 (pp. 8 - 67)
9.3.08 - TH 409 Eliade Glossary 2 Eliade, Sacred and Profane, Chapter 2 (pp. 68 - 115)
9.10.08 - Eliade, Sacred and Profane, Chapter 3 (pp. 116 - 161)
9.17.08 - Eliade, Sacred and Profane, Chapter 4 (pp. 162 - 215)
9.24.08 - Hesse, Siddhartha pp. 3 - 72
10.1.08 - Hesse, Siddhartha pp. 75 - 152; Mid-Term Exam review
TH 409 Midterm Study Guide.doc
10.8.08 - MID TERM EXAM
10.15.08 - Read the Gospel of Mark for class discussion
10.22.07 - Read Job for class discussion
10.29.08 - Read Ezekiel for class discussion
11.5.08 - Herrigel, Zen in the Art of Archery (entire book); watch clip below on Zen archery
11.12.08 - Tutuola, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, pp. 1 - 95; watch clip below
11.19.08 - Tutuola, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, pp. 96 - 174; watch clip below
11.26.08 - Course Evaluations, Final Exam review
12.3.08 - FINAL EXAM
American Baptist College acknowledges the need to preserve an orderly process with regard to teaching, research, and
public service, as well as the need to preserve and monitor students’ academic rights and responsibilities. Since the
primary goal of education is to increase one’s own knowledge, academic dishonesty will not be tolerated at American
Baptist College. Possible consequences of academic dishonesty, depending on the seriousness of the offense, may range
from a revision of an assignment, and or a reprimand, a written reprimand, an F or zero for grade work, removal from the
course with a grade of F, to possible suspension or exclusion from the College. Academic dishonesty includes the
following examples, as well as similar conduct aimed at making false representation with respect to academic
performance:
a. Cheating on an examination;
b. Collaborating with others in work to be presented, contrary to the stated rules of the course;
c. Plagiarizing, including the submission of their ideas of papers or information from the internet,
(whether purchased, borrowed, or otherwise obtained) as one’s own. When direct quotations are
used in themes, essays, term papers, tests, book reviews, and other similar work, they must be
indicated; and when the ideas of another are incorporated in any paper, they must be
acknowledged, according to a style of documentation appropriate to the discipline;
d. Stealing examination(s) or course materials(s);
e. Falsifying records, laboratory results, or other data;
f. Submitting, if contrary to the rules of a course, work previously presented in another course;
g. Knowingly and intentionally assisting another student in any of the above, including assistance in
an arrangement whereby any work, classroom performance, examination, or other activity is
submitted or performed by a person other than the student under whose name the work is
submitted or performed. Students’ accused of academic dishonesty may appeal through the
Student Academic Dishonesty Procedures in effect at American Baptist College.