Syllabus

Harvard University Extension School
Fall 2005
RELI E-1015/W

Comparative Religious Ethics

Wednesday 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Sever 113

Instructor: Anne Monius
Professor of South Asian Religions
Harvard Divinity School
Office: CSWR #214, 42 Francis Avenue
Office Hours: Tuesdays 8:00 am - 12:00 noon, by appointment
(please contact Eric Unverzagt at 617-496-2779 or at eric_unverzagt@harvard.edu to schedule an appointment)
Email: anne_monius@harvard.edu

A comparative examination of conceptions of the moral self and ways of thinking and acting ethically within the framework of three religious traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism (with a focus on the Theravada), and Christianity (with a focus on South Africa). These issues will be explored in each tradition in four distinct ways, through: (1) a general overview of the tradition; (2) an ethnographic or narrative consideration of the formation of the moral self; (3) a fictional account of the moral life in the modern world; and (4) a consideration of possible responses to the contemporary moral problems of violence and globalization.

No previous study of either world religions or ethics is presumed, and there are no prerequisites for enrolling in the course. The course is writing intensive. This means that significant attention will be given to writing, both to improving communication skills and to the use of writing as a tool for thinking.

Requirements:

(1) Regular class attendance is obviously a must. Although the format will vary from week to week, depending on the material being covered, in general we will divide our time equally between background information/lecture and discussion of the reading. Please be sure to come to class each week ready to discuss the assigned material.

(2) There will be three writing assignments of 3-4 pages each, due as indicated in the syllabus below. The fourth and final paper will be slightly longer, roughly 10 pages. Specific instructions for each shorter assignment and for the final paper appear below.

(3) Each of the first three essays will be rewritten according to specific instructions given out when the first version of the paper is returned to you. NB: Rewriting is NOT optional! If you fail to turn in a rewritten assignment as indicated below, your initial grade will be averaged with a "0."

(4) Those taking the course for graduate credit must submit a substantially longer final essay (20 pages) on a topic to be selected in consultation with the instructor. The paper will be due on January 11th.

(5) Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the expectations of academic honesty found in the Extension School Catalogue.

Grading:

Your overall grade for the course will be calculated as follows:

Things to Keep in Mind While Writing

Writing Assignments:

Please note that there is no one correct answer to any of the broad questions posed below. An "A" paper will have a clear and focused thesis statement / argument supported by specific evidence. Please also be sure to cite sources fully and correctly, according to whichever style you are accustomed to using (Chicago, MLA, social science, etc.).

ALL papers must be submitted with a cover sheet regardless of whether papers are submitted via email or handed in at lecture. The cover sheet must contain the following information in exactly the order shown below; the font that you use should be large and easy to read. The following information is required:

RELI E-1015/W Comparative Religious Ethics Assignment #
Date Submitted:
Student Name:
Email Address:
Do you want us to email the paper back to you? Yes / No
Student Mailing Address:

Distance learners should email their papers directly to Eyal Aviv, course grader: aviv@fas.harvard.edu. All other students--if at all humanly possible to do so!--should submit hard copies of their papers in class. Your cooperation in this regard is greatly appreciated!

WRITING ASSIGNMENT #1 (DUE AT 5:30 PM ON OCTOBER 5TH)

In a paper no more than three pages in length (double-spaced, in 12-point font, with one-inch margins on all sides)--and based on lectures and your reading thus far--please answer the following question: What does it mean to be a "human being" in the Hindu tradition?

WRITING ASSIGNMENT #2 (DUE AT 5:30 PM ON NOVEMBER 2ND)

In a paper no more than three pages in length (double-spaced, in 12-point font, with one-inch margins on all sides)--and based on lectures and your reading thus far--please answer the following question: How might a Buddhist approach and evaluate a Gandhian satyagraha campaign?

WRITING ASSIGNMENT #3 (DUE AT 5:30 PM ON DECEMBER 7TH)

In a paper no more than three pages in length (double-spaced, in 12-point font, with one-inch margins on all sides)--and based on lectures and your reading thus far--please consider the following: Imagine the Buddha and Augustine sitting down together to chat about the moral life. How might Augustine evaluate the Buddha's assumptions about the human condition? Where would he see continuity with his own worldview? What would the most important points of disjuncture be?

FINAL WRITING ASSIGNMENT (DUE AT 5:30 PM ON JANUARY 11TH)

The final paper topic is of your own choosing, provided that it somehow deals with "religious ethics." Since the final assignment is relatively short, keep in mind that your topic must be manageable and that your paper must have a clear and concise thesis statement. This final paper will not be rewritten.

Books Available for Purchase:

The following required readings for the course are available for purchase at the Harvard Coop; all required readings are also on reserve in Grossman Library, Sever Hall.

(1) Kim Knott, Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), ISBN: 0-19-285341-4.

(2) Steven M. Parish, Moral Knowing in a Hindu Sacred City: An Exploration of Mind, Emotion, and Self (New York: Columbia University Press, 1994), ISBN: 0-231-08439-0.

(3) U. R. Anantha Murthy, Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man (New York: Oxford University Press, 1979), ISBN: 0-19-561079-2.

(4) Joan V. Bondurant, Conquest of Violence: The Gandhian Philosophy of Conflict (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1988), ISBN: 0-691-02281-X.

(5) Damien Keown, Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996), ISBN: 0-19-285329-5.

(6) Sid Brown, The Journey of One Buddhist Nun: Even Against the Wind (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2001), ISBN: 0-7914-5096-1.

(7) Michael Ondaatje, Anil's Ghost (New York: Vintage International, 2000), ISBN: 0-375-72437-0.

(8) Stanley J. Tambiah, Buddhism Betrayed? Religion, Politics, and Violence in Sri Lanka (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992), ISBN: 0-226-78950-0.

(9) David F. Ford, Theology: A Very Short Introduction (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), ISBN: 0-19-285384-8.

(10) Saint Augustine, Confessions (New York: Oxford University Press, 1991), ISBN: 0-19-283372-3.

(11) Zakes Mda, Ways of Dying (New York: Picador USA, 2002), ISBN: 0-312-42091-9.

(12) Michael Battle, Reconciliation: The Ubuntu Theology of Desmond Tutu (Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 1997), ISBN: 0-8298-1158-3.

Schedule of Classes:

Week I (Sept. 21): Introduction: Why Study Comparative Religious Ethics?

Hinduism: An Ethics of Human Particularity

Week II (Sept. 28): An Overview of Traditions of Hindu Thought and Practice
Reading: Kim Knott, Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction
NB: INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIRST PAPER DISTRIBUTED

Week III (Oct. 5): A Hindu View of the Moral Subject
Reading: Steven M. Parish, Moral Knowing in a Hindu Sacred City: An Exploration of Mind, Emotion, and Self, pp. 1-11, 71-232
NB: FIRST PAPER DUE

Week IV (Oct. 12): Moral Choice in the Modern World
Reading: U. R. Anantha Murthy, Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man

Week V (Oct. 19): Hindu Responses to Violence
Reading: Joan V. Bondurant, Conquest of Violence: The Gandhian Philosophy of Conflict, pp. 3-145
NB: FIRST PAPER REWRITE DUE

Buddhism: The Interdependent Subject

Week VI (Oct. 26): An Overview of Traditions of Buddhist Thought and Practice
Reading: Damien Keown, Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction
NB: INSTRUCTIONS FOR SECOND PAPER DISTRIBUTED

Week VII (Nov. 2): A Theravada Buddhist View of the Moral Subject
Reading: Sid Brown, The Journey of One Buddhist Nun: Even Against the Wind
NB: SECOND PAPER DUE

Week VIII (Nov. 9): Moral Choice in the Modern World
Reading: Michael Ondaatje, Anil's Ghost

Week IX (Nov. 16): Buddhist Responses to Violence
Reading: Stanley J. Tambiah, Buddhism Betrayed? Religion, Politics, and Violence in Sri Lanka
NB: SECOND PAPER REWRITE DUE

Week X (Nov. 23): NO CLASS--INSTRUCTOR AT CONFERENCE HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Christianity: Autonomy in Community

Week XI (Nov. 30): An Overview of Christian Theological Traditions
Reading: David F. Ford, Theology: A Very Short Introduction
NB: INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIRD PAPER DISTRIBUTED

Week XII (Dec. 7): A Christian View of the Moral Subject
Reading: Saint Augustine, Confessions, especially pp. 3-154
NB: THIRD PAPER DUE

Week XIII (Dec. 14): Moral Choice in the Modern World
Reading: Zakes Mda, Ways of Dying

Week XIV (Dec. 21): NO CLASS--INSTRUCTOR OUT OF TOWN

Week XV (Jan. 4): Christianity, Violence, and Reconciliation
Reading: Michael Battle, Reconciliation: The Ubuntu Theology of Desmond Tutu
NB: THIRD PAPER REWRITE DUE

Week XVI (Jan. 11): FINAL PAPER DUE

© 2004 The President and Fellows of Harvard College