Week 11: The Amish

The Amish settled mostly in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Indiana

Tu 11.1
Read: GO—1:12:21-2:06:30
Class: Reading discussion; Lecture—“Research Papers: The How-To”

Th 11.3
Read: JAZZ—p. 1-94
Class: Reading discussion; Writers workshop
Due: EXPOSITORY ESSAY (DRAFT 1, BRING IN THREE COPIES)


UPCOMING:

Week 12
Mo 11.7
Read: JAZZ—p. 95-186
Class: Watch—Jesus Camp (2006)

We 11.9
Read: JAZZ—p.187-240
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 6

OPEN DUE ASSIGNMENT(S): EXPOSITORY ESSAY

Assignment: Expository Essay

Sweeney's seemingly spiritual journey eventually leads to atheism

In her monologue, Letting Go of God, comedienne Julia Sweeney recounts her journey from devout believer to staunch atheist. After some time exploring her own Christian faith, as well as other belief systems, Sweeney concludes that there is no God:

"Eventually I said goodbye to God, and I imagined him as this old man, this old broken-down man, more like an older version of the God on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. But if you looked closely, you could even recognize the Jesus from the poster in my high school bedroom...but older, much, much older, with long, gray and white hair, and lots of lines on his face. An old hippie who still smoked. And at one time he seemed so all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-protective. But now, he just seemed a little stinky.

And I could just see him sitting on the suitcases near the front door of my house, and I went to him and I said 'I'm sorry, God. It's not you. It's...it's me. It's just...I don't think you exist. I mean, God, look at it this way: It's really because I take you so seriously that I can't bring myself to believe in you. I mean, if it's any consolation, it's sort of a sign of respect. So...sit here for a while if you want to. You can stay a little while if you need to. There's no big hurry.' And slowly, over the course of several weeks, he just disappeared."

In a concise essay, identify three turning points in Sweeney's journey toward a belief in atheism. For instance, what were some keys events that pushed her further from her her long-held faith? Who were the people that influenced her budding beliefs and what was their impact? What were the defining moments in her path toward godlessness?

Requirements:

• MLA format, including parenthetical citation*
• 3-page minimum
• Include a works cited page 

  *Cite according to player timer (hour:minute:second); Example: (Sweeney 02:12:12)

The best papers will:

• Stay within the parameters of the prompt
• Have a concise thesis
• Clearly support their thesis with solid evidence and a logical structure
• Properly cite evidence using MLA's paranthetical citation method
• Conclude with a summation of your points
• Be in proper MLA Style

Due: Draft 1—We 11.2 (Bring two copies); Final draft—Due at any point between this week and the final day of class, Mo 12.5

News Roundup 10.26.11

Did Scientology strike back at South Park?

 

• Church of Scientology allegedly investigated South Park creators Huffington Post
• Who you gonna call?: Everything you need for a successful ghost hunt Gizmodo
• Can one be gay AND Catholic? Daily Beast
• Egyptian man jailed for anti-Muslim remarks on Facebook AFP
• Religion still a major factor for teens waiting to have sex International Business Times
• Halloween haunts not your thing? Try this church's "Judgement House" Kansas City Star

Week 10: Coptic Christians

Coptic, or Egyptian, Christians date back almost 2,000 years

M 10.24
Read: GO—35:19-1:12:20
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: SYNTHESIS ESSAY (FINAL DRAFT, ATTACH DRAFT 1 TO BACK)

W 10.26
Class: Library research session—Meet in MLK Library in room 125 (Sec. 3) and room 213 (Sec. 10)
Due: REFLECTION 5

UPCOMING:

Week 11
Tu 11.1
Read: GO—1:12:21-2:06:30
Class: Reading discussion; Lecture—“Research Papers: The How-To”

Th 11.3
Read: JAZZ—p. 1-94
Class: Reading discussion; Writers workshop
Due: EXPOSITORY ESSAY (DRAFT 1, BRING IN THREE COPIES)

News Roundup 10.22.11

Susan Sarandon makes a controversial claim about Pope Benedict

• Susan Sarandon: We have a Nazi Pope  Newsweek
• Still here?: The world (again) did not end, this time on October 21st, as doomsday prophet predicted ABCNews
• The joy of Diwali Times of India
• Florida principal: The First Amendment only applies to Christians Florida Times-Union
• GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain: "I like my guns and Bible. Ain't gonna give 'em up!" Huffington Post
• Bishop's blog post, blaming Jews for the death of Christ, increases Catholic/Jewish tensions Guardian

Reflection 05: Picking and Choosing—Cafeteria Spiritualism

More Americans are mixing and matching faiths to fit their needs

Some Mormons just can't do without caffeine, so they drink coffee. Some Catholics want control of their family planning, so they use contraceptives. Some Jews love the pageantry of Christmas, so they celebrate it every December 25th. Likewise, a person who finds comfort in Buddhist incantations, respects the environmental reverence of the Wiccans, and admires the Quaker emphasis on self-reliance might combine them into a personalized belief system. All of these are examples of the contemporary phenomenon of so-called "cafeteria spiritualism," sometimes called "salad bar" spiritualism. It is the practice of individuals customizing faiths, or parts of them, to fit their individual needs. In earlier times, followers of a devout faith generally accepted all aspects of that religion on the basis that true believers wholeheartedly embraced all related tenants. Not so today. In the 21st century, Americans routinely pick and choose the aspects of a faith, or faiths, that best fit their needs. Thus, younger generations of Americans are less likely to prescribe to a specific religion, opting instead to identify themselves as spiritual, but not religious. What do you think of cafeteria spiritualism? Does it make more sense in a pluralistic society, such as ours? Or should we return to the old days, when a Catholic was a Catholic and a Jew was a Jew, etc? Finally, have you, or anyone you know, partaken in this style of faith?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "My Religion is a Salad Bar" (Center for Creative Ministry)
• "Cafeteria Spirituality" (Wake Up for Life!)
• "Deliver Us From Salad Bar Religion" (Reformed Theology)
• "Inside the Spiritual Jacuzzi" (Reason)

Required:

• MLA Style
• Must be exactly two-full pages in length

Due: We 10.26

Week 09: Buddhists

Buddhism was born in India, home to The Great Buddha of Bodhgaya

Mo 10.17
Class: Presentations; Writers workshop
Due: SYNTHESIS ESSAY (DRAFT 1, BRING IN THREE COPIES)

We 10.19
Read: GO—0:00-35:18
Class: Guest speaker TBA

UPCOMING:

Week 10
M 10.24
Read: GO—35:19-1:12:20
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: SYNTHESIS ESSAY (FINAL DRAFT, ATTACH DRAFT 1 TO BACK)

W 10.26
Class: Library research session—Meet in MLK Library in room TBD
Due: REFLECTION 5

New Rounup 10.15.11

Some Christians are embracing the Occupy Wall Street movement

• Would Jesus Occupy Wall Street? Christian Post
• Coming to light: A recent rash of attacks on the Amish Associated Press
• Tightening their grip: Kazakhstan passes restrictive religious legislation Time
• Is Buddhism the secret to living longer? Chankra News
• Christian school removes alumni from webpage because he's gay WSYX-TV
• Mormons aren't Christians? Really? Time 

Assignment: Synthesis Essay

Atheists are increasingly visible in 21st century American society

How would you characterize 2011 America's view of atheists? Do you believe they receive fair representation in the media? Is our society generally accepting of their perspectives? Do we reserve a space for non-believers in our national discussions? In a concise essay, synthesize the following diverse texts into a "snapshot" of contemporary America's view of atheists:

• Interview with Dave Silverman from The O’Reilly Factor (FoxNews)
• “Fox News Facebook Page Gets 8,000 Death Threats” (All Facebook)
• “Reading the Bible (or the Koran, or the Torah) Will Make You an Atheist” (BigThink)
• “Culture War Update—The Dividening of America—American Atheists vs. Ground Zero Cross” from The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
• “Lisa the Skeptic” from The Simpsons (FOX)
• “Coming Out of the (Atheist) Closet” (The Harvard Crimson)
• “Atheism Billboard Greets O.C. Drivers (Los Angeles Times)
• “In US, Atheists Know Religion Better than Believers. Is that Bad?” (Christian Science Monitor)
• Scene from Bill Maher: But I’m Not Wrong (HBO)

Requirements:

• MLA format, including parenthetical citation
• 3-page minimum 

The best papers will:

• Stay within the parameters of the prompt
• Have a concise thesis
• Find "common threads" amongst a diverse group of texts and combine them to create a "snapshot" of America's view of atheists
• Properly cite evidence using MLA's parenthetical citation method
• Conclude with a summation of your points
• Be in MLA Style

Due: Mo 10.17 (Bring three copies)

Week 08: Mayans

The Temple of Kukulkan (or "El Castillo") was a major religious site

Mo 10.10
Read: eR—Interview with Dave Silverman from The O’Reilly Factor (FoxNews), “Fox News Facebook Page Gets 8,000 Death Threats” (All Facebook), “Reading the Bible (or the Koran, or the Torah) Will Make You an Atheist” (BigThink), “Culture War Update—The Dividening of America—American Atheists vs. Ground Zero Cross” from The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Class: Watch—“Lisa the Skeptic” from The Simpsons (FOX)

We 10.12
Read: eR—“Coming Out of the (Atheist) Closet” (Harvard Crimson), “Atheism Billboard Greets O.C. Drivers (Los Angeles Times), “In US, Atheists Know Religion Better than Believers. Is that Bad?” (Christian Science Monitor); Scene from Bill Maher: But I’m Not Wrong (HBO)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Assignment—Synthesis essay
Due: PERSUASUVE ESSAY; REFLECTION 4

UPCOMING:

Week 9
Mo 10.17
Class: Presentations; Writers workshop
Due: SYNTHESIS ESSAY (DRAFT 1, BRING IN THREE COPIES)

We 10.19
Read: GO—0:00-35:18
Class: Guest speaker TBA

News Roundup 10.08.11

Buddhism's mantras of focus and simplicity guided Apple's late CEO

• Steve Jobs, Buddhist Wall Street Journal
• Evangelical pastor survey: Mormons are not Christians Huffington Post
• Pressure mounting on Christians in the new Egypt Associated Press
• Muslim SJSU woman, removed from Southwest flight, sues USA Today
• Catholic League: Madonna not right for Super Bowl Christian Post
• Pentagon: Military chaplains may perform same-sex marriages Washington Post

Reflection 04: If You Believe—The Existance of Miracles

Charleston Heston as Moses in the Bible's dramatic parting the Red Sea

Do you believe in miracles, those events attributed to divine intervention? For example, can a patient with terminal cancer be cured of disease through prayer? Or can a person rid themselves of a harmful addiction through a steadfast adherence to faith? How do you rationalize so-called miracles? Perhaps you believe that what some consider miraculous actually has a basis in natural law? Maybe upon hearing of such events, you immediately search for a logical explanation? But whether you believe or you don't, these extraordinary events occur occasionally. The question is: How do you explain them?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "Do You Believe in Miracles? Most Americans Do" (NPR)
• "Exploring the Science of Miracles" (Washington Post)
  
•  "Scientists Explain Red Sea Parting and Other Miracles" (ABCNews)
• "Of Signs and Miracles: Lourdes, 1968" (Salon)

Required:

• MLA Style
• Must be exactly two-full pages in length

Due: We 10.12

Assignment: Persuasive Essay

Should Adam and Eve be taught as science in American public schools?

For several decades, some segments of American Christianity have pushed for Creationism, the creation myth of the Bible, to be included in the country's public schools, either supplanting Evolution or, at least, presented with equal weight. They argue that Creationism is not only divinely-directed, but scientifically sound, and therefore, appropriate to be taught in schools. In reality, the issue is part of a larger continuing debate about the divisions between religious and secular interests in our society. What do you believe is the appropriate place, if any, for Creationism in a public school education? Does it belong in a science lab? A humanities classroom? Or not at all? What are the consequences of having Creationism in (or out) of American schools? Finally, how does Intelligent Design changes the parameters of the debate? In a clear and concise persuasive essay, argue for the most appropriate role for Creationism in an American education. Cite from the texts below to support your thesis:

• “The Crusade Against Evolution” (Wired)
• “Intelligent Designer” (Salon)
• “In Defense of Evolution” (NOVA)
• “God by the Numbers” (ChristianityToday)
• “Paul Bettany’s Journey to the Dawn of Creation” (Vanity Fair)
• “Governor Perry, Like Many Christians, Wants to Leave Room for God” (Washington Post)
• “Teaching Evolution: A State-by-State Debate” (NPR)
• “The Evolution of Creationism” (Salon)
• “The Texas-Size Debate over Teaching Evolution” (Newsweek)
• “Defending Intelligent Design” (NOVA)
• “Board vs. Teachers” (NOVA)
• “Evangelicals Question the Existence of Adam and Eve” (NPR)
• “Evolution vs. Creationism: Study Reveals Public School Science Lagging” (Huffington Post)

Requirements:

• MLA format, including parenthetical citation
• 3-page minimum

The best papers will:

• Have a concise thesis with a clear argument about the appropriate role of Creationism in schools
• Utilize rhetorical techniques in order to convince readers of your position
• Support their thesis with solid evidence organized in a logical structure
• Properly cite evidence, using MLA's parenthetical citation method
• Conclude with a summation of your points
• Be in MLA Style

Due: We 10.12

Week 07: Catholics

Michelangelo's Pieta in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican

Mo 10.3
Read: eR—“The Evolution of Creationism” (Salon), “The Texas-Size Debate over Teaching Evolution” (Newsweek), “Defending Intelligent Design” (NOVA)
Class: Reading discussion; Lecture—“The Fundamentals of Rhetoric;” Assignment—Persuasive essay

We 10.5
Read: eR—“Board vs. Teachers” (NOVA), “Evangelicals Question the Existence of Adam and Eve” (NPR), “Evolution vs. Creationism: Study Reveals Public School Science Lagging” (Huffington Post)
Class: Carrielynn Haedtler, Church of Christ Scientists

UPCOMING:

Week 8
Mo 10.10
Read: eR—Interview with Dave Silverman from The O’Reilly Factor (FoxNews), “Fox News Facebook Page Gets 8,000 Death Threats” (All Facebook), “Reading the Bible (or the Koran, or the Torah) Will Make You an Atheist” (BigThink), “Culture War Update—The Dividening of America—American Atheists vs. Ground Zero Cross” from The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Class: Watch—“Lisa the Skeptic” from The Simpsons (FOX)

We 10.12
Read: eR—“Coming Out of the (Atheist) Closet” (The Harvard Crimson), “Atheism Billboard Greets O.C. Drivers (Los Angeles Times), “In US, Atheists Know Religion Better than Believers. Is that Bad?” (The Christian Science Monitor); Scene from Bill Maher: But I’m Not Wrong (HBO)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Assignment—Synthesis essay
Due: PERSUASUVE ESSAY; REFLECTION 4