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REL 359A -- Special Topics
Term 112 --- M 6:30 - 9 PM
T. McFarland, C.PP.S. Ph.D. CEC 219
Outcomes:
 |
Students will be knowledgeable about current scholarship on
the nature of religion and spirituality |
|
Students will articulate their understanding of the role of
spirituality and sexuality |
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Students will understand the diversity of religious
perspectives regarding sexuality |
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Students will be knowledgeable of the resources available on
topics |
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Students will compare and contrast different religious
perspectives with regard to sexuality |
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Students will be able to integrate spiritual/religious
perspective in their understanding of sexuality |
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Students will be able to articulate ethical principles that
derived from religious/spiritual traditions |
Texts
Two texts are required:
Sex and the Soul Donna Frietas.
Oxford U Press (2008).
Sex and Religion. Christel
Manning and Phil Zuckerman. Thompson/Wadsworth (2005)
In an effort to keep costs low for books there will be some online resources
that are required and recommended.
Requirements
It is expected that you will complete readings and be prepared to discuss them
in class. There will be several written reflections. Each student will be expected to present
their paper and lead a class
discussion on a topic of choice related to course material. Small groups of
students will be prepared with some discussion questions on the various
religions to assist in leading the class.
Assignments
-
A reflection paper on your understanding of Religion and
Spirituality 2-3 pages 25 points
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Reflection on the book Sex and the Soul
4-5 pages 50 points
-
Bibliography for integrative paper
25
points
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Comparison/Contrast Paper of two religion's perspectives on
sexuality 3-5 pages 50 points
-
Integrative paper, presentation and discussion on topic (with instructor
approval) related to course 8-10 pages 150
points
Attendance
Attendance is expected as this course will be managed as a seminar, which
requires participation of all. You will be allowed one absence with no
consequence. Two absences will result in a half letter grade reduction,
three absences, a full letter grade reduction, more than three--failure of the
course.
Grades
Grades are determined by the proportion of total points according to the
following calculation:
278 - 300 = A
270 - 278 = A-
261 - 269 = B+
252 - 260 = B
240 - 251 = B- |
231 - 239 = C+
222 - 230 = C
210 - 221 = C-
195 - 209 = D+
180 - 194 = D |
|
179 = F |
Special Needs
If you are a student with a disability, please see me before the third week of
the semester to discuss any accommodations you might need for class activity,
examinations and out of class assignments in order to participate fully and
demonstrate your abilities.
Calendar
| January |
Assignments & Readings
(subject to revisions) |
| 9 |
Introduction
Religion and Spirituality |
| 16 |
Religion & Spirituality & Sexuality
Required:
- "Being
religious" or "being spiritual" in America: a zero-sum
proposition? Marler, Penny Long; Hadaway, C Kirk. Journal
for the Scientific Study of Religion 41 no 2 Je 2002, p 289-300.
- The
New Spirituality from a Social Science Perspective.
Ellingson, Stephen. Dialog: A Journal of Theology; Winter2001,
Vol. 40 Issue 4, p257-64.
- UCLA
study: Students may take break from church, but not belief
Gale Cole, OSU Daily Barometer (Oregon State University) (OR):
April 17, 2008.
- Study:
Spirituality Rises for Students During College. Renee K.
Gadoua, The Post-Standard, (Syracuse, NY)-February 23, 2008.
- Are
Hookups Killing College Romance? Karin Agnes Richmond
Times-Dispatch (VA)-March 1, 2009
- Religion
is Actually Spirituality - Jay Michaelson The
Polymath - November 10, 2009.
- Is
religion losing the millennial generation? USA Today
February 4, 2008.
- Sawyer, Robin G., et al. "We
didn't have Sex did We? College students' perceptions of
abstinence" American Journal of Health Studies 22,
no. 1 (March 2007): 46-55.
Recommended:
-Richey, Emily, David Knox, and Marty Zusman. "Sexual
Values of 783 Undergraduates" College Student Journal 43, no. 1
(March 2009): 175-180
-Simpson, David B.; Newman, Jody; Fuqua, Dale R.; Cloud, Dinah S. Sex
and gender differences in religiousness and spirituality. Journal
of Psychology & Theology 36 no 1 Spr 2008, p 42-52.
|
| 23 |
Sex and the Soul (Introduction & Section
1) Paper on Religion and Spirituality due |
| 30 |
Sex and the Soul (Section 2) |
| February |
|
| 6 |
Sex and the Soul (Section 3) |
| 13 |
Sex and the Soul (Section 4) |
| 20 |
Sex and the Soul (Section 5) |
| 27 |
Sex and Religion
(Introduction) Paper on Sex & the Soul due
Required:
- Keenan, James F. "Can
we Talk? Theological Ethics and Sexuality." Theological
Studies 68, no. 1 (March 2007): 113-131.
- Fullam, Lisa. "Thou
Shalt." Commonweal 136, no. 8 (April 24, 2009):
14-17.
- Regnerus, Mark D. "Sexual
Behavior in Young Adulthood" University of Texas at Austin
(March 2010)
- Johnson, Luke Timothy "Sex
and American Catholics" Lecture October 11, 2002.
Recommended:
- Fullam, Lisa. "Sex in 3-D: a telos for a virtue ethics of
sexuality." Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics 27, no. 2
(September 1, 2007): 151.
- Statement
on Human Sexuality -- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Helminiak, Daniel A. "Scripture,
Sexual Ethics, and the Nature of Christianity." Pastoral
Psychology 47, no. 4 (March 1, 1999): 261.
|
| March |
|
| 5 |
Spring Break
|
| 12 |
Sex and Religion (Hinduism & Buddhism) |
| 18 |
Sex and Religion (Chinese & Judaism) Bibliography
for Paper/Presentation due |
| 26 |
Sex and Religion (Christianity & Mormonism) |
| April |
|
| 2 |
Sex and Religion (Children of God & Islam)
Comparison/Contrast Paper due |
| 9 |
No Class - Easter
Monday |
| 16 |
Sex and Religion (Conclusion)
Sexual Ethics
Chart: Comparison
of Christian Denominations' Ethical Views
Required Readings:
- McCarty, Richard W. "Facilitating
dialogue on religion and sexuality using a descriptive approach."
New Directions for Student Services no. 125 (Spring2009):
39-46.
- Cloutier, David M. "Composing
love songs for the kingdom of God? Creation and eschatology in
Catholic sexual ethics." Journal of the Society of
Christian Ethics 24, no. 2 (September 1, 2004): 71-88.
- Greely, Andrwew. "Sex
and the single Catholic: The decline of an ethic." America
167, no. 14 (November 7, 1992): 342-359
|
| 23 |
Presentations
Paper due |
| 30 |
We will
meet for finals week at 6:30 PM on Monday. |
Some Links of interest
|
UC Berkeley - God,
Sex and Family -- includes a neat little compass with moral
stances of different religion. |
|
The Sex
Survey @ student.com -- although all self-reported, there is some
interesting results here that can be selected for different ages,
nationalities as well as comparing different populations.
This data is NOT reliable as not done according to proper research
methods...none-the-less, it's interesting data from over 45,000
people. |
|
Watch and listen to a lecture
by Donna Frietas at Cornell University (it's a pretty long video). |
| UCLA
Higher Education Survey on Spirituality and Higher Education |
| Purity Programs
|
|
Pew Forum - Religion
Among the Millennials some interesting survey data about Millennials
and religion. (2-17-10). |
| Theology of the Body - development
of ideas from Pope John Paul II's General Audiences from 1979-1984.
 |
All the General
Audiences that comprised the foundation. |
|
A brief summary
of author Christopher West's publications on Theology of Body (from
Catholic Education Resources) |
|
Another summary
of some thoughts on Theology of Body. (.pdf) |
|
| Anscombe Societies (links to a couple
societies on campuses)
|
| Link to Chinese/Judaism
Powerpoint |
Page updated 03/21/2012
by
T. McFarland, C.PP.S., Professor of Religion
Saint Joseph's College.
Questions of comments about this page -- email timm@saintjoe.edu |
