Assignment #2: M2 The Purpose of Religion

Instructions

Clifford Geertz taught that religion is an overriding system of symbols that serves two purposes. It gives us a worldview - what is the world all about? And it gives us an ethos - what ought we to do?

Think about religion as practiced in America today. Does it give a worldview? And does it give an ethos? For example, think about Christianity, practiced by the majority of Americans. Do they receive a worldview they can accept from Christianity? Do they get guidance on how to act?

Your answer should be between 150 and 300 words. Assignment must be typed in MS Word, where you can check grammar and spelling. After completing your assignment in Word, save the document, then click on "Add a File" button to attach the file and submit your assignment. Keep in mind that only one file is allowed per submission, and only one submission is allowed.

Assignment #3: M2 Finding the Sacred

Instructions

It has been said that the United States has lost its sense of the sacred. Nothing is set aside, made special, or considered sacred. People use to dress up to go to Church, go to the theatre, or fly on an airplane.

Today informal dress, or even shorts, is the norm. Weddings, rather than following time honored rituals, consist of a creative ceremony written by the bride and groom. Even a high school or college graduation is often marked by catcalls.

Answer the question whether you believe anything is sacred or holy in our contemporary society. Is that a good or bad thing?

Your answer should be between 150 and 300 words. Assignment must be typed in MS Word, where you can check grammar and spelling. After completing your assignment in Word, save the document, then click on "Add a File" button to attach the file and submit your assignment. Keep in mind that only one file is allowed per submission, and only one submission is allowed.

Assignment #4: M2 The Brothers Karamazov

Instructions

In his great novel The Brothers Karamazov, Dostoyevsky famously said, "Without God, everything is permissible." The line comes up in the context of whether it is permissible for one of the brothers to kill their father, an evil man. Do you agree with Dostoyevsky or not, and why or why not.

Your answer should be between 150 and 300 words. Assignment must be typed in MS Word, where you can check grammar and spelling. After completing your assignment in Word, save the document, then click on "Add a File" button to attach the file and submit your assignment. Keep in mind that only one file is allowed per submission, and only one submission is allowed.

Assignment #5: M3 Religion and the Life Cycle

Instructions

Describe a religious life cycle event that you attended - baby naming, bar or bat mitzvah, Christening, wedding, or a funeral. Describe the religious symbols or the religious meaning of the event.

Your answer should be between 150 and 300 words. Assignment must be typed in MS Word, where you can check grammar and spelling. After completing your assignment in Word, save the document, then click on "Add a File" button to attach the file and submit your assignment. Keep in mind that only one file is allowed per submission, and only one submission is allowed.

Assignment #6: M4 Your Religious Faith

Instructions

Now is the opportunity to think about yourself. Are you a theist, a deist, a pantheist, an atheist, or an agnostic? What are the advantages and problems with your particular point of view? There are no right or wrong answers to this question; just the opportunity to think.

Your answer should be between 150 and 300 words. Assignment must be typed in MS Word, where you can check grammar and spelling. After completing your assignment in Word, save the document, then click on "Add a File" button to attach the file and submit your assignment. Keep in mind that only one file is allowed per submission, and only one submission is allowed.

Assignment #7: M4 Is Scientology a Cult?

Instructions

Scientology is one of the most controversial new religions today. (To learn a little about Scientology, look at the Wikipedia article Scientology .) Think about the definition of a cult. Would you consider scientology a mainstream religion or a cult?

Your answer should be between 150 and 300 words. Assignment must be typed in MS Word, where you can check grammar and spelling. After completing your assignment in Word, save the document, then click on "Add a File" button to attach the file and submit your assignment. Keep in mind that only one file is allowed per submission, and only one submission is allowed.

Assignment #8: M5 The Axial Age

Instructions

Why is the axial age so important in the history of religion?

Define the axial age and tell why it is so important in the history of religion? How is religion different after the axial age from before?

Your answer should be between 150 and 300 words. Assignment must be typed in MS Word, where you can check grammar and spelling. After completing your assignment in Word, save the document, then click on "Add a File" button to attach the file and submit your assignment. Keep in mind that only one file is allowed per submission, and only one submission is allowed.

Final Paper

Instructions

Write a five page paper, double space, on any topic covered in this course or related to the study of religion. The paper will be graded for both content and spelling and grammar.

Establish a thesis paragraph (what you want to say) and then present intelligent arguments, using material that was covered in the course. Again, there is no right or wrong answers. Your paper can be pro- or anti- religion, as long as it is coherent and well written.