David Panisnick
Professor: Religion and Philosophy
Bldg. 7- 623
845-9423
davepani@hcc.hawaii.edu

Course Description: Introduction to basic ideas and issues of contemporary religious thought related to the question: "What is the meaning of existence?" (3 credits)

Recommended Preparation: Placement in ENG 22/60

Course Objectives:

Rel. 151 fulfills a Humanities Area Requirement. It is also considered an introductory course. This suggests to me that the primary objective should be to introduce the student to a particular way of thinking about religious subject matter. Although content is important, I am more concerned that you become familiar with methodology. What do people who are interested in the academic discipline of Religion do and how do they do it? What kinds of questions do these people ask, and how can one learn to ask these types of questions for oneself? You will find that in this course there will be many questions left unresolved. You will leave the course with many more questions than answers. Though this may prove frustrating, hopefully it will also be a basis for a continuing education, and encourage you to adopt a similarly critical approach in other classes.

Student Competencies: It is expected that each student will develop competency in the following areas:

1. An understanding of one's own religious or non-religious views and values.

 
2. An appreciation of the religious and non-religious views and values of others.

 
3. An ability to think and articulate one's thoughts on a level sufficiently abstract to engage both traditional and non-traditional questions pertaining to "the meaning of existence."

 
4. An understanding of some of the universal questions and problems which apply to all religions.

    1. WHAT IS RELIGION?

        a. The Depth Dimension.
        b. Primary Relationships.
        c. Religion vs. Nihilism.

    2. CREATION MYTHS.

        a. What is Myth?
        b. Chaos and Order.
        c. Human as Creator.
        d. Genesis 3.

    3. FROM CATHEDRALS TO CONCENTRATION CAMPS.

        a. Institution vs. Spirit.
        b. Cult vs. Prophets.
        c. Belief or Faith.
        d. The Grand Inquisitor.

    4. THE LOSS OF THE CENTER.

        a. The Middle Ages.
        b. Martin Luther.
        c. Witches and Heretics.

MIDTERM

II. LIMITATIONS AND POSSIBILITIES IN THE 20TH CENTURY: THE SEARCH FOR AN ETHIC.

    5. The Accidental Century.

        a. Revelation of the Absurd.
        b. The Rebel.
        c. The Myth of Sisyphus.
        d. The Absurd and Ethics.

    6. The Post-Christian Age.

        a. Institutionalized Pessimism: Death Instinct.
        b. Institutionalized Optimism: Cult of the Self.

III. CONCLUSIONS.

       7. Clowns and Saints.

        a. The Retarded Paramour.
        b. Who are the Clowns?
        c. Irony and Romance.
        d. Monuments and Saints.

      8. Design for Ethics.

        a. The Problem Restated.
        b. Meaning of Autonomy.
        c. Education and Ethics.

    9. Science and the Future of Religion.

        a. No Organism Can Survive Against Its Environment.

FINAL EXAM

Text: Fyodor Dostoevski, The Grand Inquisitor on the Nature of Man.

Requirements:

1. There will be two exams. The exams will be of equal worth and each will cover approximately one-half of the course.

 
2. Students will be expected to keep a journal during the semester. A journal is a written acount of your thoughts and opinions concerning the topics we discuss in class, and your readings. The journal should not be personal (not a diary), but should include critical comments. Entries may range from a sentence to paragraphs to pages. There is no specified length, however I would recommend at least one extended entry per week. The journal will make up one-third of your grade and will be collected periodically throughout the semester. The instructor will be pleased, upon request, to review any student's journal at any time during the semester. Failure to turn in a journal at the end of the semester will result in an automatic "F."