MCCCD Program Description

Ritual, Symbol, and Myth

Course: REL207

First Term: 2011 Spring

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S

Description: Introduction to the academic study of religion through the study of myths, symbols, and rituals. Includes methods and theories used by scholars to study the complex subject of religion. Attention to literate and nonliterate cultures.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Assess the problematic aspects of defining religion and differentiate between various types of scholarly definitions. (I) 2. Describe the broad features and functions of religion and the academic arguments regarding the origins of religion. (II) 3. Compare the reasons for and approaches to the investigation of religion. (III) 4. Critically examine the use of the term sacred and identify its cultural manifestations in space, time, people and objects. (IV) 5. Examine the differences between types of symbols and the patterns and significance of archetypes. (V) 6. Examine the different approaches to study myth and parse significant patterns in cosmogonist and archetypal myths with attention to literate and nonliterate cultures. (VI) 7. Explain the purposes and stages of ritual and investigate individual, social, and specialized types of ritual. (VII) 8. Investigate how religious attitudes and expressions can be found in phenomena that do not appear religious. (VIII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. What is religion? A. Problems with defining religion B. Functional versus substantive definitions C. In relation to other categories D. Discuss scholarly definitions II. Features, functions, and origins of religion A. Conceptual versus performative features B. Intellectual, practical, emotional, social, and experiential functions C. Theories of the origins of religion III. Why study religion? A. How to study religion B. Methodological approaches to study IV. The Sacred A. Definitions of and the dichotomous attitude toward the sacred B. Manifestations of the sacred: 1. Space 2. Time 3. Pilgrimage/geography 4. Hierophants 5. Sacred objects 6. Relics 7. Purity versus pollution issues 8. Sacred versus profane C. Ideas of sacred power and forms of the divine V. Symbol A. Presentational versus representational B. Archetypes C. Collective unconscious D. Individual versus social responses E. Polysemous/dynamic meaning F. Religious art VI. Myth A. Approaches to the study of B. Myth and science C. Origin stories D. Stories that tie into archetypal symbol 1. Hero 2. Trickster 3. Wise old man 4. Virgin E. Investigation of literate and nonliterate cultures F. Natural versus revealed theology G. Textual criticism H. Transmission of ethics and morality VII. Ritual A. Purposes and stages of ritual B. Liminality C. Specialized ritual 1. Rites of passage 2. Life cycle rites 3. Sacrifice 4. Expiation 5. Seasonal/communal D. Ritual time E. Religious experiences VIII. Phenomena with similarities to religious structures A. Atheism B. Dawkins memetics C. Civil religion D. Cults E. Humanistic utopia

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 12/14/2010

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.