Religion 369/ Psychology 313
Handout #01: 01
COURSE BASICS and Quick Reference Guide
Distributed in Class 1/8/98
This handout is a quick guide to essential information about this course, and to the rules of the road in this class. Keep a copy in your notebook. More detailed information on some of these items will be found in the Syllabus, in the CoursePack, and in subsequent handouts.
Instructors:
Luis O. Gómez, professor.
Office hours: Thursday 3:00-5:00 PM, 2074 Frieze.
Tel. 763-7888. E-mail: lgomez@umich.edu
Carrie Ann Hatcher, TA --office hours TBA.
Course description and objectives
The course is an exploration of the encounter between psychology and religion, with a special emphasis on the way modern and contemporary Western psychological reflection and research view religious behavior. Lectures and readings address issues in two interrelated fields of study: (1) psychology and religion as competing or overlapping explanations of behavior, as legislations of mental health and "disease," and as techniques for the "cure of souls," and, (2) the nature and foundations of the "psychology of religion"--psychological theory and research about phenomena such as religious experience, spiritual autobiographical narratives and "paths," and religious practices including ritual and meditation. The course is based on the writings of psychologists of religion, and on textual and ethnographic materials from a variety of religious traditions.
The primary goal of the course is to raise awareness of the problems implicit in the psychological understanding of religious behavior. More specifically, the course tries to meet three closely related objectives: namely, (1) to increase the student's understanding of the diversity and complexity of human religious behaviors (doing, speaking, feeling, thinking), (2) to introduce the student into the critical, academic reflection on religion via the methods and questions of scientific psychology, and (3) to create an awareness of the ways in which religious traditions and diverse cultural and social contexts may in turn challenge the assumptions of professional psychology.
These objectives are pursued by means of a set of readings representative of three "content Issues": how religion and psychology legislate deviance (dictate the limits of what is normal and healthy), how religious and psychological practices attempt to "heal," and how professional psychologists have described and evaluated religious practice, discourse and experience.
What to Expect:
1. The gateway to a good grade are university level readings and lectures that require attention and hard work. Lectures do not just repeat or highlight the readings.
2. The instructor tries to tailor the classes to students needs and may occasionally modify the syllabus in response to student questions. However, unless a supplement to the syllabus is distributed in lecture, you can assume that we will follow exactly the order of the readings as printed in the syllabus.
3. Summary of Course Expectations and Requirements
1) Full understanding of the principles outlined in the handout titled "The Ethics of Learning" (Handout #3). By remaining in class you implicitly state that you have read and accepted those principles.
2) Studying the assigned readings carefully, with an open mind, and in a timely fashion.
3) Regular class attendance and participation.
4) Satisfactory and punctual completion of all exams and exercises.
Golden rules:
1) There are no substitute to attending, and listening carefully, to the lectures, or for the personal, human, exchange that should take place in recitation sections. However, do note that the content, materials, and approaches in this course may at times be extremely sensitive or raise questions that may make some of us uncomfortable. Be mindful and considerate of the belief (or unbelief) of your fellow students and instructors.
2) Lecture notes: a sheet with highlights of each lecture will be distributed at the beginning of lecture and only once. If you miss any of these, you will have to retrieve the page from the WEB--copies will be posted on the Web at http://www-personal.umich.edu/~lgomez/ Do note, however, that postings may fall behind actual lecture times. You can also purchase lecture notes from Grade A Copy Service. However, do not assume that the perusal (let alone the mere possession) of either one of these sets of notes is equivalent to attending lecture.
3) Read regularly: Each person has a different strategy, but as a rule of thumb it is better to read the assigned readings shortly before or shortly after the corresponding lecture.
4) Do not procrastinate: Penalty is a deduction of 10% of the grade for each day a paper is late, including weekend days.
Required Texts:
(1) Books--Available at the Shaman Drum Book Shop, 313 South State Street (2nd floor).
Hood,, Spilka, Hunsberger,& Gorsuch. (1996). The psychology of religion: An empirical approach. 2nd ed.
Garter Snake. (1980). The seven visions of Bull Lodge as told by his daughter, Garter Snake.
(2) CoursePack--Grade A Copy Service, on sale at Ulrich's.
Grade basis:
Required tasks // date due / percent weight:
Impromptu and interactive exercises // as scheduled or at random / 30%
Discussion cards // weekly ( begin. week of 1/20) / 10%
Short Reaction Papers // as scheduled or at random / 25%
Mid-Term Examination // Feb. 25 / 15%
Turn in student-generated questions (part of final) // Apr. 16
Final Examination // Apr. 23 / 20%
Detailed explanation of Required Tasks:
Impromptu (unannounced) exercises
Special exercises done in groups or in interaction with instructor and completed or assigned in lecture without previous warning. They will vary in length and format. Expect anywhere between 3 and 5 of these.
Discussion cards
A 3 X 5 card with your suggestions of topics for discussion in section. Suggestions may take the form of a question, an issue, a hypothesis, or a plan for discussion.
Short Reaction Papers
Special exercises assigned in lecture or section. These are announced short (not more than one page) written exercises completed at home or during lecture time. They will vary in length and format. Expect anywhere between 2 and 3 of these.
Mid-Term Examination
12 multiple choice questions (12 points), two definitions (2 X 4 = 8 points), and one essay question (10 points) {total = 30 points}.
Final Examination
16 multiple choice (16 points), four definitions (3 X 4 = 12 points), and one student-generated essay question (12 points) {total = 40 points}.
Percentage-grade equivalences:
A+ = 98-100 B+ = 87-89 C+ = 77-79 D+ = 67-69 E = 0-59
A = 93-97 B = 83-87 C = 73-77 D = 63-67
A- = 90-92 B- = 80-82 C- = 70-72 D- = 60-62