Syllabus
|
Course DescriptionAssigned ReadingCourse ObjectivesMethod |
Schedule of Topics and AssignmentsSept 13-14 |
Participants |
The course introduces the participants to the history and teachings of Islam as one of the great Abrahamic religions. The course includes a prayerful reading of the Sacred Quran and an introduction to Islamic spirituality, art, and culture.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali. The Meaning of The Holy Quran. 11th Edition with Revised Translation and Commentary. ISBN 1-59008-026-2. $17.00
Caesar E. Farah. Islam: Beliefs and Observances. New York: Barron's. (Seventh Edition), 2003. ISBN 0-7641-2226-6. Paperback $14.81
John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed. Who Speaks For Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think. New York: Gallup Press, 2008 ISBN 1595620176 $15.61.
The Message: The Story of Islam, A Moustapha Akaad Film (178 minute) on DVD staring Anthony Quinn (in the English Version), 1976. [The authenticity of the film is approved by Muslim scholars and the University of Al-Azhar in Cairo.] (The movie will be shown during class; there is no need to individually purchase the DVD.)
Second Vatican Council. Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions ("Nostra Aetate"), October 28, 1965. (Available on line)
Two issues of the magazine Al Jumuah (which will be provided during the course)
By the end of the course: 1) You will have read the Qur'an -- the most read text on the planet earth! 2) You will know the basic life story of Muhammad and the origins of Islam. 3) You will know basic Islamic terms and key concepts. 4) You will have the basic information needed to be able to dialogue with Muslims and begin to understand the riches of this great religion. 5) You will be able to see something of the Islamic answer to the great questions of life: Who is God? Who am I? What does God expect of me? 6) Your Christian perspective will be enriched.
1. The format of this course combines three face-to-face weekends at Saint Meinrad and online postings and discussion. The majority of the "work" (reading, reflecting, writing, discussing, etc.) will be accomplished at home and online. There will be a written assignment due each Thursday during the ten weeks of the course. These written assignments must be posted on ANGEL before midnight on the day assigned in this syllabus. Because of the dialogical nature of these postings, it is important that they be posted on time. Seven points (= one letter grade) will be deducted for late postings. Grades and comments will be posted in the ANGEL grade book. The ANGEL grade book lists your grades numerically; the School Bulletin states that 95 (and above) = A; 94 = A-; 93 = B+; 92 (and lower) =B. [.5 is rounded up]
2. Participants in this course are expected to have purchased the three text books listed above and to have: a personal computer or access to a computer; the ability to access websites and download and print files; the ability to send and receive e-mail; and the ability to post essays and enter into discussion on ANGEL. This is a graduate seminar. Participants are expected to read the materials listed in this syllabus and to review the lecture notes (which are given as hyperlinks in the syllabus).
3. Before midnight of the day indicated in the syllabus each student is to post on ANGEL a brief "meditation" on the Qur'an. For further details about this assignment see "Course Assignment" in Chapter d964 The Holy Qur'an of these notes. And each student is to post on ANGEL the essays indicated below in the syllabus. (Late postings are penalized one letter grade.)
4. Each participant is expected to actively participate in the group work, oral presentations, discussions, etc. which will comprise the class time.
5. It is helpful, and indeed important, to read one another's postings. However, your postings are presumed to be your original thought unless you indicate otherwise. When quoting someone give the source of the quote and indicate by quotation marks where the quotation begins and ends. Each participant is expect to be familiar with the "Statement on Plagiarism" in the Saint Meinrad Student Handbook.
6. For help at any time or questions about the assignments or the course in general you can e-mail me at trichstatter@saintmeinrad.edu (Note: if you send me an e-mail through ANGEL, check the box that sends the e-mail directly to my inbox outside of ANGEL.) You can contact me at my home in Tell City by phone at 812-547-5380.
7. Please post your picture on ANGEL.
8. In general, this is a "green" paperless course. All lectures, notes, homework etc. postings are electronic. I suggest that you read the materials (especially the syllabus) from the internet rather than printing hard copies. ANGEL will remain for several weeks after the course. The information on my website will be available to you after the course and in the years to come -- for as long as I am able to maintain the site.
9. The syllabus will not change during the course (e.g. to add new assignments, etc.); however, following each class meeting I will adjust the syllabus to reflect what we actually did during the class so that you can have an accurate record for reviewing the material. Also, the material on my website is constantly being updated. Consequently, I suggest that you frequently click the "refresh" button on your web browser so that you have the most recent version of the page.
Saturday, September, 13
8:30-11:55 a.m. Presentation of the syllabus; method and assignments; Introduction to the course. The Parable of Jacob the Tailor. View video "The World of Islam (1): The Five Pillars of Islam," (30 minutes. Films for the Humanities.) Fill out and turn in the questionnaire: "My Goals for this Course"
1:00 - 4:30 p.m. The Message: The Story of Islam, A Moustapha Akaad Film (178 minute) on DVD staring Anthony Quinn. Discussion.
Sunday, September, 14
8:15-9:15 a.m. Adhan (The call to prayer). Nostra Aetate. Islam in the news. Discussion. Review of the Five Pillars
9:30-10:30 a.m. Eucharist
10:45-11:45 a.m. The History of Islam (Wind Storm -- no electricity)
1:00-4:30 p.m. (Storm -- no electricity) Discussion of Farah Chapter one. (2:30 drive home)
Assignment # 01 due Thursday, September 18 Juz 1-2-3 (Sūrah 1-1 - 3:120); Vatican Council II, Nostra Aetate; Farah, Chapters 1 & 2. On ANGEL post a meditation on the Qur'an, Juz 1-2-3. On ANGEL, post a 400-600 word essay comparing the life of Jesus and the life of Muhammad.
Assignment # 02 due Thursday, September 25 Juz 4-5-6 (Sūrah 3:121 - 5:86); Farah, Chapters 3 & 4. On ANGEL post a meditation on the Qur'an, On ANGEL, post a 400-600 word essay on the "Five Pillars of Christianity." [You have seen how Islam is based on the "Five Pillars"; in an imaginative parallel, what would you say are the "Five Pillars of Christianity"?]
Assignment # 03 due Thursday, October, 2 Juz 7-8-9 (Sūrah 5:87 - 8:64); Farah, Chapters 5 & 6. On ANGEL post a meditation on the Qur'an. And On ANGEL post a 400-600 word essay comparing the Bible and the Quran.
Assignment # 04 due Thursday, October 9 Juz 10-11-12 (Sūrah 8:65 - 12:68); Who Speaks For Islam? Chapters 1 &2, pp 1 to 64. On ANGEL post a meditation on the Qur'an. And On ANGEL post a 400-600 word essay comparing the presentation of Islam in the first two chapters of Who Speaks For Islam? With your own perception of Islam as you began this course and with your understanding of how most people in your Parish of Diocese think of Muslims.
Assignment # 05 due Thursday, October 16 Juz 13-14-15 (Sūrah 12:69 - 18:82) Farah, Chapters 7 & 8. On ANGEL post a meditation on the Qur'an. And On ANGEL post a 400-600 word essay comparing the story of Joseph in the Qur'an with the story of Joseph in the Bible. [In Sūrah 12 we read the story of Joseph and his brothers. This is the one extended narrative in the Qur'an.]
Saturday, October 18
8:15-10:00 a.m. Adhan (The call to prayer). video "Prayer for Beginners," lecture by Abdalla Ali. Islamic Audio Visual Center, VT 35-005. Presentation and discussion of the ANGEL postings Assignment 1, Jesus and Muhammad
10:00-10:15 a.m. Break
10:15-11:55 a.m. Chapter d964 The Holy Qur'an video "The World of Islam (2): Islamic Art," Films for the Humanities. Presentation and discussion of the ANGEL postings Assignment 2, The Five Pillars
1:00-4:30 p.m. Presentation and discussion of the ANGEL postings Assignment 3 The Bible and the Qur'an. and Assignment 5, the story of Joseph. video "The World of Islam (3): The Islamic City," Films for the Humanities. Chapter 968 Glossary of Arabic Words Dangers and Difficulties Ninety-Nine Beautiful Names
Sunday, October 19
8:15-9:15 a.m. Sūrah 1 practice. A note on monovision. Presentation and discussion of the ANGEL: Reflections on the Quran. video "The World of Islam (4): Orient/Occident," Films for the Humanities.
9:30-10:30 a.m. Eucharist
10:45-11:45 a.m. Presentation and discussion of the ANGEL: Reflections on the Quran. The History of Islam History of Religion in 90 Seconds video "The World of Islam (5): Islamic Science and Technology," Films for the Humanities
11:45 - 1:00 p.m. Check out. Lunch.
1:00-4:30 p.m. Presentation and discussion of the ANGEL postings Assignment 4 Discussion of Who Speaks For Islam. Islamic Law Pilgrimage in Islam. video "The World of Islam (6): Islam Today," Films for the Humanities
4:30 End
Assignment # 06 due Thursday, October 23 Juz 16-17-18 (Sūrah 18:83 - 25:44); Farah, Chapters 9 & 10. On ANGEL post meditation on the Quran. And On ANGEL post a 400-600 word essay on something you have studied in Farah.
Assignment # 07 due Thursday, October 30 Juz 19-20-21 (Sūrah 25:45 - 33:52); Farah, Chapters 11, 12, 13. On ANGEL post meditation on the Quran. And On ANGEL post a 400-600 word essay on something you have studied in Farah.
Assignment # 08 due Thursday, November 6 Juz 22-23-24 (Sūrah 33:53 - 41:54). (Sūrah 36 is often used in funerals. Compare the text of the Dies Irae); Who Speaks For Islam? Chapters 3-5, pp 65 to the end. On ANGEL post meditation on the Qur'an. Select one of the chapters of Who Speaks For Islam? (radical, women, coexistence) and write a 400-600 word essay on the relation between Christianity, Islam, and the topic you have chosen.
Assignment # 09 due Thursday, November 13 Juz 25-26-27 (Sūrah 42:1 - 57:29); Two issues of al Jumuah. On ANGEL post meditation on the Quran. On ANGEL post a 400-600 word essay based on the two issues of AL JUMUAH that you have read. your essay may be directed toward your general impression of the magazine, some are of family life or even the advertisements, but your essay is to have substance and relevance to our understanding of Islam. Do not simply post a few ideas of the top of your head.
Assignment # 10 due Thursday, November 20 Juz 28-29-30 (Sūrah 58:1 - 114:6); Farah, Chapters 14, 15, 16. On ANGEL post meditation on the Quran. Post a 800-1000 word concluding essay. You may use this essay to explore a topic of Islam that is of particular interest to you or some element of comparison between Islam and Christianity or a summary of how the course has altered your thinking towards Islam. The assignment is broad enough to include any of these topic but write an essay that will be interesting and helpful to the other participants in the course.
Saturday, November 22
8:15-10:00 a.m. Adhan (The call to prayer). Presentation and discussion of the ANGEL postings Assignment 6 & 7 essay on Farah. Discussion on the use of this book as a text.
10:00-10:15 a.m. Break
10:15-11:55 a.m. Presentation and discussion of the ANGEL postings: Reflections on the Quran.
1:00-4:30 p.m. Presentation and discussion of the ANGEL postings. Assignment 8 discussion of Who Speaks For Islam? Discussion on the use of this book as a text.
Sunday, November 23
8:15-9:15 a.m. Presentation and discussion of the ANGEL: Reflections on the Quran. Presentation and discussion of the ANGEL postings.
9:30-10:30 a.m. Eucharist
10:45-11:45 a.m. Presentation and discussion of the ANGEL postings. Assignment 9 Al Jumuah -- Islam today: family life; Islam in the USA; etc.
11:45 - 1:00 p.m. Check out. Lunch.
1:00-4:30 p.m. Presentation and discussion of the ANGEL postings (Assignment 10: Concluding essay). Formulate conclusions. Implications of the study of Islam for the Catholic Faith. Testament of Dom Christian De Cherge. Review of the online course survey. Process comments. Written evaluation for Saint. Meinrad administration.
4:30 End
|
1. Edward Andercheck |
4. Steven Eischens |
© Copyright: Tom Richstatter, Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati Ohio, Order of Friars Minor. All Rights Reserved. This page was created by Fr. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M. Every effort has been, and is being made, to acknowledge sources when the ideas are not my own. Any failure to comply with the United States Copyright Act (Title 17, United States Code) will be corrected immediately should I become aware of it. This site was updated on 10/07/08 . Your comments on this site are welcome at tomrichs@psci.net.