Spiritual Journeys Syllabus

Fall 2005 to Spring 2006

Overview

In a world where religion is often used as a tool to divide, the Spiritual Journeys program gives participants an insight into how religious communities cross boundaries and build bridges. Participants are invited into New York’s most vibrant religious communities and learn about the lived experiences of that community from members themselves. These visits are then used as a context to explore the changing religious landscape of the United States and look at the history and dynamic interaction of the various religious traditions that now compose the American religious scene.

Over the course of the year, Spiritual Journeys raises key issues in inter-religious dialogue, explores religious difference, and illuminates the ways in which religions can work together to counter narrow visions of faith. According Spiritual Journeys is divided into following three parts.

Classroom Discussions (Thursdays 6-9 PM): Participants take part in an in-depth seminar on Religious difference that will help explain anatomy of a community’s religious experience. That is, students will not only receive an overview of a community’s history and practices but also an understanding of the immense diversity within communities and how individuals create personal meaning within a community.  

Site Visits (Saturday or Sunday): Instead of learning about world’s religion from outside experts, Spiritual Journeys focuses on giving voice to Buddhist, Christian, Chinese popular religion, Earth based Religions, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim communities in New York area. Community members will discuss their tradition’s heritage, contemporary social issues, and lived spiritual practices as well as invite participants to experience their rituals, worship, and a communal meal (Participation required for credit).

Diversity Trainings (Tuesdays 6-9 PM): The Religious Diversity Training will explore issues of religion, conflict and peace building through the lens of the religious, cultural and ethnic diversity within the New York area. Interactive group activities and discussion allow participants to explore assumptions, prejudices and fears of difference. Participants will develop conflict resolution skills, including skills for self-reflection, understanding the other, and communicating across diverse religious and cultural backgrounds (Participation is  NOT required for academic credit). 

Course Requirements

In order to receive credit for this course, students must complete the following requirements:

Class Participation: Students must attend 90% of all site visits and class seminars. All students are invited to attend the diversity training sessions but attendance in theses sessions is not required for credit.

Class assignments: Students will have monthly required reading assignments and are expected to keep a monthly journal. Assessment will be based on class participation, journals and a final paper.

Final Paper: Students will have the option of reflecting on their journal experiences in a 10-12 page paper or writing a book review based on one of the courses supplementary texts.

Readings

Required Readings:

Eck, D. (2002). A New Religious America. San Francisco: Harper Publishing.

Smith, H. (1991). The World’s Religions. London: Harper Collins.

Supplementary Readings:

Gibson, M. (1988). Accommodation without Assimilation, Sikh Immigrants in an American High School.

Kamentz, R. (1994). The Jew in the Lotus.

Hann Tich Nat. (1996) Fragrant Palm Leaves: Journals 1966-1969.

Ariarajah, W. (1999). Not Without My Neighbor; Issues in Interfaith Relations

Sachs, J. (2002). The Dignity of Difference How to avoid the Clash of Civilizations. New York, NY: Continuum Publications.

Orsi, R. (2003). Gods in the City Religion and the Urban Landscape.

Lessinger, Johanna (1995). From the Ganges to the Hudson: Indian Immigrants in New York City

Ochs, Vanessa (1993) Words on Fire.

Knitter, Paul (1995) One Earth, Many Religions.

Nafisi, Azar Reading Lolita in Teheran

Nomani, Asra Standing Alone in Mecca

Course Dates:

Seminars: Thursdays, 6 – 8 pm: October 20, November 17, December 8, January 19, February 23, March 9, April 6, May 11

Visits: October 22, November 19, December 11, January 21, February 24, March 11, April 8, May 13

Diversity training sessions: Tuesdays, 6 – 9 pm: October 25, November 22, December 13, January 24, February 28, March 14, April 11, May 16, May 20

Engaging other religious worlds necessarily involves engaging difference. These differences entail far more than difference of customs and practices; they often include fundamental differences in beliefs, values, and worldviews. Engaging difference often creates conflict.

Schedule

October: Hinduism

Lecture: Thursday, October 20: Krishna, Yoga, and Hindu Images in American Culture

Visit Saturday, October 22: Hindu Temple Society of North America, Sri Maha Valabha Ganapati Devasthanan.

Diversity training session: Tuesday, October 25: Identity

Readings: Eck Ch. 3, Smith Ch. 2.

November: Buddhism 

Lecture: Thursday, November 17: Polytheism and Conversion

Visit, Saturday, November 19: Manhattan Won Buddhist Temple:

Diversity training session: Tuesday, November 15: Epistemological Grounds of Religious Belief/ Ways of Knowing

Readings: Eck Ch. 4 Smith Ch. 4.

December: Christianity

Lecture: Thursday, December 8: Proselytizing, Ecumenical Dialogue and Christian Diversity

Visit, Sunday, December 11: Christ Apostolic Church First in the Americas

Diversity training session: Tuesday, December 13: Conflict

Readings: Orsi Ch. 7. & Ch. 9 (available online)

January: Islam

Lecture: Thursday, January 19: Exploring the Umma (Global Islamic Community) in New York City.

Visit, Islamic Cultural Center of New York:  Saturday, January 21

Diversity training session: Tuesday, January 24: Trauma

February: Judaism

Lecture: Thursday, February 23: Judaism and Religious Education

Visit, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun: Friday, February 24

Diversity training session: Tuesday, February 28 Exploring Power and Authority

March: Earth Based Religions

Lecture: Thursday, March 9: Indigenous Religions, Religious Minorities and New Religious Communities

Visit: Saturday, March 11 TBA

Diversity training session: Tuesday, March 14: Anti Bias/ Diversity

April: Sikhism

Lecture: Thursday, April 6: Religious Identity in Urban and Suburban Settings

Visit, Sikh Center Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur: Saturday, April 8

Diversity training session: Tuesday, April 11: Peace Building

May: Religions of the Chinese Diaspora:

Lecture: Thursday, May 11:  Exploring new frameworks for talking about religious minorities.

Visit, Walking tour of Chinatown—Church of Grace, Guang Ming Buddhist Temple, He Xian Jun Temple:  Saturday, May 13

Final Diversity training session and debrief: Tuesday, May 16