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History 302/Religion 302

Buddhism

Adrian College	Spring Semester, 2001
Dr. Michael McGrath	North 327
Dr. Fritz Detwiler	T-Th 10:30-11:45

Course Description

This will be a team-taught course that will focus on the thematic development of Buddhism. The course will be student-centered and will employ a number of group learning techniques. Emphasis will be placed on content mastery and thinking skill development.

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Course Objectives

There are five desired outcomes of the course.

1. To gain an understanding of main features of the diverse traditions of Buddhism and their relationship to the cultural surroundings in which they occurred.

2. To gain an understanding of the role which religion plays in culture with specific attention to the close relationship between the two.

3. To expose students to cultures which differs significantly from their own so that they can gain an understanding of human diversity.

4. To gain an understanding of the particularly Buddhist ways of defining, experiencing, and responding to transcendent dimensions of reality.

5. To develop the necessary thinking skills which enable students to pursue their own learning strategies in connection with the previous four stated outcomes.

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Course Themes and Central Issues

The content analysis of this course is built around the Three Refuges of Buddhism -- the means by which Buddhists pursue the path to enlightenment. This means that we will address the course content using many of the categories and perspectives that Buddhists themselves use. In that regard, we have divided the course into three sections. (1) The Refuge of the Buddha considers the historical person called "The Buddha", the context into which he was born, and the forms that the Buddha (and other Buddhas) take; (2) The Refuges of the Dharma considers the teachings of the Buddha, the way in which Buddhists envision the world, and the power the teachings have to lead people to enlightenment; (3) The Refuge of the Sangha considers the community of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen as they pursue the path to enlightenment.

The central questions of the course:

How did the various Buddhist traditions conceive of and relate to the world beyond the human realm?

In what way did the various schools expand previous understandings of their relationship between humans and reality? themselves?

How did the Buddhists define the problem of existence and how did the various traditions seek a solution to that problem?

How did Buddhists answer the question, "How then should we live?"

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Course Requirements

Students will be expected to meet each of the following course requirements:

1. Class Preparation -- Readiness Assessment Quizzes: Students will take a ten question multiple choice quiz at the beginning of those classes for which readings are assigned. The RAQs will cover the basic vocabulary and content of the readings.

2. Semester Project -- "Museum of Buddhism" Each group will design each of three different rooms in a museum of Buddhist religion. These rooms will correspond to each of the three "refuges" into which the content of the course has been divided. Individual grades for these projects will be determined, in part, by the group score and, in part, by participation evaluations of each group member's work as assessed by other members of the group.

3. WebCT Discussion Entries -- Students will be expected to make regular contributions to ongoing out-of-class discussion threads available through WebCT communication tools. Students should raise questions relating to understanding basic concepts, analysis of texts, and interpretations of the material. The instructors will monitor the discussion threads periodically and also will occasionally raise questions for reflection.

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Grade Compilation

Readiness Assessment -- 30%

WebCT Discussions -- 30%

Refuges museum rooms -- 30% (10% each)

Final museum integration -- 10%

Group Participation -- shared assessment by members of each group -- once in the middle of each project and once after the production of that segment of the Final Group Project.

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Course Readings

The readings listed on the Reading Assignment page on WebCT will correspond with the following designations for the course textbooks.

(1) Roger J. Corless, The Vision of Buddhism. This book will be abbreviated as C.

(2) Donald S. Lopez, Jr., ed. Buddhism in Practice. This book will be abbreviated as L.

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Class Absences:

Students will be permitted a total of three (3) class absences whether for personal, family, medical, athletic reasons or field trips, etc., related to other classes. Medical conditions requiring more than three-class days' absences must be documented from a physician indicating that a physical condition necessitated the prolonged absence. Some consideration may be given to non-traditional students with child-care responsibilities and for commuting students for weather related absences. The consideration given will be based on the degree of commitment to the class the student exhibits when present. Students missing more than three classes will have their additional absences counted against them by counting missed Readiness Assessment Quizzes.

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Office Hours:

The instructors maintain regular office hours. If you are having trouble in the class or would like to explore questions relevant to the course, you are strongly encouraged to drop by either or both the instructors' office. Since other responsibilities occasionally may require the instructors' attention during those hours, students are encouraged to check with the instructors if a consultation is desired. If the announced hours conflict with your class schedule, please make an appointment with the instructors at a time which is mutually convenient.

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