Constructions and Re-Constructions of Buddhism
RELI 483
Spring 2014
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01
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Is Buddhism a philosophy? A mind science? An ancient mystical path? A modern construct? This seminar will evaluate a variety of answers to these questions by exploring how Buddhism has been understood in colonial and post-colonial periods. Our primary-source materials range from Orientalist poetry to Zen essays to Insight Meditation manuals to 21st-century films to contemporary academic critiques. We will examine the shape Buddhism takes in these works and turn to recent scholarship to discuss how romantic, imperialist, anti-modern, nationalist, therapeutic, and scientific frames depict one of today's most popular religions. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS RELI |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (CEAS-MN)(RELI-MN)(RELI) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
D.T. Suzuki, ESSAYS IN ZEN BUDDHISM (1927); Jack Kerouac, ON THE ROAD (1957); Donald Lopez, PRISONERS OF SHANGRI-LA (1998); Judith Snodgrass, PRESENTING JAPANESE BUDDHISM TO THE WEST (2003); Ajaan Chah, A STILL FOREST POOL (2004); David McMahan, THE MAKING OF BUDDHISM MODERNISM (2008).
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly discussion questions posted to course blog; 2 short book/film reviews; 1 in-class presentation; final research paper. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course fulfills the "Historical Traditions" OR "Thematic Approach" requirement for the Religion Department major. |
| Instructor(s): Kaloyanides,Alexandra Katherine Times: .M.W... 02:40PM-04:00PM; Location: WYL115; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: 4 | JR major: 4 | | |
| Seats Available: 0 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 1 | JR non-major: 1 | SO: 5 | FR: 4 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 5 | 1st Ranked: 1 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 4 |
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