IST2056-1OL-WI14 - Religion & the Books

Michael Hemenway (Message me using the people area of our course in Canvas)
A Glimpse of Me in Social Aggregation - RebelMouse
@textpotential

Course Synopsis

Our conversations in this course will look at the relationship between religion and books. We will begin with some discussion of terminology and categories and then we will look at several possible ways books play a role in religious practice and identity. We will try to explore a broad selection of religious traditions along the way and ask some comparative questions about the different role of books in different expressions of religion. The work of the course will largely be reading, regular weekly discussions, collecting and annotating digital artifacts to share with the class, and a debate.

Books for the Course

You do not need to purchase any books for the course. All readings will be provided in the Canvas course or online.

See Taylor Library's list of online book sellers for purchasing options.

Course Overview

This course will explore the relationship between religion and books. Both of these terms, religion and books, will be taken as problematic and polyvalent. iWe will begin the course with some discussion of definitions and terminology and then we will look at the work books do in religious traditions like Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism, among others. The course will be a combination of critique and curation, with students participating in the curation of course materials each week.

Course Objectives

• Articulate the complexity and contexualization of terms like religion and book.
• Communicate how several religious traditions treat books.
• Discuss the role of medium and book technology in the construction of religious identity.

Evaluation

Curation = 25%

Discussion (see Discussion Guidelines) = 75%

Policies and Services

Incompletes:  If incompletes are allowed in this course, see the Master's Student Handbook for Policies and Procedures.

Pass/Fail:  Masters students wishing to take the class pass/fail should discuss this with the instructor by the second class session.

Academic Integrity and Community Covenant:  All students are expected to abide by Iliff’s statement on Academic Integrity, as published in the Masters Student Handbook, or the Joint PhD Statement on Academic Honesty, as published in the Joint PhD Student Handbook, as appropriate.  All participants in this class are expected to be familiar with Iliff’s Community Covenant.

Accommodations:  Iliff engages in a collaborative effort with students with disabilities to reasonably accommodate student needs.   Students are encouraged to contact their assigned advisor to initiate the process of requesting accommodations.  The advising center can be contacted at advising@iliff.edu or by phone at 303-765-1146. 

Writing Lab:  Grammar and organization are important for all written assignments.  Additional help is available from the Iliff Writing Lab, which is available for students of any level who need help beginning an assignment, organizing thoughts, or reviewing a final draft. 

Inclusive Language:  It is expected that all course participants will use inclusive language in speaking and writing, and will use terms that do not create barriers to classroom community.