Introduction to World Religions (Online)

REL1300Fall 2015
Florida State University
College of Arts & Sciences
(Version 1.0, Updated 23 Aug 2015)

Contact Information
Instructor: John L. Crow
Instructor Office: University Center C, Office of Distance Learning, Suite 3511
Instructor Email: jlcrow@campus.fsu.edu
Instructor Phone: 850-645-0973 (M-F, 9AM to 5PM)
Instructor Office Hours: By appointment
Teaching Assistant: Sheldon Steen
Teaching Assistant Email: ss14f@my.fsu.edu
Teaching Assistant Office: Dodd 112
Teaching Assistant Office Hours: By appointment
Response Time: Emails and/or phone calls responded to within 24-48 hours during the week. It may be a
longer over the weekends. Technical problems should be reported directly to Blackboard support at 850644-8004 or help@campus.fsu.edu. Their hours of operation are M-F, 8:30AM to 5:00 PM.
The Liberal Studies for the 21st Century Program at Florida State University builds an
educational foundation that will enable FSU graduates to thrive both intellectually and
materially and to support themselves, their families, and their communities through a broad
and critical engagement with the world in which they live and work. Liberal Studies offers
a transformative experience; this course has been approved as meeting the Liberal Studies
requirements and thus is designed to help you become a thoughtful patron of and
participant in cultural practice. It has also been approved as meeting the Cross -cultural
Studies requirements and thus is designed to help you become a culturally conscious
participant in a global community.

Course Description
This course is an introduction to the academic study of world religions. It is designed to acquaint students
with religious traditions practiced throughout the world. Particular attention will be given to the
historical development of various religious traditions, their role(s) in world history, and their relevance in
current events.
Note: You are REQUIRED to post an introduction by 5PM on the third day of class. IF YOU DO NOT YOU
WILL BE DROPPED. See First Day Attendance Policy below.

Course Objectives
By the end of the term, students will be able to:
1. compare and interpret intellectual and artistic expressions of a variety of cultures;
2. compare, interpret and create or model cultural artifacts that function as widely varied
reflections of human perspectives and/or practices;
1

3. recognize the complex cultural and historical contexts that give rise to and shape religious
traditions;
4. critically read, historically contextualize, and interpret arguments about religious history and
religious studies;
5. articulate the ways that religious communities conceive of their own traditions;
6. understand and employ basic terms commonly used in the discipline of religious studies.
The best way to meet these objectives is to read the objectives of each course unit, fully engage the
textbook and primary course readings, complete the course assignments in a complete and timely
manner, and post and comment on discussion boards in a thoughtful, complete, and respectful manner.

Blackboard Course Website & Assignment Dues Dates

You must access the course though the Blackboard learning management software available at
http://campus.fsu.edu. As this is an asynchronous, online course, there are no meeting times. However,
the course is broken down into fifteen weekly units. Weekly Course Units run from Monday to Sunday. In
general, all weekly unit assignments are due by 11:59PM Sunday night. Submitting anything after
11:59PM Sunday night will be considered late. The one exception is the last week of class, Week 15. All
assignments due for Week 15 are due on Friday, December 11, 2015 at 11:59PM. Other assignment will
have specified due dates. All grades will be posted on the Blackboard course site, and all class emails and
announcements will be made through this site. Copyrighted material is for class use only. You are
responsible for all information and material posted on this site.

Required Text

Amore, Roy C., Willard G. Oxtoby, Amir Hussain, and Alan F. Segal. A Concise Introduction to
World Religions, 3rd ed. Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford UP, 2015. Print. ISBN-13: 978-0199008551.
Secondary and primary sources posted on Blackboard (Bb)

Students often ask will this textbook be used? Absolutely. In fact, by the end of the semester youll read
almost the whole book. You can use either print or digital (if available) and buy (new / used) or rent the
textbook. However it MUST be the THIRD EDITION of the textbook. There were significant changes made
between the second and third edition. Additional readings will be on the Blackboard course in either MS
Word (.docx) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format, or both.

Course Prerequisites
As this is a general education, liberal studies course, there are no prerequisites. Introduction to World
Religions meets the FSU Liberal Studies for the 21st Century Program competency requirements for
Cultural Practice (LS-CUL) and Cross Cultural Studies (DIV-XCC).

Distance Learning
Is an Online Course Right for You? This is an online version of REL1300. The website for this class is on
FSUs Blackboard site. The Religion Department offers every semester conventional, face-to-face sections
of this course. If it is not possible for you to take one of these, then an online section is a viable
alternative. But be aware that the online version of the course requires MORE effort from the student
than those that have a regular lecture format. In-person classes have assigned times and places to meet.
In web-based courses the student must make time for their online course, be very self-motivated, and
2

must be actively and independently engaged to work through the course materials in order to learn the
subject. Self-motivation and a good work ethic is essential for the student taking an online course. You
will need to access the online course site from a computer. See the FSU Blackboard Technology
Requirements below to ensure your computer and software are supported by Blackboard.

Overview of Course Assignments

Discussion Board/Responses:
Discussion board questions and responses are a cornerstone of this course. Almost half your grade will be
determined by your posts and comments to discussion boards. There are three discussion questions per
weekly unit that relates to the assigned material for that week. Each student is required to post at least
one response to each of the discussion questions of the week and give at least one comment to other
student responses within the discussion board. You must post your initial response before you can see
the responses of others. You must post your initial response by Thursday night, 11:59 PM each week.
Your comments to responses are due by 11:59 PM Sunday night each week. The exception, as noted
previously, is Week 15 where comments must be posted by Friday night, 11:59 PM. Your response and
comments will be graded by a rubric that stresses thoughtfulness, completeness, respect for others, and
timeliness. It is estimated that the time each student is to devote to the discussion board and other
forms of course on-line communication is approximately one hour to two hours a week (fifteen to thirty
hours for the entire semester).

Late Discussion Board Posts & Comments:

Discussion Board activity happens the week of the discussion. Posting or commenting after the week has
passed losses the effectiveness of the discussion boards. As a result, discussion board responses and
comments will not be accepted after Sunday 11:59 PM of the week the discussion board was available.
Keeping up with discussion boards responses and comments are your responsibility.

Blackboard Discussion Board Conduct (Netiquette):

This class covers material about which many students have strong convictions and opinions. In order for
the class to be successful, it is essential that everyone show respect for the instructor and your
classmates. One of the most important aspects of a liberal arts education is learning to be respectful of
the viewpoints of others with whom you may disagree. Students are expected to communicate in a civil
manner in academic interactions at all times. Discussion board interactions are to be carried out in a
polite, courteous and dignified manner. Class discussion should be respectful and understanding towards
both peers and professors. Discussion board responses and comments are not the same as posting on
social media sites. Your posts and comments must use correct grammar, punctuation, and capitalization.
Disagreement is acceptable, or even expected. But swearing or derogatory and abusive statements are
unacceptable. Inappropriate behavior online could result in a range of disciplinary actions ranging from
receiving a zero for the assignment to failing the course. Also, the academic study of religion focuses on
understanding and explanation. The goal is not to persuade persons to join a particular religious group or
adopt a particular religious position. Students may not proselytize in class. Recitations from religious
scriptures offered as proof of derogatory views of other religions (e.g., Group X is inferior because it
says in scripture that ) are not constructive in the classroom and will not be tolerated.

Course Project:
For this assignment the student will have several choices, both in terms of topic and mode of
presentation. For example the student may write an essay/paper or submit a video presentation. The
project will be due on the last day of the regular semester. However there will be two milestone checkins, one of which will be graded. Students will create an artifact that can be used to narrativize the
3

intellectual and artistic expressions of a particular religious group, documenting its history and influence
locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally. Students will have the option of picking one of the
existing topics or working with the instructor to create a topic of your own. Note the artifacts created by
this project will be available for public viewing. This project will be assessed with a rubric that prioritizes
the development of critical thinking skills, as well as attention to cultural practices associated with the
religious traditions in question. More details are on the Blackboard course site. Also, see the course
schedule for due dates of the milestones for this project.

Exams/Instructions for Taking Exams:

There will be two exams in this course. Each comprises of forty multiple choice and 5 short answer
questions. The multiple choice questions will be taken from the pool of questions used on the quizzes.
The best way to study for the exams is to take the quizzes repeatedly. Remember, you retain the highest
grade of all your attempts. The midterm will be available during Week 9 and the final exam during finals
week. The exams are not cumulative.
The midterm will cover Weeks 1-8 (the introduction, indigenous religious, Judaism, Christianity
and Islam).
The final will cover Weeks 9-15 (Hinduism, Buddhism, other Asian religions and new religious
movements).
Each exam will be proctored and taken at a proctoring facility. For those in Tallahassee, your proctored
exams will be taken at the FSU Testing and Assessment Center located next to Doak Campbell Stadium, in
University Center C. Those not in the Tallahassee area MUST designate a proctor within the first two
weeks of class. The list of available proctors can be found on the FSU Online Proctor Designation Form.
Information for taking proctored distance learning exams can be found online on the Proctored Exams
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the FSU Test Center website. The FSU Testing and Assessment
Center can be contacted at 850-644-8747, or via email testing@campus.fsu.edu. You will have 75
minutes to take the midterm and final. Shortly before each exam your instructor will give you a link to
sign up for a time slot to take your midterm and final exam. Please be prompt in signing up for an exam
time and be sure you do not miss the exam.

Missed Exams

If there is a medical or family emergency, official university activity, or religious holiday that
requires you to miss one of the scheduled exams, you must notify the instructor in advance if at
all possible and provide appropriate written documentation of the excuse. With proper notice
and documentation, a make-up exam can be scheduled. However, during finals week the number
of testing slots are limited. During finals week, even if you miss your exam and have
documentation, you are subject to space availability restrictions. No exam can be made up after
the end of finals week.
If you miss an exam without prior notice to the instructor and without an excuse (i.e., proof of a
medical or family emergency, official university activity, or religious holiday), do not assume that
you will be allowed to make-up the exam. In certain circumstances you may be allowed to make
up the exam. However that must be determined by the instructor on a case-by-case basis. Again,
time and space restrictions may apply to make-up exams.
Should you miss the exam time slot you signed up for, it is your responsibility to contact the
testing center immediately at testing@campus.fsu.edu or 850-644-3017 and reschedule. As long
as there are available time slots, you can be rescheduled but it must be done by the testing
center. Do not email your instructor about a missed time slot, your instructor cannot reschedule
you. If you miss your time slot, and do not reschedule or meet the above excuse reasons you will
automatically receive a zero (0) for the missed exam.
4

Quizzes:
There will be an on-line quiz for each unit or tradition in this course. There will be a total of ten quizzes.
They will be taken through the course site on Blackboard. Each will consist of ten multiple choice
questions that cover the reading assigned for that tradition. Each quiz will be made available during the
last week for the unit it covers. You may take the quizzes as many times as you like. You are welcome to
use your textbook and notes on these quizzes. You will retain the highest score of your attempts. Each
quiz is different, as it pulls from a larger pool of questions. As you may take the quizzes repeatedly, the
quizzes do not indicate which questions you have right or wrong or the correct answers for those you
answered incorrectly. The quiz only indicates the number you answered correctly. The quizzes are
located in the course units. Quizzes become available during the last week of each course unit. Quizzes
are best completed during the week they become available. However quizzes do not become
unavailable. All quizzes must be completed by the end of the semester.

Writing Assignments:
Over the course you will have two essays of at least 500 words each. You will write your essay as a word
file you will upload to Blackboard, which will evaluate it using Florida States anti-plagiarism software.
You must use MLA formatting for the essay and it must cite all courses, both in-text at the place where
the quotation, summary, or idea is used, and a correct citation entry in the Works Cited at the end of the
essay. Failure to cite your information is plagiarism. Any plagiarism will result in a failing grade on the
essay, reporting the incident to student academic affairs, and possibly other disciplinary procedures
including failure of the class, probation, suspension, or expulsion from the university. An extensive
discussion of what constitutes plagiarism is available in the course sites FAQ.

Late Essays/Papers:
All assignments are due on the day listed in the course calendar and must be submitted to Blackboard.
Essays/papers will be accepted up to one week late. Late essays/papers will receive a 50% late penalty.
No paper or essay will be accepted after one week from the due date unless acceptable documentation
(medical emergencies, religious holidays, official university activities, or something similar) is submitted
with the assignment for each day the paper is late. Emailing papers is not an option. All essays must be
reviewed by the Blackboard plagiarism software.

First-day Attendance Policy:

FSU has a mandatory first-day attendance policy for all classes, including online courses. Students who
do not comply with this rule will automatically be dropped from the course. In this class this policy is
satisfied by students posting a personal introduction on the first day attendance discussion board by the
third day of classes by 5PM. This discussion board link is available in the About Religion (Week 1) Course
Unit folder. For the discussion board post, give your name, your year in school, your major if you have
one, and say briefly why you are in the course and what you hope to learn. You are also welcome to post
any other information you think may be helpful for people to get to know you. Anyone who has not
introduced themselves by 5PM on the third day will be dropped from the course. Anyone who adds the
course to their schedule after this date and time is not required to post an introduction, but you are
welcome to do so. These introductions are a great way for you to get to know your classmates and
instructor(s).

Course Grading Breakdown

Discussion Boards (45 @ 10 pts each).................... 45%
Quizzes (10 @ 10 pts each) .................................... 10%
Project (in three parts for a total of 250 pts) ......... 25%
Essay #1 (50 pts) ....................................................... 5%
Essay #2 (50 pts) ....................................................... 5%
Mid-term Exam (Weeks 1-8) (50 pts) ....................... 5%
Final Exam (Week 9-15) (50 pts) .............................. 5%
Total (1000 pts) .................................................... 100%

Grading Scale
The grading scale used in this class is as follows: A = 93-100, A- = 90-92, B+ = 87-89, B = 83-86, B- = 80-82,
C+ = 77-79, C = 73-76, C- = 70-72, D+ = 67-69, D = 63-66, D- = 60-62, F = 59 or below.

Grading Response Time

It is the goal of the instructors to return grades to you within one week from which they are submitted.
However, depending on schedules, there may be delays. If you have not received a grade after one week,
you are welcome to email your instructor(s) to inquire as to when they estimate grades will be returned.

Grading Disputes
In order to ensure that each students work is graded in accordance with standards that apply to the
entire class, if you have a question regarding a grade, you must contact your instructor or grader within
one week after the work in question is graded. No exceptions will be made to this policy. If the exam or
assignment is re-scored, the entire exam or assignment will be graded again. This means that your score
may increase or decrease.

Missed Assignments/Assignment Submission Errors/Technical Problems

It is your responsibility to keep up with your grades, assignment submissions, and assignment deadlines.
Missed assignments, submission errors, or technical problems must be addressed immediately. You
should check to ensure your assignment submissions were successful in Blackboard. You will know a
submission was successful by looking at your grades and seeing an exclamation point symbol indicating
there is an assignment needing grading. If there is no symbol, your submission was not successful.
Claiming that you submitted the assignment but not having it in Blackboard is not an acceptable excuse.
It is not enough to just do the assignment but you must also deliver it successfully to receive credit. If you
have technical problems submitting the assignment, contact Blackboard support, not your instructors.

Extra Credit
This course does not offer any extra credit. Do not ask your instructor(s) for extra credit.

FSU Blackboard Technology Requirements

In order to use FSUs Blackboard (Bb) learning management system, students should meet the following
minimum technology requirements:
6

1. A computer running on Windows 7 or later or Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) or later

2. A broadband internet connection (such as through a WIFI or Comcast Cable connection)
3. An approved web browser:
a. Mozilla Firefox, the latest version (PC/Mac)*
b. Google Chrome, the latest version (PC/Mac)*
c. Internet Explorer, version 9 or later (PC)*
d. Safari, version 6 for Mac OS X 10.7 and 10.8 (Mac)*
4. Java SE 8, latest update. Note the current version of Google Chrome does not initially allow Java
to run. Chrome users should follow the instruction at Enabling NPAPI in Chrome Version 42 and
later to enable Java support in Chrome. Also, as of Mac OS X 10.8 and later, Java is no longer
shipped as part of the operating system and must be downloaded and installed. This is a onetime action that can be accomplished by the Java SE 8 link.
5. Adobe Acrobat Reader
6. Microsoft Office 2010 or later (to view Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents). Note FSU offers
all students access to Microsoft Office 365. For more information see the FSU instructions on
accessing Microsoft Office 365.
7. Adobe Flash, latest version
8. Apple QuickTime, latest version, or Windows Media Player, version 12
* Those wishing to check to perform a browser support check can visit Blackboards Browser
Checker. You can also see Blackboards current list of supported browsers.
Computers are available at the Oglesby Union (Room 202), Carothers Hall (Room 315), campus libraries,
or access a virtual computer lab (myFSUVLAB). Visit ITS Computer Labs website for more information.

Note for students using Windows 10 and the Microsoft Edge Browser
Blackboard provisionally supports the new Windows Edge browser. However as it is very new and
untested, you may encounter problems with Blackboard and the Microsoft Edge browser. If you are
unsure of which browser you are using, contact Blackboard support. If problems arise with the Microsoft
Edge browser, it is suggested to switch to one of the supported browsers listed above. Currently the
Blackboard Browser Checker does not correctly identify the Microsoft Edge Browser.
For issues with Blackboard login and functionality, contact FSU Blackboard User Support:
Blackboard Support Website: http://support.campus.fsu.edu/
Blackboard Support Email: help@campus.fsu.edu
Phone: (850) 644-8004
In-Person: University Center C, Suite 3500
For other technology related issues, such as your username or issues with my.fsu.edu, contact FSU
Information Technology Services
ITS Support Website: http://its.fsu.edu/Students
ITS Support Email: help@fsu.edu
Phone: (850) 644-4357
In-Person: Shaw Building, 644 W Call Street

Multimedia Lectures/Web Resources for REL 1300

To facilitate your comprehension of course materials, the Religion Department has developed a series of
multimedia presentations for this course. The Religion Department is one of the best in the country and
7

the expertise of its faculty covers virtually all major religious traditions of the world. These presentations
are a collaborative effort by the faculty, in which each faculty member offers a video lecture of a religious
tradition that is connected to a dynamic and interactive presentation. You are required to view each
presentation. The total length of all the presentations designed for this course total approximately nine
to ten hours. The presentations are available in the course units for this course.

University Attendance Policy

Excused absences include documented illness, deaths in the family and other documented crises, call to
active military duty or jury duty, religious holy days, and official University activities. These absences will
be accommodated in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize students who have a valid excuse.
Consideration will also be given to students whose dependent children experience serious illness.

Florida State University Honor Code

The Florida State University Academic Honor Policy outlines the Universitys expectations for the integrity
of students academic work, the procedures for resolving alleged violations of those expectations, and
the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty members throughout the process. Students are
responsible for reading the Academic Honor Policy and for living up to their pledge to . . . be honest and
truthful and . . . [to] strive for personal and institutional integrity at Florida State University. (Florida
State University Academic Honor Policy, found at http://fda.fsu.edu/Academics/Academic-Honor-Policy.)

Americans with Disabilities Act

Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should:
(1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; and
(2) bring/email a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type.
This should be done during the first week of class.
The syllabus and other class materials are available in alternative format upon request.
For more information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact the:
Student Disability Resource Center
874 Traditions Way
108 Student Services Building
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4167
(850) 644-9566 (voice)
(850) 644-8504 (TDD)
sdrc@admin.fsu.edu

Free Tutoring from FSU

On-campus tutoring and writing assistance is available for many courses at Florida State University. For
more information, visit the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) Tutoring Services comprehensive list of
on-campus tutoring options - see http://ace.fsu.edu/tutoring or contact tutor@fsu.edu. High-quality
tutoring is available by appointment and on a walk-in basis. These services are offered by tutors trained
to encourage the highest level of individual academic success while upholding personal academic
integrity.

Syllabus Change Policy

"Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading) statement, this
syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice.

Course Calendar
This calendar is tentative and subject to change. Any revisions will be announced in class and posted on
the course website in advance.
Week
1
1
2
2
3
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
9
9
9
10
11
11
12
12
13
13
14
15
15
FW
FW

Description
First Day Attendance discussion board introduction
Quiz & Discussion Board Posts
Non-Tallahassee students must select testing proctor
Quiz & Discussion Board Posts
Discussion Board Posts
Quiz & Discussion Board Posts
Project Information Becomes Available
Discussion Board Posts
Project Topic Must Be Determined
Essay #1 Topic Becomes Available
Quiz & Discussion Board Posts
Essay #1 Due
Discussion Board Posts
Project Proposal Due
Quiz & Discussion Board Posts
Discussion Board Posts
Mid-term Exam (Weeks 1-8) M-W-F
Mid-term Exam (Weeks 1-8) T-TH
Quiz & Discussion Board Posts
Discussion Board Posts
Project Progress Summary Due
Quiz & Discussion Board Posts
Essay #2 Becomes Available
Quiz & Discussion Board Posts
Essay #2 Due
Quiz & Discussion Board Posts
Quiz & Discussion Board Posts
Final Project (completed version)
Final Exam (Weeks 9-15) M-TH
Final Exam (Weeks 9-15) F

Available
8/23 11:59 PM
8/23 11:59 PM
8/23 11:59 PM
8/30 11:59 PM
9/6 11:59 PM
9/13 11:59 PM
9/13 11:59 PM
9/20 11:59 PM
9/20 11:59 PM
9/27 11:59 PM
10/4 11:59 PM
10/11 11:59 PM
10/18 11:59 PM
10/19 8:30 AM
10/19 8:30 AM
10/25 11:59 PM
11/1 11:59 PM
11/8 11:59 PM
11/8 11:59 PM
11/15 11:59 PM
11/22 11:59 PM
11/29 11:59 PM
12/7 8:30 AM
12/7 8:30 AM

Due
8/26 5:00 PM
8/30 11:59 PM
9/4/ 11:59 PM
9/6 11:59 PM
9/13 11:59 PM
9/20 11:59 PM
9/27 11:59 PM
9/27 11:59 PM
10/4 11:59 PM
10/4 11:59 PM
10/11 11:59 PM
10/11 11:59 PM
10/18 11:59 PM
10/25 11:59 PM
10/23 2:30 PM
10/23 4:30 PM
11/1 11:59 PM
11/8 11:59 PM
11/8 11:59 PM
11/15 11:59 PM
11/22 11:59 PM
11/22 11:59 PM
11/29 11:59 PM
12/4 11:59 PM
12/4 11:59 PM
12/11 5:30 PM
12/11 2:30 PM