Week 7: Thursday, October 6, Daoism Read in NAWR 1. James Robson, Daoism, “Intr

Week 7: Thursday, October 6, Daoism
Read in NAWR 1.
James Robson, Daoism, “Introduction: Daoism – Lost and Found,” pp. 1473 – 1487.
Review the Chronology, pp. 1497 – 1504.
“The Dawn of Daoism,” and readings pp. 1505 – 1545, and 1570 – 1586.
“Classical Daoism Takes Shape,” pp. 1587 – 1596 and readings pp. 1597 – 1629, 1635 – 1638, 1646 – 1667, 1671 – 1675, 1689 – 1708, 1733 – 1748, 1758 – 1760, 1771 – 1786.
Matteo Ricci, From “Religious Sects among the Chinese” pp. 2032 – 2036.
If you choose to do an Academic Essay for this week, please submit it below.
Required Textbooks:
The Norton Anthology of World Religions (NAWR), Jack Miles, ed. 2 vols. WW Norton, 2015. ISBN 978-0-393-06253-3.
Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction. Daniel K. Gardner. Oxford University Press. 2014. ISBN: 978-0-19539891-5
Course Writing Assignments
1.) Eight academic essays: As a part of your preparation to engage in class discussion, you will prepare and submit a minimum of eight academic essays that reflectson the assigned readings for a particular week, to be completed and submitted on-line on Canvas prior to the class for which the readings were assigned. The entries are to be two to three pages [625 – 950 words]. In your essays you will properly reference the reading materials using proper APA citations [see below]. More specifics on Canvas.
2.) Four assigned Papers [Prompts and specific instructions on Canvas]:
• A three page [900 – 1000 words] paper that answers the question “What Constitutes a Religion?” due on Canvas Saturday, September 10 at midnight.
• A five page [1500 – 1650 words] paper discussing theories about the origins of religion, due on Canvas Saturday, October 8 at midnight.
• A five page [1500 – 1650 words] paper discussing religions as sources for moral decisions due on Canvas Saturday, November 12 at midnight.
• A ten page [3000 – 3300 words] paper that reflects upon and compares how each of the religions we have considered over the semester answers the question, “What does it mean to be human?” due on Canvas Saturday, December 17 at midnight.
Appropriate topics that can be included in the eight academic essays are:
1.) How do the readings assigned for this week fit in with the course overall? How do they relate to material already covered?
2.) Did something confirm what you already knew, believed, or suspected? What was the source of the information you brought to the material? How do the readings relate to your own life experience and background?
3.) Was anything surprising to you? Why?
4.) Was anything completely new to you? Does this build on what you already knew, or does it challenge strongly held beliefs? Does it make a difference? Why?
5.) What questions did the readings raise for you that you would like to see discussed in class? Can you propose some possible answers to your questions based on what you already know.
6.) The focus of each essay however is to be on the current reading assignment. Do not merely turn in your notes from the previous class lecture.
Citation Style: This course uses APA style for all writing and research assignments. Resources for this citation style are available through the Library Citation Guide and APA Style Guidebook.