COURSE: 422 Anthropology of Religion (theory) 3 cr.
PLACE: Webster 112, University of Hawai`i @ Manoa
TIME: 1:30-4:00pm Tuesdays, Fall Semester 2000
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Les Sponsel, Professor
Office: 317 SSB Hours: noon-3:00 pm. Th
Phone: 956-8507 Email: sponsel@hawaii.edu
ORIENTATION:
There is a growing consensus from diverse sectors of society nationally and internationally that the usual scientistic and technocratic approaches to environmental relations, problems, issues, and crises are insufficient if not even part of the problem, and that far deeper spiritual and religious relationships with the environment need to be restored if humanity and nature are to survive. A critical analysis of the roots, principles, activities, potentials, and limitations of the various intellectual, cultural, political, spiritual and religious movements that comprise spiritual ecology is the primary focus of this course. However, most class periods will cover aspects of both the anthropology of religion and spiritual ecology, mainly through individual student reports and class discussions of textbook materials and through student panel discussions of book length case studies.
GOALS:
The four primary aims of this course are to provide students with:
1. a general survey of the anthropology of religion and also of spiritual ecology;
2. an in-depth exploration of the spiritual ecology of indigenous, Hindu, and Buddhist peoples in particular;
3. a critical analysis of spiritual ecology, and especially of the pros and cons of turning to religion as a source for the reduction or resolution of environmental crises in the contemporary world; and
4. a general familiarity with the basic resources on these subjects including books, journals, articles, videos,organizations, conferences, and websites.
FORMAT:
As part of the active learning experience in this course, in collaboration with the instructor students will design, implement, and evaluate the course syllabus and reading list, decide grading criteria and even help evaluate and assign grades, etc. A form will be provided for each student to assess panels.
The seminar format for this course is interactive and cooperative learning based on intensive reading and discussions of five key textbooks through a division of labor with individual reports on chapters of each student's own choice and panel discussions of case studies in which each student chooses one of eight books.
Videos provide a very important dimension for understanding course material, but time allows for only three to be shown in class during the semester. Many additional videos will be recommended for students to select for individual viewing.
When appropriate and as time allows the instructor will also discuss with slides his fieldwork on spiritual ecology and sacred places in Thailand and New Mexico. One or more guest lectures will be arranged during periods when the instructor must be away (October 24 &31, November 14).
Course material will also be illustrated by websites. Especially useful is the Harvard University Forum on Religion and Ecology (http://environment.harvard.edu/religion).
The class will also have its own website on Maile (Anth 422) that includes the syllabus, resources, and discussions forums (for each textbook and case study). Every student is required to regularly read and post material on the class website each week. This includes a one page summary of each chapter read in the textbooks with three main points, critical analysis, and three discussion questions posted before the class period in which it is discussed (see Schedule). Also at least one period in advance of its presentation each panel should post on the website a concise summary of its case study book, including a critical analysis and several questions for its discussion. In addition, a printed copy of each chapter report and of each panel summary should be given to the instructor at the beginning of the class period in which they are discussed. A regular part of class preparation for students should be to read the material posted on the course website each week before coming to class to discuss matters further. The number of class meetings and the length of each meeting are very limited, thus the regular and active participation of each student on the class website will help make the best use of class time for penetrating discussions.
The members of each panel are supposed to fairly share labor and cooperate fully in developing and presenting their panel on time. Class time will not be available for members to organize their panel, other than a sign-up sheet and email addresses for contact. Panels should use the "Writing Exchange" on the course website to develop their panel discussions. Check "Guidelines for Panel" under "Resources" on the course website for more information on the panels.
Students are required to be open minded as well as courteous and professional in class discussions as befits a university. Any student can say anything in class as long as it is relevant and polite in accordance with academic freedom. However, students should take care in what they write on the course website since it becomes a public record.
GRADING:
Student work will be evaluated for:
1. clear, concise, logical, critical, and analytical thinking;
2. achieving all four goals of the course;
3. quality of textbook chapter reports (written and oral) and general knowledge of all material presented in class and posted on the course website; and
4. regular, active, and quality participation in class discussion and on the course website.
5. regular class attendance on time and for the full period.
No regular private conversations, sleeping, reading newspapers, walkman, and the like are permitted in this class. Any students who wish to sleep or carry on private conversations should do so outside of the classroom to avoid distracting other students and the instructor.
The final course grade will be calculated as follows:
30% class participation in discussing textbooks and
other material
30% regular and active participation on the class website on Maile (Anth 422)
15% final examination (three take-home essays)
25% panel discussion of a case study book
There are no quizzes, mid-term examinations, or research papers required for this course.
These course requirements and percentages for grading can be adjusted for individual students. For example, some students may wish to write an individual report on another book instead of participate in a panel discussion of a case study. As another example, some students may wish to keep a reflective journal or diary with weekly entries throughout the semester instead of doing the final examination. Such special arrangements need to be negotiated and agreed upon with the instructor on an individual basis.
Extra credit may be earned by writing a one page reaction (not summary) to any recommended video or relevant journal article or book chapter beyond the course texts. Five high quality extra credit papers can make the difference for a borderline course grade, while ten such papers can elevate the course grade to the next level. Other alternatives for more extra credit include writing a critical review of an extra book or writing a research paper, but in any case the specifics have to be approved by the instructor. Thus, in principle with enough quality work any student can earn an A in this course.
Students who wish to have any papers returned at the end of the semester should provide the instructor with a self-addressed and stamped envelope of appropriate size.
READINGS:
First Textbook (each student select one):
Glazier, Stephen D., ed., 1997, Anthropology of Religion: A Handbook. Westport, CT: Praeger.
Scupin, Raymond, ed., 2000, Religion and Culture: An Anthropological Focus. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Second Textbook (each student select one):
Callicott, J. Baird, 1994, Earth's Insights: A Multicultural Survey of Ecological Ethics from the Mediterranean Basin to the Australian Outback. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Holm, Jean, and John Bowker, eds., 1994. Attitudes to Nature. New York, NY: Pinter/St. Martin's Press.
Kinsley, David, 1995, Ecology and Religion: Ecological Spirituality in Cross-Cultural Perspective. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Case Studies (each student select one, listed in order discussed by panels)
Cunningham, Scott, 1994, Hawaiian Religion and Magic. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publishers.
McFadden, Steven, 1991, Profiles in Wisdom: Native Elders Speak About the Earth. Santa Fe, NM: Bear & Co.
Nelson, Lance E., ed., 1998, Purifying the Earthly Body of God: Religion and Ecology in Hindu India. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
Kaza, Stephanie, and Kenneth Kraft, eds., 2000, Dharma Rain: Sources of Buddhist Environmentalism. Boston, MA: Shambhala.
Albanese, Catherine L., 1990, Nature Religion in America from the Algonkian Indians to the New Age. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Buhner, Stephen H., 1997, One Spirit, Many Peoples: A Manifesto for Earth Spirituality. Niwot, CO: Roberts Rinehart Publishers.
Metzner, Ralph, 1999, Green Psychology: Transforming Our Relationship to the Earth. Rochester, VT: Park Street Press.
There are other possibilities for books for panels instead of some of those listed above. (See the bibliography in the introductory chapter in Sponsel's essay "Do Anthropologists Need Religion, and Vice Versa? Adventures and Dangers in Spiritual Ecology" which is posted under "Resources" on the course website).
The bibliographies in the textbooks and case studies provide numerous citations to relevant journal articles and book chapters elsewhere for those students who may wish to do further reading.
Only the textbooks have been stocked by the UH Bookstore for students who may wish to purchase any of them. Students will have to locate and share the case studies in Hamilton Library, public libraries, or purchase or order them through a local bookstore (e.g., Borders, Barnes and Noble) or from an internet source (Amazon.com, addall.com, bibliofind.com, alibris.com, abebooks.com).
Students should follow closely the reading and discussion schedule below. It is very crucial that students read the assigned chapters, post their summary on the course website, and come to class well prepared to discuss them as scheduled. Late assignments will not be credited, except under truly extraordinary circumstances.
SCHEDULE:
Date Topic Readings
August
22 Orientation to course and subject
Video in class: "Spirit and Nature" (5326)
and class discussion
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29 Anthropological Perspectives Scupin 1; Glazier
on Religion Intro & 3
History of the Anthropology Scupin 2; Glazier 2
of Religion
Contemporary Approaches Scupin 3-5; Glazier 5
Recommended video: "The Holy Ghost People" (7621) (also Glazier 1 recommended reading)
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September
5 Spiritual Ecology: Overview Kinsley Intro, 10- 11, 17; Holm-Bowker Intro; Callicott 1; Sponsel (on Maile)
Recommended videos: "Keeping the Earth: Religious and Scientific Perspectives on the Environment" (13215), "The Rebirth of Nature" (4316), "Baraka" (11801)
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12 Religions of the Middle East
Judaism Scupin 10, 16; Callicott 2; Holm-Bowker 5
Catholicism Scupin 17; Glazier 14;
Protestantism Scupin 18; Glazier 10,
Christianity & Ecology Holm-Bowker 2;
Kinsley 8-9, 12,
Islam Scupin 19; Glazier 11; Holm-Bowker 4
Recommended videos: Christianity and Judaism (14494), "Sacred Sites of Europe"( ), "Spiritual Wonders of Europe" ( ), "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" (5450), "Wisdom of Faith: Islam" (14495), "The Shrine" ( )
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19 Animism, shamanism, etc. Scupin 6-9, 11; Glazier 4, 6,9, 15-16; Kinsley 1-4; Callicott 6-8
Recommended videos: "Shamanism" (4943), "The Way of the Shaman" (5262), "Wallace Black Elk: Return of the Sacred Hoop" ( ), "To Find Our Life" (7524), "Strange Beliefs" (4372), "Voodoo in Haiti" (5406), "Voodoo Secrets (16819), "The Last Wave" (5397)
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26 Indigenous spiritual ecology
Case: Hawaiian Religion and Magic (Cunningham)
Case: Profiles in Wisdom (McFadden)
Recommended videos: "Listen to the Forest" (9093), "From the Heat of the World" (6070), "Primal Mind" (675), "Sacred Ground" (7125), "Our Sacred Land" (8373), "Mount Shasta: Cathedral of Wilderness" ( ), "An Ecology of Mind" (6355), "The Faithkeeper: Oren Lyons" (5284), "To Protect Mother Earth" (5413), "The Shark Callers of Kontu" (4411), "To Find Our Life" (7524), "Watunna" (9214)
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October
3 Religions of India Scupin 12; Glazier 7, 12; Holm-Bowker 3, 6; Kinsley 5; Callicott 3
Video in class: Huston Smith's The Wisdom
of Faith: Buddhism and Hinduism (14492)
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10 Hinduism
Case: Purifying the Earthly Body of God (Nelson)
Recommmended videos: "The Goddess and the Computer" (4047), "Eleven Powers" (6205)
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17 Buddhism Scupin 13; Glazier 13; Kinsley 7; Holm-Bowker 1
Case: Dharma Rain (Kaza and Kraft)
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24 Recommended videos: "Buddhism, Man and Nature" (1371), "Sacred Wildness: Zen Teachings of Rock and Water" (13745), "Bhutan: The Last Sangra La" ( ), "Ladakh: Kingdom in the Clouds" (11602), "Mini-Dragon Series II: Thailand" (10571), "Robert A. F. Thurman on Buddhism" (17878, Parts 1-3)
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31 Guest Lecture: to be announced
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November
7 Election Holiday
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14 Videos in class: "Butterfly" ( ) and
"Places of Power and Peace" ( )
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21 Religions of China Scupin 14; Kinsley 6; Holm-Bowker 7; Callicott 4-5
Religions of Japan Scupin 15; Glazier 8; Holm-Bowker 8
Recommended videos: "Shinto: Nature, Gods, and Man in Japan" (7858), "Kumano and Koya: In the Heart of Japan" ( ), "Confucianism" (14493)
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28 The New Age and Related Forms Scupin 20-21; Glazier 19;
of Contemporary Spirituality Kinsley 13-17, Conclusions; Callicott 9-10
Case: Nature Religion in America (Albanese)
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December
5 Case: One Spirit, Many Peoples (Buhner)
Case: Green Psychology (Metzner)
Recommended videos: "Ecopsychology: Restoring the Earth, Healing the Self" (14703), "A Personal Philosophy ny Huston Smith" (14496)
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12 *** FINAL EXAMINATION DUE***
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