Meeting Times: Academic period 10: TTh 10:00-11:15 am. We will use our additional meeting time, Wed. 12:00-12:50 only as needed for rescheduling purposes.
Meeting Place: CC 4
Professor: Dr. Loye Ashton
Office: CC10
Office Hours: MTWThF 9:00 am and by appointment
Phone: 601-974-1333
Email: ashtol@millsaps.edu

Course Description and Objectives:

This course will provide a historical and conceptual introduction to the Religions of South Asia through a close examination of some of the primary scriptures of Hinduism, Buddhism (Theravada and Mahayana), Jainism, Sikhism, Islam and Christianity. Students will learn what Hindus, Buddhists and others have believed and engage the
worldviews and claims of these traditions. In most cases, these religious traditions will be studied in their ancient and classical forms with attention to their modern manifestations.

Our primary focus will be on the following big philosophical/theological questions central to Indian religions: What is karma? What is rebirth? What is liberation (moksa/nirvana)? What are the fundamental problems that beset human life and how can they be overcome? What role should desire play in human life? Does violence have any place in human life, or must it be entirely eliminated? How should humans relate themselves to other sentient beings? What are the sources of inter-religious strife on the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka? Are these conflicts rooted in ancient hostilities, or do they emerge instead from more recent tensions?

At the conclusion of the course, students will demonstrate a broad familiarity with the ways in which South Asian religions struggle with these and other questions. Students are expected to understand where traditions agree and differ on these basic questions. They will also demonstrate an elementary grasp of some scholarly approaches to the study of religion in general and South Asian religions in particular. Students will also be expected to appreciate the strengths and limitations of a textual approach to the study of religion. Finally, because the South Asian traditions discussed herein are also present in the North America, students will be expected to be aware of the forms that these traditions take in their transplanted context.
Course Texts:

Course readings will be drawn from these required books (plus handouts, reserve readings, and website URL's):

" Ainslie T. Embree, Sources of Indian Tradition Volume One: From the Beginning to 1800 (Second Edition), Columbia University Press 1988, paperback edition ISBN: 0231066511. Abbreviated here as SIT1
" Gavin Flood, An Introduction to Hinduism, Cambridge University Press 1996, paperback edition ISBN: 0521438780. Abbreviated here as Flood.
" Diana Eck, Darsan: Seeing the Divine Image in India, Columbia University Press 1998, paperback edition ISBN: 0231112653. Abbreviated here as Eck.
" Stephen Huyler, Meeting God: Elements of Hindu Devotion, Yale University Press 2002, paperback edition ISBN: 0300089058. Abbreviated here as Huyler.

Course Requirements:

A course syllabus is the learning agreement between student and instructor. As such, it should be taken seriously as a contract or covenant that explicitly spells out our mutual obligations and responsibilities. As your instructor it is my responsibility to help facilitate your learning of the content and liberal education skills outlined in the course description above to the best of my ability. In this endeavor with you this semester I will be a co-learner as well as your instructor. Your responsibility will lie not only with completely the academic work required of you but also with learning how to teach yourself. As students at a liberal arts college one of the most important skills you can develop is the ability to take responsibility for your own learning. In this class you will be joining a community of scholar-colleagues who will be asking questions about religious traditions and ideas in South Asia and about the nature of religion itself. The relationship between student and teacher is a privileged and unique relationship. Every class is made up of an unrepeatable combination of students who bring distinctive experiences, questions, values, and gifts to the classroom. I do not teach "to" a generic "class." Rather, I teach unique individuals with the intention that all in this class will actively contribute to becoming a community of learners, a class with its own distinctive spirit, style, and struggles. As your teacher, I see myself as a steward of your own intellectual maturity, and I want to teach in such a way that that maturity will be served.

To that end I hold the following expectations:

A. Class Participation (20%): Being in class, being engaged with the work of the class, and behaving courteously are all expected. One discourtesy to avoid is coming into class late. Lateness reflects a lack of respect for classmates, for the instructor, for the subject matter, and for your own educational process. Likewise, regular attendance at all class meetings is required. It is important for any one who anticipates ANY ABSENCES DUE TO COLLEGE SPONSORED ACTIVITIES, such as athletic teams or Singers, to talk to me as soon as you know your schedule. Other extended absences due to illness or personal difficulties will be handled on an individual basis. Attendance alone, however, is not sufficient to meet class participation requirements. This course is designed on the model of dialogue and active learning, which means that we are all equally responsible for its success or failure. Informed participation is essential to active learning. Students are expected to come to class having completed the assigned readings for the day and prepared to engage in discussion. Students are required to bring to class written paragraph responses to questions on the reading handed out by the instructor at the previous class meeting as well as a discussion question on the assigned reading that the student has generated. These responses and discussion questions will be turned in to the instructor at the end of each class meeting in which they are assigned and will be returned to the student on a regular basis so that the student can compile them in a Reading Reflection Journal. Your class participation requirements also include a brief report (no more than 1000 words) on your experiences at ONE of the several off-site religious community visits that we will take as a class. Dates, times and locations of these will be provided by the instructor early in the semester.

B. Film Review (10%): Given that much of the character of South Asian religions is expressed visually, you will be expected to write a short (3-4 page) review of a "Bollywood" film of your own choosing. The review should include observations of religious themes and your analysis of how these themes are treated as well as questions about religious practices and values that the film raised for you. A good source for renting Indian films in our area is Ruchi Groceries, located at 5852 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211. Their phone number is 601-899-5322. This review is due by Sept. 16th.

C. Web Ethnography Project (15%): Students also must write a "Web Ethnography" paper (5-7 pages) about a Website that deals with some aspect of any of the traditions we have treated. In light of the materials covered in the course, students will be expected to provide an assessment of the content of the Website by answering the following kinds of questions:
1. Are the contents of the website faithful to the classical scriptures of
the tradition in question?
2. What are the motivations, and purposes of the materials presented?
3. What motivates the persons or organizations to present themselves as they do on their websites? In other words, what is the purpose of the website?
4. Who is the intended audience of the website?
5. What does the site say (both explicitly and implicitly) about what it means to be a Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and so forth?
6. What, if any, are the political implications of the materials presented?

Students are required to discuss possible sites with the instructor before beginning their papers. This paper is due on Thursday, Sept. 30th.

D. Mid-Term Exam (25%): Students will take two take-home exams over the course of the semester. The mid-term exam will cover the first half of the semester (10%). The final exam will cover the entire course but will also focus largely on the second half of the semester (15%). The mid-term take home exam will be distributed in class on Thursday, Oct. 7th and due at our next class meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 12th. The final exam is scheduled by the Records Office for Tuesday, December 7th at 2:00 pm and will be distributed at that time. It is due by 5:00 pm on Thursday, December 9th.

E. South Asian News Analysis Paper (10%): All students are required to register for an email news-service called "Religion News Daily." Sign up by sending a blank email to mailto:on-index_religion_d@e.moreover.com. Close attention to stories about South Asian religions is required. Over and above discussing relevant items as they occur in class, every student will be required to write a 4-page report on at least one South Asian
news story. Your imagined audience will be a high-ranking government official (President, Secretary of State, Ambassador to the United Nations) responsible for setting policy for South Asia. By drawing on class materials and other necessary research, this paper will explain the historical background and the contemporary significance of the story. You will conclude by making specific policy proposals for the US to adopt with respect to the situation in question. This paper is due no later than November 16th, but students should be working with the instructor on this project well before this due
date. In order to supplement work on this project, students are encouraged regularly to read at least one major English language newspaper. The instructor will provide the relevant Internet addresses.

F. Term Paper (20%): Students are required to submit a term paper (8-10 pages) on a major text or theme of the course. The paper MUST address one of the questions posed in the course description above or another question to be approved by the instructor. The topic for the term paper is also to be determined in conversation with the instructor.
A prospectus outlining the topic to be addressed, the methods to be employed, and the sources to be used will be due on October 28th. The prospectus (2-3 pages) must include an annotated bibliography of at least 3 sources that have been consulted in formulating your proposal. The research paper will be due on December 2nd. A strong research paper will require assembling effective primary and secondary resources. Therefore, the use of Inter-Library Loan (ILL) will be necessary. Students should plan to allow 2 weeks or
more before the Library can deliver the materials ordered. Conversations with librarians regarding the resources available for your research are strongly encouraged.

Requirements Summary:

1. Active and informed class participation (Reading Reflection Journal and off-site religious community report): 20%
2. Film review: 10% Due Sept. 16
3. Web ethnography project: 15% Due Sept. 30
4. Take-home mid-term exam: 10% Due Oct. 12
5. South Asian news analysis paper: 10% Due Nov. 16
6. Term paper: 20% Due Oct. 28/Dec. 2.
7. Take-home final exam: 15% Due Dec. 9

Explanation of Grades

Letter Grade Grade Points Explanation
A 4.0 Excellent
A- 3.7
B+ 3.3
B 3.0 Good
B- 2.7
C+ 2.3
C 2.0 Satisfactory
C- 1.7
D 1.0 Low/Pass
F 0.0 Fail/No Credit
AU Not applicable Audit, No credit
P Not applicable Pass

Letter grades are assigned to increments of 10 on a scale of 100.

A 94-100
A- 91-93
B+ 88-90
B 84-87
B- 81-83
C+ 78-80
C 74-77
C- 71-73
D+ 68-70
D 64-67
D- 61-63
Late and missing papers: Written assignments turned in late will lose a letter grade or equivalent. A '0' will be recorded for any work not turned in. Exceptions to this policy will be granted only to the victims of unforeseeable and uncontrollable circumstances.

Incompletes: An "Incomplete" grade for the course will be given only to students who, due to unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances, find themselves unable to complete course requirements during the term and can reasonably be expected to complete them within a few weeks after the term's end. The "Incomplete" must be requested and appropriately justified before the end of final examinations.

Academic honor: All of us at Millsaps are pledged to uphold academic honor, the core of which is refraining from giving or receiving unauthorized aid on any assignment. Millsaps College is an academic community where men and women pursue a life of scholarly inquiry and intellectual growth. The foundation of this community is a spirit of personal honesty and mutual trust. Through their Honor Code, members of the Millsaps Community, faculty and students, affirm their adherence to these basic ethical principles. An Honor Code is not simply a set of rules and procedures governing students' academic conduct. It is an opportunity to put personal responsibility and integrity into action. When students agree to abide by Honor Code, they liberate themselves to pursue their academic goals in an atmosphere of mutual confidence and respect. The success of the code depends upon the support of each member of the community. Students and faculty alike commit themselves in their work to the principles of academic honesty. When they become aware of infractions, both students and faculty are obliged to report them
to the Honor Council which is responsible for enforcement. I particularly caution against plagiarism, that is, using the words or ideas of others without acknowledgement. Plagiarized work means a mandatory referral to the Honor Council and may result in expulsion from the class. Please read carefully the Millsaps Honor Code statement at the end of this syllabus.

Disabilities: If any student in the class has special needs because of a learning disability or another kind of disability, please see me to discuss necessary accommodations.

Course Schedule:

August 24: Introduction to the Course and Syllabus Review.
Visit www.harappa.com after class

August 26: Seeing the Sacred.
Reading: Eck, 1-58
Reading: Huyler, 10-32

August 31: Image, Temple and Pilgrimage.
Reading: Eck, 59-92
Reading: Huyler, 46-63

September 2: Points of Departure
Reading: Flood, 1-22
Reading: Huyler, 66-89

September 7: Cosmic and Ritual Order in Vedic Literature.
Reading: Flood, 23-50
Reading: SIT 1, 3-38.

September 9: Jain Philosophy and Political Thought
Reading: SIT 1, 43-92.
Film Review Due.

September 14: The Basic Doctrines of Theravada Buddhism
Reading: SIT 1, 93-125.

September 16: Theravada Buddhism
Reading: SIT 1, 125-152

September 21: Mahayana Buddhism
Reading: SIT 1, 153-199.

September 23: The Hindu Way of Life: Dharma
Reading: SIT 1, 203-233
Reading: Flood, 51-74

September 28: The Hindu Way of Life: Artha and Kama
Reading: SIT 1, 234-273
Reading: Huyler, 92-112

September 30: The Hindu Way of Life: Yoga and Renunciation
Reading: Flood, 75-102
Reading: Huyler, 234-250
Web Ethnography Paper due.

October 5: Narrative Traditions and Moksa
Reading: Flood, 103-127
Reading: SIT 1, 274-296

October 7: Hindu Philosophy and Theology
Reading: Flood, 224-249
Reading: SIT 1, 296-319.
Mid-term Exam Questions Distributed

.

October 12: The Way of Devotion (Bhakti)
Reading: SIT 1, 319-330 & 342-369.
Mid-term Exam Due.

October 14: Devotion to Visnu and Siva
Reading: Flood, 128-173
Reading: Huyler, 176-204
Special Class with Guest Dr. Arvind Sharma

October 19: No class (Mid-semester holidays)

October 21: Devotion to the Goddess and Nirguna Bhakti
Reading: SIT 1, 330-333 & 369-378.
Reading: Flood, 174-197

October 26: Hindu Ritual
Reading: Flood, 198-223
Reading: Huyler, 116-173, (208-231)

October 28: Foundations of Islam in India
Reading: SIT 1, 381-407
Term Paper Prospectus Due.

November 2: The Muslim Ruler in India
Reading: SIT 1, 408-446

November 4: Islamic Mysticism in India
Reading: SIT 1, 447-489

November 9: Sikhism
Reading: SIT 1, 493-510.

November 11: Indian Christianity
Reserve Reading: SIT 2, 44-52 & TBA

November 16: Hinduism and the Modern World
Reading: Flood, 250-273

November 18: Hindu Renaissance
Reserve Reading: SIT 2, 15-34, 53-82.

November 23: No class (instructor at academic conference)

November 25: No class (Thanksgiving Holiday)

November 30: M. K. Gandhi and B. R. Ambhedkar
Reserve Reading: SIT 2, 243-274 & 324-348.
South Asian News Analysis Paper due.

December 2: Arjuna Rising? Hindu Fundamentalism and the Question of
National Identity
Reserve Reading: SIT 2, 128-159 & 289-295.

December 7: Take-home final exam distributed (2:00 pm)

December 9: Final exam due by 5:00 pm

ACADEMIC HONOR CODE of MILLSAPS COLLEGE

Millsaps College is an academic community dedicated to the pursuit of scholarly inquiry and intellectual growth. The foundation of this community is a spirit of personal honesty and mutual trust. Through their Honor Code, the students of Millsaps College affirm their adherence to these basic ethical principles.

An Honor Code is not simply a set of rules and procedures governing students' academic conduct. It is an opportunity to put personal responsibility and integrity into action. When students agree to abide by an Honor Code, they liberate themselves to pursue their academic goals in an atmosphere of mutual confidence and respect.

The success of the Code depends on the support of each member of the community. Students and faculty alike commit themselves in their work to the principles of academic honesty. When they become aware of infractions, both students and faculty are obligated to report them to the Honor Council, which is responsible for enforcement.

The pledge signed by all students upon entering the College is as follows:
As a Millsaps College student, I hereby affirm that I understand the Honor Code and am aware of its implications and of my responsibility to the Code. In the interests of expanding the atmosphere of respect and trust in the College, I promise to uphold the Honor Code and I will not tolerate dishonest behavior in myself or in others.

Each examination, quiz, or other assignment that is to be graded will carry the written pledge: "I hereby certify that I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this assignment. (Signature)" The abbreviation "Pledged" followed by the student's signature has the same meaning and may be acceptable on assignments other than final examinations.

It is the responsibility of students and faculty to report offenses to the Honor Code Council in the form of a written report. This account must be signed, the accusation explained in as much detail as possible, and submitted to the Dean of the College.

The Honor Council, 2004-2005

Megan Holcomb, Chair Dr. Kristy Stensaas, Faculty Secretary
Jamie Holcomb, Vice Chair Dr. Bill Brister
Chris Spear, Sergeant at Arms Dr. James Bowley
Maggie Baumgartner
Dana Van Deman
Milan Winnard

Four graduate student positions and one non-voting freshman position will be filled at the beginning of the fall term.