HobgoodOster

Integrating Student Research Abroad into Liberal Arts Education: Three Faculty Perspectives: 

Integrating Student Research Abroad into Liberal Arts Education: Three Faculty Perspectives Religious Studies Dr. Laura Hobgood-Oster Southwestern University

What is the comparative study of religion?: 

What is the comparative study of religion? Function rather than content Religion as a cultural system (Geertz) Might include: ritual, ethical guidelines, sacred spaces, myths (contained in sacred oral or textual traditions), etc… Religions have no hierarchical or progressive ranking Empathic and Contextual

Placing the “Text” in “Context”: 

Placing the “Text” in “Context” Can a comparative religious traditions program exist without a study abroad component? Comparative U.S. traditions Problematic generalizations: example of Buddhism

Spain: 

Spain “I guess that studying abroad not only helped me to gain a sense of self-sufficiency that increased my academic and personal confidence--it also showed me that the places and things I was interested were real, dynamic assemblages of people, forces and things, and in so doing, strengthened my capacity for critical thought...an asset not only in college, but in all the things that come after.  And based upon my own time abroad, I really believe that no education compares to the process of learning a foreign language...that is the most challenging educational experience I've ever had, and it's been extremely rewarding professionally as well as personally.”

Italia – “Just Being There”: 

Italia – “Just Being There” “My studies there were enhanced by being there mostly because my focus in undergrad was the early Christian church, and Rome, as the birthplace of Catholicism, really enhanced that study. I took a course in early Christian art in the Mediterranean which spent a lot of time looking at the history of the early church. I also had a course in the history of Catholic Saints as well as one looking at the history of Rome itself. Mostly, the opportunity to be in the city and visit so many sites which were crucial in Christian history was worth more than most anything else. It's an extremely different experience to study about, read about, and view pictures of a place than it is to actually experience the place itself. I think that this is the way in which my study abroad experience most contributed to my religion major.”

India: Swimming with Elephants: 

India: Swimming with Elephants “How can you really even begin to describe the experience of Buddhism until you have the opportunity to swim with the elephants! When the monks brought them to the river and we were given permission to get into the water with them (and dive off of their backs), then I had at least an inkling of Buddhism in northern India.”

Problems with religious “others” and sacred spaces/times: 

Problems with religious “others” and sacred spaces/times Observation Participation Exclusion and Inclusion Preparation for studying religion in different contexts Being an “outsider”

General Education: 

General Education Religion: Courses satisfying the requirement introduce students to reflections on the meaning of human existence, community and the universe from the perspectives of the major religious traditions of humankind. Specific courses may focus upon a segment of religious and philosophical tradition or on several religious traditions in comparison. These courses show how religious tradition shapes human consciousness and provides individuals with self-definition and meaning.

Sample courses at “home”:: 

Sample courses at “home”: Introduction to: Christian Tradition, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Hebrew Bible, Judaism… Journey to Wisdom; American Religions; Women, Goddesses and Religion; The Body and Sexuality in Religion; Gender, Sex, and Violence in the Biblical World; etc…

Filling the Gen Ed Requirement Abroad – Possibilities:: 

Filling the Gen Ed Requirement Abroad – Possibilities: IES Courses: RELIGION, SOCIETY, AND THE STATE IN MODERN FRANCE France is in a unique situation today with regards to relations between the Church and the State that are part of a complex history tracing its roots to the separation of Church and State in 1905. This course will study the history and evolution of religion, society, and the State over the course of the 20th century as well as in the contemporary European context. (Nantes) ORIENT MEETS OCCIDENT: CULTURES, RELIGIONS, AND IDENTITIES OF TURKEY, THE BALKANS AND SOUTHEAST EUROPE The Balkans and Turkey are situated precisely on the “fault-lines” of three of the world’s great faiths: Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity, and Islam. The important presence of Judaism has also shaped the larger region to a significant extent, both culturally and geopolitically. The course’s focus upon the culture and religion of this particular region is not only of utmost geo-strategic but also “geo-cultural” importance—tying the West, the East, and the Muslim World together. The course offers a unique opportunity to systematically compare and analyze this crucial region as a test area for building multiethnic nation states, for the modernization of traditional and post-communist societies, and the potential efficacy and limitations of the EU’s supra-national integration paradigm. (EU Summer)

SIT – Ireland: Peace and Conflict Studies: 

SIT – Ireland: Peace and Conflict Studies Corrymeela Community – Christian Center for Reconciliation Corrymeela  is people of all ages and Christian traditions, who, individually and together are committed to the healing of social, religious and political divisions that exist in Northern Ireland and throughout the world. 

SIT—Indonesia: Bali—Arts and Culture: 

SIT—Indonesia: Bali—Arts and Culture A predominantly Hindu island in this otherwise Muslim nation, Bali offers a blend of religious and cultural influences, a rich artistic heritage, and a window into the continued importance of religion in daily life. Students examine the interaction between traditional Balinese arts and culture and the economic and political spheres of society.

Slide13: 

“One of the highlights of the semester is attendance at religious ceremonies. While some students may have the opportunity to join their host family at a wedding, tooth filing, or other life-cycle ritual, all students will be able to see an odalan or anniversary ceremony of a local temple. These colorful rituals can be elaborate, and students will witness processions to the river, the tall and beautiful handmade rice ornaments, and special dance performances lasting well into the night. Students will also purchase pakaian adat, the beautiful Balinese clothing worn to religious ceremonies.”