RELG 231:

Religions of India

 

Professor: Daniel Meckel

          Office: Anne Arundel 110C. Ext. 4464

          Email: djmeckel@smcm.edu

          Office hours: Fridays 11:00-12:00 PM

Teaching Assistant: Will Frye
          Email: cwfrye@smcm.edu

 

Course Summary

This course will provide an historical introduction to Indian Civilization in its major religious forms. We will study Hindu religions, Jainism, Buddhism, Islam and Sikhism, as these have developed, interacted, and given form to distinctive ways of life in India. We will trace the general outlines of India’s history, from pre-historical times up to the present, and learn about India’s religions and culture through historical studies, religious and philosophical texts, forms of devotion and ritual, stories of major religious figures (human and divine), and the arts.

 

Required Texts:

Wood, Michael  India.

Koller, John  The Indian Way: An Introduction to the Philosophies and Religions of India

Schedule for the last two weeks of class:

 

 

THE SIKHS

Week 14

Dec 1: Sikh History

 

·        Koller, Ch. 15

 

Dec 3:  Sikh Doctrine and Practice

 

 

Reflection Paper 4: Due Friday the 4th by 5:00 PM

 

 

 

Sunday, Dec 6th: Visit Gurudwara in DC.

                             3801 Massachusetts Ave, NW.  20016 Washington DC.

                                      Tel: 202-364-0363

Depart from parking lot of campus center at 9:50 AM sharp, return by 4:30 PM.

 

Gurudwara Response Paper (see Assignments Page): Due Dec. 10

 

 

 

COLONIALISM AND FREEDOM

                   Week 15

Dec 8: History: 1700 CE to 2009 CE

 

The Story of India:

Freedom

 

·        Wood, Ch. 6

 

QUIZ 4

 

Dec 10:  The British Presence

                   and India’s Response

·        Koller, Ch. 16

Gurudwara Paper Due

 

                                                              FINAL EXAM

December  16, 7:00 PM -9:15 PM

 

Bring Blue Books

 

 

           Grading

Midterm Exam........................................................................... 200

Final........................................................................................... 250

Map Exercises............................................................................ 100 (50+25+25)

Reflection Papers....................................................................... 100 (20 each)

Quizzes...................................................................................... 100 (25 pts each)

Field Essays................................................................................ 100

Participation............................................................................... 150

 

 

Final Grade Values
1000 Points Possible


  920 to 1000 = A

  900 to 919 = A-

  880 to 899 = B+

  820 to 879 = B

  800 to 819 = B-

  780 to 799 = C+

 


720 to 779 = C

700 to 719 = C-

680 to 699 = D+

620 to 679 = D

600 to 619 = D-

599 and below = F

 

Track your progress in the class on Blackboard