Meeting Times: Period 11: TTh 1:00-2:15 pm
Meeting Place: CC5
Professor: Dr. Loye Ashton
Office: CC10
Office Hours: MTWThF 9:00 -10:00 am and by appointment
Phone: 601-974-1333
Email: ashtol@millsaps.edu

1. Course Description:
What does it mean to "get" or be "saved" from a religious standpoint? What is it that we are to be saved from? Is there only one understanding of salvation within Christianity? Can one be saved outside of Christianity? How is salvation understood in other religions? Is there life after death? This course will study these key questions as well as address the problem of constructing a "theology of religions", that is, asking how one can be authentic to one's own religious tradition while also being in relationship with the historical and social existence of other religious traditions. Religious traditions that we will examine include Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and the Chinese traditions. In-depth attention will be spent on Advaita Vedanta philosophy in Hinduism, the bodhisattva-savior tradition of Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhism, and the Chinese Goddess of Mercy, Grace and Compassion, Kuan-yin.

In addition, the course will explore how religious comparison can be done in methodologically responsible ways using soteriology (the study of salvation) as an example of comparative content. This methodology will have two foci: 1) identifying, utilizing, and evaluating "comparative categories" for theological comparison among religious traditions; and 2) examining the different types of relationships between theology and religion and applying those types to the topic of salvation.

2. Course Texts:
Course readings will be drawn from these required books (plus library reserve readings):

" Harold Coward, Sin and Salvation in the World Religions: A Short Introduction, (Oxford, UK, Oneworld Publications, 2003) Abbrev. SAS
" Harold Coward, ed., Life after Death in World Religions, (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Press, 1997) Abbrev. LAD
" Kate Crosby and Andrew Skilton, trans., Santideva: The Bodhicaryavatara, (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1998)
" S. Mark Heim, Salvations: Truth and Difference in Religions, (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Press, 1995)
" Sri Sankaracarya, Vivekacudamani, (Madras, India: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1992)
" Chun-Fang Yu, Kuan-yin, (New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 2000)

3. 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 completing 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. 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:

Attendance: 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. Lateness counts as half an absence. Likewise, regular attendance at all class meetings is a must. 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. If you miss more than three classes without the prior permission of the instructor, your final grade will be lowered by a full letter grade. If you miss more than six classes without the instructor's permission, your final grade for the class will be no higher than a D. With respect to courtesy, the use of electronic personal communication devices (pagers, digital phones, etc.) is not allowed during our class time. The use of electronic word processing devices (laptops, pda's) are conditionally allowed so long as their use is not disruptive to either the instructor or to other students. If their use has been noticed to be a distraction, you will be asked to discontinue using them. It goes without saying that playing games on these devices in class is never acceptable.

Attendance will also be required at the 2005 Summers Lecture, 11:30 am on Tuesday March 1st in the AC Recital Hall. The speaker will be Dr. James A. Sanders, Professor Emeritus, Claremont School of Theology and founder, Biblical Manuscript Center, Claremont, California. The theme is: "Ancient Texts and Modern Communities." Lunch at 12:30 is provided by Millsaps College. At 12:45 our class will attend the Panel discussion on Dr. Sander's talk entitled "The Real World Function of Scripture in Communities" led by Dr. Darby Ray.

4. Course Assessment:
(1) Informed and prepared class participation (20%)
Students will be expected to come to class with at least one written question regarding the reading assignment. This question should be one in which the students seeks clarity about the reading or implications of its content so that the rest of the class may be of assistance. In addition to attending class prepared to discuss the assigned material, each student will be expected to be responsible for co-leading the class discussion with the instructor once during the semester. The particular topic and date of this facilitation may be chosen by the student.

(2) Soteriological Reflection Precis (10%)
This will be a 2-3 page outline of a soteriological topic or problem of your choice. The main question here will focus on your interest in what is religiously significant/problematic about the idea of salvation.

(3) Comparative Theology Essay (20%)
This will be a 5-6 page essay in which you assess Neville's and Heim's methodologies of comparative theology in the context of your problem/topic to assess how they will be most useful to your research project.

(4) Annotated Bibliography (15%)
This will be a working bibliography of sources (books, journal articles) you are researching and consulting for your term paper. It should include at least 8 sources not including course texts. For each source you will need to write a one-paragraph description summarizing the source and highlighting its utility for your project.

(5) Term Paper (35%)
This will be a 10-14 page research paper in which you use both Heim's and Neville's methods of comparison to explore your soteriological topic within at least two different religious traditions and using at least one of the tradition-specific texts we have read and discussed in class.

In general, written work in this course will be evaluated in terms of command of material, clarity and organization of ideas, creativity of thought, and complexity of thinking. In addition, writing will be evaluated in terms of fluidity, coherence, persuasiveness of argument, as well as a clear authorial voice. Punctuation, spelling, and grammatical correctness are also important. In all cases, proper documentation of sources and ideas is an absolute necessity.

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 Unsatisfactory
F 0.0 Fail/No Credit
AU Not applicable Audit, No credit
P Not applicable Pass/Credit

Letter grades are assigned to increments of 10 on a scale of 100.
A+ 97-100
A 94-96
A- 90-93
B+ 87-89
B 84-86
B- 80-83
C+ 77-79
C 74-76
C- 70-73
D+ 67-69
D 64-66
D- 60-63

Late and missing papers: Written assignments turned in late will lose a letter grade or equivalent. Homework may not be turned in more than one week after its due date unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. No work of any kind will be accepted after the last day of final examinations. Exceptions to this policy will be granted only to the victims of unforeseeable and uncontrollable circumstances.

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. 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.

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.

5. Course Schedule:

Week 1: Introduction to Religious Comparison

T 1/11 Course Overview
Th 1/13 Comparative Categories: Neville (library reserve reading)

Week 2: Judaism and Christianity

T 1/18 Judaism: SAS Ch. 1-2, LAD intro & Ch. 1
Th 1/20 Christianity: SAS Ch. 3, LAD Ch. 2

Week 3: Islam and Hinduism

T 1/25 Islam: SAS Ch. 4, LAD Ch. 3
Th 1/27 Hinduism: SAS Ch. 5, LAD Ch. 4

Week 4: Buddhism and Chinese Religions

T 2/1 Buddhism: SAS Ch. 6, LAD Ch. 5
Th 2/3 Chinese Religions: LAD Ch. 6
Soteriological Precis due

Week 5: Constructing a Theology of Religion

T 2/8 Salvations, Intro and Ch. 1
Th 2/10 Salvations, Ch. 2

Week 6: The Problem with Pluralism

T 2/15 Salvations, Ch. 3/4
Th 2/17 Salvations, Ch. 5

Week 7: The Pluralism Beyond Pluralism

T 2/22 Salvations, Ch. 6/7
Th 2/24 Salvations, Ch. 8

Week 8: Ancient Texts and Non-duality

T 3/1 Summers Lecture: Ancient Texts and Modern Communities
Dr. James Sanders, 11:30 - 12:30, AC Recital Hall
12:45-2:00 pm Panel Discussion
Comparative Theology paper due
Th 3/3 Vivekacudamani, pp. 1-70

Week 9: Sankara and Advaita Vedanta

T 3/8 Vivekacudamani, pp. 71-140
Th 3/10 Vivekacudamani, pp. 141-215

Week 10: Santideva and Mahayana Buddhism

T 3/15 Bodhicaryavatara, pp. 1-49
Th 3/17 Bodhicaryavatara, pp. 50-104

Spring Break: March 18-27

Week 11: The Bodhisattva Ideal

T 3/29 Bodhicaryavatara, pp. 105-143
Th 3/31 Kuan-yin, Ch. 1
Annotated Bibliography Due

Week 12: Scriptural Sources and Miracle Tales

T 4/5 Kuan-yin, Ch. 2
Th 4/7 Kuan-yin, Ch. 4

Week 13: Iconography and Feminization

T 4/12 Kuan-yin, Ch. 6
Th 4/14 Kuan-yin, Ch. 8
Week 14: The Eternal Mother and Compassion

T 4/19 Kuan-yin, Ch. 11
Th 4/21 Kuan-yin, Ch. 12

Term Paper Due: Thursday, April 28th at 2:00 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
Ashley Hewitt, non-voting freshman Spring 2005

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