Lecturer: Dr. Stephen Palmquist
"... the beautiful is the symbol of the morally good ..." -- Immanuel Kant "One of the gravest problems of our day is the lack of commitment to common symbols.... But more mysterious is a wide-spread, explicit rejection of rituals as such." -- Mary Douglas "I suspected that myth had a meaning which I was sure to miss if I lived outside it ... I was driven to ask myself in all seriousness: 'What is the myth you are living?' I found no answer ... So I took it upon myself to get to know my 'myth', and I regarded this as the task of tasks." -- Carl G. Jung Objectives Review of Year I. Religious studies major students have been introduced to philosophy in both the western (PHIL 1110) and eastern (REL 1250) traditions. They have also had the opportunity to compare the various world religions (REL 1210) and to learn how various types of "scientists of religion" have developed phenomenological, psychological, and sociological methods of studying religion (REL 1260). In addition, they have done an initial survey of Chinese religious practices (REL 1220) and of the Bible (REL 1230). Overview of Year II. In this coming year students will be expected to go deeper into many of these same areas of study, and will begin to engage in comparative and socio-critical inquiries. Classes on Buddhism (REL 1240 and 2220) and Christianity (REL 2231-2, 2240, and 3250) will take students deeper into these two religious traditions, while the elective and complementary studies subjects (including PHIL 1610 and 2770/2780) will prepare students for critiquing comparative and social issues in the third year. The present subject (REL 2210) is distinct from the other Year II subjects in that it will give students a more in-depth look at the basic ingredients of any religion. As such, it can be regarded as the stepping stone that provides a link between REL 1260 (the "science" of religion) and REL 3210 (the "philosophy" of religion). Although this subject will require some discussion of both scientific and philosophical approaches to religion, the main emphasis will be on understanding the actual experience of religion. Science looks at religion concretely and objectively. Philosophy looks at it abstractly and subjectively. This course will require the student to combine these by taking a subjective look at concrete forms of religious thought and behaviour. Religious symbols have power. In order to understand them properly, students will therefore need to put themselves in the place of the religious people who really perform/believe the rituals and myths that utilize the various symbols we will be studying. Each student must try to imagine what it is like to be religious in various ways--even those who do not regard themselves as religious "believers". The ultimate objective of this rather unusual approach will be to provide the opportunity to experience the powerful "unity in diversity" (i.e., levels of sameness and difference) revealed in the world religions. Requirements and Grade Assessment Attend lectures, participate in the presentations, and do the readings! Suggested readings will be placed on "one day" reserve in the library throughout the semester (see separate list). Project: 30% of your grade will be based on a joint project. After doing a case study of a specific religious group, you and one other classmate will write up the main points of your research in the form of an essay and use this as the basis for a class presentation. The presentation should last 20-30 minutes, so the written version should be about 6-9 pages long (not including diagrams, footnotes, appendixes, etc.), depending on how much you "ad lib". Your presentation should stimulate a 15-30 minute class discussion on some topic(s) related to religious symbolism, ritual, and/or myth. If you have any doubt about whether your topic is appro- priate, you should ask for the lecturer's approval before beginning any serious research. (At some point during the first week of class you should sign up for the day and topic of your choice.) Give a copy of your paper to the lecturer by 5pm on the day before the presentation. Term paper: Another 30% of your grade will be based on a term paper, which should be based to some extent on the first paper. Your revision should take into consideration the comments given by the lecturer on your jointly written project, as well as the questions raised by your classmates during the presentation. One good approach would be to include in the term paper some additional theoretical assessments of your case study. But make sure you and your partner choose different ways of applying your case study! The length of the final term paper should be between 1500 and 2500 words and between 5 and 10 pages. (This means some of the material given in the presentation will have to be omitted.) You should hand it in in class on 29 Dec. There will be a strict penalty for late papers (i.e., any handed in after 4:10pm). No papers will be accepted after 2:10pm on 4 January. Grades: You will find out your grades for both the project and the term paper when the term paper is handed back (probably on the last day of class, 5 January). Grades will be determined by the following criteria: for the project, (1) did you present your ideas in a clear and interesting way (10%)? (2) did you lead the discussion in a way that demonstrated that you understand your topic (10%)? and (3)Ędid you participate in other class dis- cussions (10%)?; and for the term paper, (1) did you write clearly (10%)? (2) was your treatment of the subject complete (10%)? and (3) was your treatment of the subject creative (10%)? Examination: 40% of your grade will be based on the final exam, which will probably consists of two essay questions (worth 20% each). Tentative Lecture Schedule I. Introduction: review of past classes; some tentative definitions (28 September) II. Symbolism and its nature (philosophical and psychological aspects) 1. Kant and the epistemological basis of symbolism (29 September) 2. The "unity in diversity" of analytic a posteriori knowledge (5 October) 3. Tillich on faith and religious symbolism (5 October) 4. Language and the symbols of love (6 October) 5. Jung on dreams and unconscious symbolism (12 October) 6. Perception and the symbols of art (12 October) [Followed by 8 student project presentations on symbolism: 13, 19, 20 October.] III. Ritual and its function (sociological and anthropological aspects) 1. The natural (bodily) basis of ritual as symbolic action (26 October) 2. Alienation and the rejection of ritual in modern society (26 October) 3. Rites of passage: birth and maturity (27 October) 4. Tantric rituals of love and sex (2 November) 5. Rites of passage: marriage and death (2 November) 6. Spatial relations in the manipulation of ritual objects (3 November) [Followed by 10 student project presentations on ritual: 9, 10, 16 November.] IV. Myth and its meaning (religious and comparative aspects) 1. The supernatural (psychic) basis of myth as symbolic belief (17 November) 2. When is "demythologization" necessary? (23 November) 3. Myths of creation, birth, and life (23 November) 4. Myths of love, sex, and marriage (24 November) 5. Myths of suffering, death, and destruction (30 November) 6. Myths of healing, resurrection, and renewal (30 November) [Followed by 8 student project presentations on myth: 1, 7, 8 December.] V. Myth, Ritual and Symbolism in the world's religions: some case studies 1. Exact topic to be announced later (14 December) 2. Exact topic to be announced later (14 December) 3. Exact topic to be announced later (15 December) 4. Exact topic to be announced later (28 December) 5. Exact topic to be announced later (28 December) **Term papers due** 6. Exact topic to be announced later (29 December) VI. Conclusion (4 & 5 January) **Term papers & grades returned**
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This page was last updated on 30 September 1995
StevePq@hkbu.edu.hk