SRJC Course Outlines

4/16/2024 12:03:01 AMRELS 7 Course Outline as of Fall 2017

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  RELS 7Title:  WISDOM RELIGIONS OF ASIA  
Full Title:  Wisdom Religions of Asia
Last Reviewed:4/12/2021

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled3.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled52.50
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled06 min.Lab Scheduled0
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total3.00 Contact Total52.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:
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An introductory survey of the religious wisdom traditions, beliefs, and practices of ancient and modern India, ancient and medieval China, and medieval and modern Japan.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:


Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
An introductory survey of the religious traditions, beliefs, and practices of ancient and modern India, ancient and medieval China, and medieval and modern Japan.
(Grade or P/NP)

Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Fall 2016
Inactive: 
 Area:E
H
Humanities
Global Perspective and Environmental Literacy
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 C2HumanitiesFall 2016
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 3BHumanitiesFall 2016
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 2016Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 2016Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course



COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1.   Describe several religious practices, beliefs, and major tenets of
      religions originating from South Asia: Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism.
2.   Describe several religious practices, beliefs, and major tenets of religions originating
     from East Asia: Chinese folk traditions, Taoism, and Shinto.

Objectives: Untitled document
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1.  Articulate several differences between the Sramana vs. Brahmanical traditions of India.
2.  Identify several rituals and practices of Jain, Hindu, and Sikh religions in India and articulate their intended purpose.
3.  Distinguish between the holy sites of Jain, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist religions in India.
4.  Analyze commonalities and differences among Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain doctrines.
5.  Identify elements of ancient Chinese cosmology and analyze these in relation to ancient Chinese folk religious practices.
6.  Articulate purposes of Taoist religious rituals and religious texts in relation to Taoist ideals.
7.  Articulate major differences between what the Buddha taught and Chinese Buddhism, with reference to Mahayana and Theravada doctrinal differences.
8.  Distinguish features of Shinto worship in comparison to Buddhist worship in Japan.

Topics and Scope
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Required Topics:
 
I.  HINDUISM: Doctrine & Practice
   A.  Scripture: Vedas, Upanishads, Epics, Sutras, Puranas
   B.  Brahmanical practices prior to 500 bce
   C.  Later Hindu rituals & traditions (Ganga pilgrimage, cremation, Kumbh Mela,
          Char Dam, daily puja, temple-based worship)
   D.  Vedic deities vs. later Hindu deities
   E.  The principal yogas (Raja, Jñana, Bhakti, Karma, Kundalini, Ashtanga,
          Kriya) & disciplines of spiritual-development
   F.  Current gurus: their teachings, lineages, followers, practice
II.  JAINISM: Doctrine & Practice
   A.  Sramana vs. Brahmanical traditions of ancient India (c. 2000 bce)
   B.  Mahavira & the jina lineage
   C.  Principle edicts & codes of conduct
   D.  Modern Jain societal influence
III.  SIKHISM: Doctrine & Practice
   A.  Guru Nanak & the 10 gurus
   B.  Guru Granth Sahib (scripture)
   C.  Five K's and behavioral directives
   D.  Sikhs in Punjab in modern history
IV.  BUDDHISM: Doctrine & Practice
   A.  Life of the Buddha
   B.  The Pali Canon
   C.  Theravada vs. Mahayana traditions
   D.  Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet, China & Japan
   E.  Buddhist lineages of medieval China & Japan: Pure Land/Jodoshu,
          T'ienTai/Tendai, Ch'an/Zen
   F.  Buddhist lineages unique to Japan: Shingon, Jodo Shinshu, Nichiren,
         and further developments in Zen
  G.  Buddhist lineages in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
  H.  Buddhist lineages in the U.S. & Western Europe
V.  FOLK TRADITIONS of ancient China: Doctrine & Practice
   A.  Variety of supernatural beings & their functions
   B.  Hell & hungry ghost realms: beliefs re. death & afterlife
   C.  Shamanism, exorcism, related rituals
VI.  TAOISM of medieval China: Doctrine & Practice
   A.  History & origin of initial lineage
   B.  Deities, immortals, the celestial universe
   C.  Major lineages and texts
   D.  Rituals and immortality practices
   E.  Influence of Buddhism on the rise of religious Taoism
VII.  SHINTO of Japan: Doctrine & Practice
   A.  Cosmology
   B.  Role of Kami
   C.  Nature of rituals performed by priests
   D.  Interplay with Buddhism; Shinto shrines coexisting with Buddhist temples
   E.  Relation to Japanese nationalism
 
OPTIONAL TOPICS MAY INCLUDE
1.  Sufism and its relation ro Sikhism
2.  Tibetan Buddhism currently in exile in Himachal Pradesh, India
3.  Christianity in Sri Lanka, India, China, & Japan
4.  Zoroastrianism in India
5.  Baha'i in India

Assignments:
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1.   Weekly readings from various textual materials (approximately 10 pages per week).
2.   Five to twelve reading quizzes (short answer) covering assigned readings.
3.   In-class discussion and group work covering assigned readings and lecture topics.
4.   One to three midterm examinations, including multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.
5.   Final examination including, multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.
 
Other assignments may include:
6.   Visitation to the Santa Rosa Sikh Gurudwara, followed by a written report.
7.   Visitation to a local Buddhist center of meditation instruction, followed by a written report.
8.   Summary-response reports on films recommended by instructor.
9.   Research project on a specific aspect of either ritual or doctrine of one of the major religions or an auxiliary religion, such as Zoroastrians, Naths, Aghoras, or other.
10. Field trip to Asian Art Museum when its current exhibit is relevant to religious studies.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
20 - 30%
Essays required on reading quizzes and on mid-term and final exams; essays required on visitation, field trip, or film reports.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
50 - 70%
Multiple choice, true/false, short answer, completion, essay, quizzes, final
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
10 - 20%
Attendance, off-campus field trips, class participation


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Dhammapada (any translation, esp. online)
Guru Granth Sahib (selections, online)
Lotus Sutra (any translation, esp. online)
Purana (selections, online)
Religions of China: the World as a Living System.  Overmyer,  Daniel L.  Waveland Press: 1986. Kindle:  2013
Religions of Japan: Unity & Diversity.   Earhart, H. Byron.    Cengage Learning:  2013
Sinto, the Kami Way.  Ono, Sokyo.   Tuttle Publishing:  2004 (classic) or Understanding Shinto.  Littleton, Scott.  Watkins Publishing: 1999 (classic)
Vedanta Sutra of Shankara (any translation, esp. online)
What the Buddha Taught.  Walpola, Rahula.  Grove Press:  1974 (classic)
World Religions: Eastern Traditions, 4th edition.   Oxtoby, Willard G.,  Amore, Roy C.,  and Hussain, Amir.   OUP:  2014
Yoga Sutra of Patanjali (any translation, esp. online)

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