Although organized as a lecture course, I will also attempt to incorporate a more informal seminar environment in which students will be asked to discuss and develop a careful reading of texts assigned in advance. Each class will therefore be divided into a lecture followed by a discussion period. Students are required to read all materials for each class meeting, with emphasis on primary texts for discussion.
 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Attendance and active class participation: be prepared to discuss assigned texts.
2.. Class Presentations: Each student will do a presentation on assigned readings, then lead discussion.
3. Three short (2-3 pages) reflection papers on assigned readings.
4. A one-hour in-class midterm.
5. A final examination that will include terms, short answers, and short essay question(s).

GRADES:
 

Attendance and participation	10% (approximate: see NOTE)
Presentation and Reflection Papers	20% (approximate: see NOTE)
Midterm	30%
Final Exam	40%

NOTE: I consider the first three requirements to consist of students' active involvement with class readings, writings, participation and attendance. All three will be graded in relation to each other and with a view towards the ongoing development and improvement of each student's reading and writing skills. THIS MEANS THAT your attendance and participation as active members of the class as a reading and writing community will count for 30% your final grade.

INCOMPLETES and extensions will be granted ONLY IN ADVANCE for a documented illness or other emergency.

Students are encouraged to meet with me at least once during the course of the semester, especially to prepare for the various writing assignments and class presentations. I will be happy to meet with students by appointment outside my regular office hours.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Available at the Penn Book Center, 38th & Walnut Sts; 215-222-7600
(NOT to be confused with the University Book Store)

John Corrigan, Frederick M. Denny, Carlos M.N. Eire, Martin S. Jaffee, Jews,
    Christians, Muslims: A Comparative Introduction to Monotheistic Religions  (Prentice Hall, 1998).

Philip S. Alexander, ed., Textual Sources for the Study of Judaism (Chicago, 1990).

Andrew Rippin and Jan Knappert, eds., Textual Sources for the Study of Islam (Chicago, 1990).

Al-Qur'an: A Contemporary Translation by Ahmed Ali (Princeton, 1988).
    You can also access an on-line version of the Quran (though a different translation):  gopher://ccat.sas.upenn.edu:3333/11/Religious/Islam/Quran

The Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha (New Revised Standard Version).
    You can also access an on-line version of the Bible through our website:  http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=RSV&passage=all

BULKPACK: There will be a short bulkpack available at Campus Copy Center.
    We will use it only for the Christianity section of the course; I have NOT yet ordered the bulkpack.
    I will tell you when it is ready

GLOSSARY:

Since the midterm and the final will test you on your knowledge of key terms in each of the traditions, you need to make use of the various glossaries available: Each of the texts assigned has a brief glossary at the end of the book.
In addition, there is a comprehensive on-line glossary available through the Religious Studies Department's web page:
 http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~rs2/glossopt.html

In-class hand-out

Myths from Ancient Near East (handout)
        On-Line Links to Ancient Near East Myths
            The Babylonian Creation Epic: Enuma Elish
            The Epic of Gilgamesh
Bible:  Genesis 1-11
    Gen. 12-22, 25-33, Ex. 1-20 (read quickly like a novel, then go back and re-read Gen. 22)
Corrigan: 3-25, 77-81

I. Rabbinic Judaism

Alexander 1.1, All of 2 ; 1.4 , 5.1.2, 5.2.3
NOTE: numbers given for Alexander readings refer to Section Numbers and not to page number. E.G.: 1.1 is chapter 1, section 1. When only one number is given, e.g. 2, that means read that entire chapter.
Corrigan: 157-173, re-read 15-22
Web:
    See A Page from the Babylonian Talmud
    Midrashic readings of the Aqedah
    Mystical reading of the Aqedah

Alexander: 1.6, 7; 1.7, 8
Corrigan: 78-92; 279-295.
Web :
   (Required) Philosophy: Maimonides' Interpretation of the Aqedah
    Information and Links about Jewish Mysticism
    The Ten Sefirot (Jewish Mysticism)
    The Ascent to the Merkabah Interactive Site (Mysticism)

Alexander 1.2, 3 (Liturgy)
Corrigan: 215-234; 343-367.
Web:
    Calendar of Jewish Holidays

Alexander: 1.8, 9
        1.9, 10.1, 10.2.1, 10.2.2
Corrigan: 421-440
Web:
    Modern Jewish Movements ('Denominations'): Refom, Conservative, Orthodox,
    Movements of Judaism: Page with information on modern movements as well as other modern issues and themes.
    A comparison of Maimonides' Thirteen Principles (adopted by Orthodox Judaism) and The Pittsburgh Platform (Reform Judaism)
    20th Century Issues:
        United States Holocaust Museum
        Children of the Holocaust (New Biography Every day of a Child Who Was Effected by the Holocaust)
        Columbia University Jewish Women Resources
        Kol Isha a Jewish feminist orginization homepage from the Union of Jewish Students

Jesus & Early Christianity

Bible: Matthew 1-7, 21-28; Mark 14-16; Luke 1-3; John 1-3
    Lamentations 3:25-30; Psalms 22, 110
    Romans 1-16, Hebrews 9-11, James 2:8-26.
Bulkpack: Selections from Creeds & Early Theology From:
        Documents of the Christian Church
        The Christian Theology Reader
Corrigan: 26-51

Web:
    Required: Excerpts from various Church Fathers' readings of Genesis 22

Other Web Readings:
    A. Jesus and The First Christian Communities:
    PBS Frontline Series From Jesus to Christ (With information on Jesus and the First Christian Communities)
            Index Page: The First Christians
            Life and Work of St. Paul
           Early Congregations founded by Paul.
    Excerpts from Robert Kraft's Lectures on Life and Work of Paul

B. Early Christianity: The Church Fathers
    Chronology of Christianity from 1 CE to the Present
    Resource Page on  Church Fathers
    Texts from Early Church Fathers (From Christian Classics Ethereal Library)
    The Nicean Creed (325 CE; becomes official teaching on the Trinity)
    The Definition of the Council of Chalcedon (451 CE; becomes official teaching on the Status of the Son)
    The Ecole Initiative (On-Line Encyclopedia of Early Christianity
    Early Church Documents from Ecole Initiative
    New Advent Links to Church Fathers

 C. Images
    The Pantheon in Rome
    The Colisseum in Rome (place of staged battles between lions and early Christians)
     Byzantine Depiction of Virgin and Child Enthroned in Hagia Sofia (c. 843-867)
     Byzantine Depiction of The Crucifixion (9th Century)
     Byzantine Madonna And Child (13th Century)
     Matthias Grunewald (c. 1475-1529) The Crucifixion
     Marc Chagall (1889-1985) White Crucifixion
     13th Century Roman Mosaic Depicting Paul
     Caravaggio's The Conversion On the Way to Damascus
 
 

Augustine:: Selections from Augustine (Bulkpack)
            See James O'Donnel's Augustine Page , including The Confessions On the Web
            St. Augustine's reading of the Binding of Isaac from City of God
            Image of Augustine from 6th Century
Medieval Philosophy:
    Selections from St. Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologica (Bulkpack)
        Aquinas' Summa on the Web
            Introduction to Aquinas and Medieval Philosophy
            Introductory essay on Aquinas and Thomist Philosophy
            Short Introductory Essay on Aquinas
           Illuminated Manuscript Page from Aquinas' writings
Medieval Mysticism:
 Writings on mysticism: from The Essential Mystics; and Meister Eckhart (Bulkpack)
    St. John's University Site on Mysticism
    Catholic Encyclopedia Brief Article on Mysticism And on Mystical Theology
    Alphabetical List of Mystics With Biographical Information
    Information about & Selections from Meister Eckhart (Mysticism)
    Short Selections from Meister Eckhart
    Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on St. Teresa of Avila (Selections of her work in bulkpack)
    St. Teresa's Texts: Life (with biographical introduction); Way of Perfection; The Interior Castle
    St. John of The Cross
    Evelyn Underhill's Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness
Corrigan: 105-132

Other Web Material::
    Monasticism: Introduction to Medieval Monasticism
        Information on The Order of St. Beneditct
    Information on History of Medieval Religion
    Information on Byzantine Culture & Eastern Orthodoxy
Art & Architecture:
    Medieval Life: Information and Images on Medieval Architecture & Art (From NetSERF Medieval Pages)
        Notre Dame de Paris
        Gothic Cathedral Architecture
        WebMuseum introduction to and Images from Gothic Painting
        Examples of Illuminated Manuscripts from Western Europe
        Russian Icons: Art from Eastern Orthodox tradition
        Medieval music: Gregorian Chant
        Internet Art Museum Images of Gothic Art

NOTE: For all CGS classes, fall break ends at 9 a.m. on 10/18

Film: The Chosen.

Corrigan: 235-255, 368-396

Bulkpack: Selections from Reformation writers (The Chrisitan Theology Reader)
    Luther "99 Theses", "Preface to Romans"
    Luther's Preface to Romans on-line Version
Corrigan: 174-194
Web:
    John Calvin on Justification by Faith: Through his Reading of Abraham Story (Required)
    Reformation Ink: Resource Links on the Reformation
    Information & links concerning the Reformation.
    Brief Biography of Marin Luther, with links to key texts.
     John Calvin page.

Bulkpack: Lessing "On The Proof of The Spirit & The Power"
    Pascal, selections from Pensees
        Text of Pascal's Pensees on the Web
    Kierkegaard: selections from Fear and Termbling
        Kierkegaard on the Web
        Biographical information and Introductory Essay on Kierkegaard
        Selections from the Writings of Soren Kierkegaard
    Tillich "Science and Theology: A Discussion with Einstein"
        Web Information on Tillich
    Trible "On Feminist Interpretation of the Bible"
    Readings May Change; Final List To Come
Corrigan: 296-322, 441-462
Web:
    Required: Wilfrid Owen's World War I Poem, The Parable of the Old Man and the Young (Telling of Binding of Isaac Story)
    God and Science, writings about effects of science on religion.

Quran: Suras 96, 99, 101, 1, 2, 19
        See a Page from the Quran
Rippin: 1.1, 2.2, 2.3 (Scripture)
        1.2, 3 (History)
        1.6, 7.1, 7.2 (Sects)
Corrigan: 52-72, 195-209

Web:
    Introduction to Islam (an article by M. C. Bassiouini from the George Camp Keiser Library)
    Introductiontoislam.com Website with information on Muslim belies (UK & US links)
    USC collection of biographical materials and modern assessments of Muhammad
    Hadith Collections (sayings of Muhammad)
 

Rippin 1.4, 5 (Law)
        1.5, 6 (Theology)
        1.7, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 (Mysticism)
Corrigan: 134-151

Web:
    USC page on Muslim Law (Shari'ah)
    Essay about Islamic Law
    Sufism Page
    Poems by Sufi Poet Rumi (13th Century)
    al-Ghazali's discussion of Fundamental Muslim Beliefs (12th Century)
    Islamic Architecture with photos of Mosques and other buildings

Rippin: 1.3, 4 (Ritual practice)
Corrigan: 256-273, 323-338

Web:
        The Hajj Information Center (Official website for the annual pilgrimage)
        Graphic Representation of the Hajj
        Image of the Kaaba

Film: Guests of God

Rippin: 1.8, 9 (Islam in the modern world)
Corrigan: 463-479

Web:
    Articles and information about the Nation of Islam
    Muslim Women's League
    United Muslim Women's Association

Film: Bill Moyers Genesis, Discussion of Genesis 22

Religious Studies Department Resources Page

Academic Info Religion Indexes (With Searchable index of various subjects)

Rutgers Virtual Religion Pages

Yahoo Index Page for Religion Topics

Calvin College's Christian Classics Ethereal Library Database of Christian Texts

Barbara von Schlegell (U Penn Religious Studies) Web Resources on Islam links page

The Binding of Isaac:
Links to Various Readings of Genesis 22 from the Three Traditions