MR547/647: World Religions,
Art, and Symbol (4 units)
Evelyne A. Reisacher,
Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies and Intercultural Relations
Summer 2008
DESCRIPTION:
This course
explores the major world’s religions by looking at art and symbols and other
non-verbal means of expression. It provides an introduction to Hinduism,
Buddhism, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. In addition, it also covers more
minor traditions and briefly takes a look at some new religious beliefs.
Instead of focusing on the study of the written texts of these religions, the
course investigates them through the study of their art, symbolism and rituals.
We will explore the non-verbal and sensory elements of these religions and
discuss their meaning and role. For example, we will look at the importance and
the role of architecture, color, sound, rhythm, images and how they impact
believers consciously and non-consciously and are essential elements of beliefs
and practices. Students who take this class will enhance both their
understanding of people from other faiths and their ability to communicate and
relate with them.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of
the course, students will be able to:
1. Describe the art, rituals, sounds,
architecture and other non-verbal elements of expression associated with the
world’s religions
2. Understand the role and meaning of
these elements and define how they affect communication within or with specific
religions
3. Develop new ways to reach out to
people from other religions by understanding the role of arts and symbols
4. Define how arts and symbols impact
the communication of the Gospel
COURSE FORMAT: The course utilizes a
combination of lectures, discussions and videos. It is a two-week intensive
that meets daily for 4.5 hours.
.
REQUIRED
1. Bowker, John. World Religions: The Great Faiths Explored and Explained. DK
Publishing, 2006.
2. Burckhardt, Titus. Sacred Art in
the East and West: Its Principles and Methods. Fons Vitae, 2002.
3. Glaser, Ida. The Bible And Other Faiths: Christian Responsibility
in a World of Religions.
4. Plate, S.
Brent, Religion, Art, and Visual Culture: A Cross-Cultural Reader.
Palgrave Macmillan. 2002.
5. Sharma,
Arvind, ed. Our Religions: The
Seven World Religions Introduced by Preeminent Scholars from Each Tradition.
RECOMMENDED
1. Coleman, Earle Jerome. Creativity and
Spirituality: Bonds between Art and Religion.
2. Coogan, Michael D., The
Illustrated Guide to World Religions.
3. Dyrness, William A. Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in
Dialogue. Baker Academic. 2001.
4. Novak, Philip, The World's Wisdom:
Sacred Texts of the World's Religions.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. 4 to 5 pages (1,000 – 1,250 word) reflective
essay based on 1,200 pages of reading (25% of grade). Students will submit a
reading log.
2. Visit a religious site or a museum
with sacred art or attend a religious festival and journal your experience and
impressions (20% of grade).
3. Ten page paper, double-spaced, in
which the student will reflect on one of the issues addressed in class (20% of
grade). This paper is directly related to assignment 4.
4. Create or describe a non-verbal
support as an illustration to the above paper (20% of grade)
5. Attendance and participation (15% of
grade).
Grading papers: papers will be graded on an A to F scale.
PREREQUISITES: None.
FINAL EXAM: None
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
Meets World Religions (WREL) requirement for SOT MAT program. An option to meet Specialized Requirements in the Master of
Arts in Worship, Theology, and the Arts. An option to meet WTA Concentration
units in the Master of Divinity-Worship Theology and the Arts.