ME525: Worship in World Religions (4 units)

Sooi Ling Tan, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies

Winter 2013 Fuller Online

DESCRIPTION:

This course examines and analyzes the religious worship practices and music expressions of five major world religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Christianity. Their respective belief systems and worldviews are also discussed. In addition, issues pertaining to hybridity with local and folk religious practices and musical expressions, as well as implications for appropriate contextualization of Christian worship in multireligious contexts are addressed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will:

1. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the beliefs of Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist and Judaistic worship through their music rituals.

2. Be aware of how these practices are contextualized in various cultures and be able to critically engage in issues that arise.

3. Develop tools to contextualize Christian worship in multireligious contexts.

COURSE FORMAT:

This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

1. Beck, Guy L. Sacred Sound: Experiencing Music in World Religions. Ontario: Wilfred Laurier Press, 2006. ISBN: 0889204217. 222 pages. Pub. Price $44.95.
2. Muck, Terry & Adeney, Francis S. Christianity Encountering World Religions: The Practice of Missions in the Twenty First Century. 2009. ISBN: 0-8010-2660-1. Pub. Price: #30.00.
3. ONE text from recommended reading.
4. Course Reader

RECOMMENDED READING

1. Ching, Julia. Chinese Religions. London: The MacMillan Press. 1993. ISBN: 0883448750. 250 pages. Pub. Price: $28.00
2. Hurtado, Larry. At the Origins of Christian Worship: The Context and Character of Earliest Christian Devotion. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. 2000. ISBN: 0802847498. 150 pages. Pub. Price: $18.00.
3. Padwick, Constance E. Muslim Devotions: A Study of Prayer-Manuals in Common Use. Rockport, MA: Oneworld. 1996. ISBN: 1851681159. 340 pages. Pub. Price $29.32.
4. Summit, Jeffrey A. The Lord’s Song in a Strange Land: Music and Identity in Contemporary Jewish Worship. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN: 0195161815. 203 pages. Pub. Price: $35.00.
5. Katyal, Anjum ed. Sacred to Profane: Writings on Worship and Performance. Calcutta, India: Seagull Books. 2006. ISBN: 1905422164. 296 pages. Pub. Price: $46.00.
6. Eliade, Mircia. The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion. 1987. Florida: Harcourt Inc. ISBN 0-15-679201-X. 244 pages. Pub. Price $14.10.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Weekly threaded discussions on assigned topics
2. Two 500-word book critiques (one required and one recommended book).
3. A 2,500-word observation report of a religious worship based on two visits to the event.
4. A 5,000 word academic paper in which the student will research in depth on one of the issues addressed in class.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: SIS Elective. Optional course in the Worship, Theology and Arts program. Meets the requirement for World Religions (WREL) in SOT MA programs.

FINAL EXAM: None.