WEEK 3

// JANUARY 31–FEBRUARY 4 //

February 1 (Tues.)

LESSON 1.4 — #WorldReligions: Where does the concept of “World Religions” come from and why is it problematic? (~1h52m)

Satirical world map highlighting the arbitrariness of the idea of “The West”

Before you begin:

• Reflect on and describe what you already know (or think you know) about today’s topic and where you picked up those ideas.
• Predict what you expect to encounter or learn during this lesson.

First, read:

• Study Guide for #WorldReligions

Defining #WorldReligions

• Keeping it 101: “World Religions: Shall we not?” (32m)
• (Optional) Shownotes for this Keeping it 101 ep.

Religion in Action:

• First, read a short blurb about Dr. Wenger’s research on the Pueblo Dance Controversy to get the “Big Picture” before reading the next piece (1m)
• With the sense of the bigger picture, read Tisa Wenger’s “We are Guaranteed Freedom”: Pueblo Indians and the Category of Religion in the 1920s (1h5m)

Defining #Postcolonialism and #Decolonization in Religion

• Nye, “Postcolonialism and Religion” (3m)
• Nye, “Some Thoughts on the Decolonization of Religious Studies” (11m)

(Optional):

• Tomoko Masuzawa, “The Discourse of Religion as a Discourse of Othering,” from The Invention of World Religions: How European Universalism Was Preserved in the Language of Pluralism

Come to class:

• Be ready to share at least two things from today’s lesson that fascinated you (and why), and at least one thing that remains confusing or unclear (and why)!

Be sure to start studying for Exam 1 (which is on Tuesday next week)!

• We’ll have an in-class review + detailed explanation of the Exam format next class meeting!

February 2 (Wed.)

Last day to Drop or Withdraw without a grade!

February 3 (Thurs.)

In-class review for EXAM 1

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

• Nothing new to prep for today! We’re looking at the Big Picture from these first 3 weeks and clarifying expectations for Exam 1 (which is online next Tuesday!)