For Tuesday, February 19 Read in Albanese, The Rest of Chapter 1 according to the formula below:           Last Name begins with A-L "The Oglala Sioux" 31 - 35           Last Name begins with M-Z "The Hopi" 35 - 41           EVERYONE, "Change in Native.... " to end of Chapter 41 - 47 Read in Allitt           2.4 Roger Williams Explains Rhode Island Indians' Language                     and Religion 32 - 34           2.5 Mary Jemison Describes the Five Feasts by which                     Seneca Marked the Changing Seasons 34 - 36           2.6 Tecaughretanego Explains Why the Great Spirit Sometimes                     Permits Men to Go Hungry Before Feeding Them. 36 - 38           2.7 John Heckwelder Describes the Delaware Indians'                     View of Bear Spirits, c. 1750 38-39

Michael R. H. Swanson, Ph.  D. Office:  Feinstein CAS 110 Or by Appointment Phone:  (401) 254-3230 e-mail: mswanson@rwu.edu

AMST 310 Varieties of Religious Experience Roger Williams University CAS 122 11:00 - 12:25  T, Th           Spring, 2002

Michael R. H. Swanson, Ph.  D. Office:  Feinstein CAS 110 Or by Appointment Phone:  (401) 254-3230 e-mail: mswanson@rwu.edu

Native American Religions As you read these sections, be conscious about the ways the Native American world view differs from the European world view. Which elements seem most similar to your traditional or your personal views? Which are the least easy to understand? Which seem attractive, and why? Which seem unattractive, and why?

For Tuesday, February 19 Read in Albanese, The Rest of Chapter 1 according to the formula below:           Last Name begins with A-L "The Oglala Sioux" 31 - 35           Last Name begins with M-Z "The Hopi" 35 - 41           EVERYONE, "Change in Native.... " to end of Chapter 41 - 47 Read in Allitt           2.4 Roger Williams Explains Rhode Island Indians' Language                     and Religion 32 - 34           2.5 Mary Jemison Describes the Five Feasts by which                     Seneca Marked the Changing Seasons 34 - 36           2.6 Tecaughretanego Explains Why the Great Spirit Sometimes                     Permits Men to Go Hungry Before Feeding Them. 36 - 38           2.7 John Heckwelder Describes the Delaware Indians'                     View of Bear Spirits, c. 1750 38-39

I've listed these readings in the opposite order from that in which I wish to consider them. The first half of the period I'd like to use for a brief discussion of the four readings from Allitt. Three of the four are by Europeans, and as you read these, I'd like to have your focus be on how these Europeans interpreted Native American religion. Do the depictions seem accurate? Biased in favor? Biased Against? Consider, too, what evidence there may be that men and women like Williams, Jemison, and Heckwelder put European interpretations on what they saw or heard.

Tecaughretanego attempts to do something which members of other cultures do as well... try to understand why humans suffer. Are there any resemblances between his understanding and those you may have encountered elsewhere?

During the second half of the period I'm going to divide you into small groups, each of which will be composed of "experts" on both Sioux and Hopi Religions. I'm going to ask you to explain these to each other

Some Web Sites on Native American Religion and Spirituality

For Thursday, February 21                                        Consensus Protestantism Read, in Corbett,                     Chapter 3.  "Consensus Protestants"  pp. 41-59 Note that this chapter falls into two divisions.  The first of these defines the idea of "Consensus Religion"...you will see a relationship the idea of pluralism here.  It also looks at some broad issues which all the "consensus religions" have had to face to one degree or another, including the role of women in their organizations.  NOTE:  Corbett asks you to think about several things before reading sections of the chapter.  It would be a good idea ot do as she asks.  The second half of the chapter looks broadly at Consensus Protestantism.  It suggests that there is something called a "Protestant Lifestyle"  (remember the idea of code) and also looks at matters relating to creed, cultus, and community as well. One of the difficulties with studying Protestantism is to recognize and consider both the things the denominations share in common and those things which are distinctively different about them.  In the section on denominational distinctiveness, make sure you can identify at least the "big five".  Refer back to the surveys you downloaded to note the relative importance of each in various regions of the country.  The "Big Five" in American Protestantism Baptists  c. 38%  Methodists  c. 15% Lutherans  c. 12% Presbyterians  c. 6% Epscopalians  c. 5% Note: these are national averages regional averages vary considerably

Projects for February:-- Part I. Reminding you, from the introctory syllabus: 3.  Short Projects. I will identify one or more of the exercises in each of the Corbett Chapters as suitable for turning into a project.  Some of these will be individual, some of these group.  I want you to choose three of these throughout the semester (approximately one per month).  No two projects may come from the same chapter. The appropriate projects from Chapter 3 are: 2, 9, 10, 11, 12 on p. 68 If you do one of these, write it up in 5 pages, double spaced, and turn it in ideally on the Thursday before Spring Break.  (I will accept them on the Tuesday following).