Department of Religious Studies
Joseph Adler

Religious Studies 481
RELIGION AND NATURE

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Joseph Adler	Fall 2006
Ascension 310	T-Th 2:40-4:00
E-mail: adlerj@kenyon.edu	Olin 317
427-5290	Office hours: MW 3-4, TTh 1-2:30, and by appointment
This seminar will examine various religious perspectives on the meaning and value of the natural world and the relationship of human beings to nature. The focus will be on environmental ethics in comparative perspective. We will look at all the major religious traditions, plus such contemporary movements as ecofeminism and deep ecology, to see what conceptual resources they can offer to a contemporary understanding of a healthy relationship with the natural world. READING Available in Bookstore: Richard C. Foltz, ed., Worldviews, Religion, and the Environment: A Global Anthology Thomas Berry, The Great Work: Our Way into the Future On Course Reserve: The HarperCollins Study Bible Mary Evelyn Tucker and John H. Grim, eds., Worldviews and Ecology: Religion, Philosophy, and the Environment David Landis Barnhill and Roger S. Gottlieb, Deep Ecology and World Religions J. Baird Callicott and Roger T. Ames, eds., Nature in Asian Traditions of Thought The Pacific World, no. 6 (1990) Kazuaki Tanahashi, ed., Moon in a Dewdrop: Writings of Zen Master Dogen Christopher D. Stone, Should Trees Have Standing? And Other Essays on Law, Morals, and the Environment Religion and Ecology book series: John A. Grim, ed., Indigenous Traditions and Ecology: The Interbeing of Cosmology and Community Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, ed., Judaism and Ecology: Created World and Revealed Word Dieter T. Hessel and Rosemary Radford Ruether, eds., Christianity and Ecology: Seeking the Well-being of Earth and Humans Richard C. Foltz, Frederick M. Denny and Azizan Baharuddin, eds., Islam and Ecology: A Bestowed Trust Christopher Key Chapple and Mary Evelyn Tucker, eds., Hinduism and Ecology: The Intersection of Earth, Sky, and Water Christopher Key Chapple, ed., Jainism and Ecology: Nonviolence in the Web of Life Mary Evelyn Tucker and Duncan Ry ken Williams, eds., Buddhism and Ecology : The Interconnection of Dharma and Deeds N. J. Girardot, James Miller, and Liu Xiaogan, eds., Daoism and Ecology: Ways Within a Cosmic Landscape Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Berthrong, eds., Confucianism and Ecology: The Interrelation of Heaven, Earth, and Humans In Library Reference section: Bron R. Taylor, ed., The Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature (REF BL31 .E465 2005) Lindsay Jones, ed., The Encyclopedia of Religion, 2nd ed. (REF BL31 E46 2005) Jonathan Z. Smith, ed., The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion (REF BL31 H37 1995) In Current and Bound Periodicals and Online: Worldviews: Environment, Culture, Religion (journal) COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING Participation (1/3 of grade). The seminar format requires regular attendance, completion of reading assignments, and active participation in discussion by all members. Necessary absences must be cleared in advance with the instructor; unexcused absences will result in a grade penalty. Written / oral reports (1/3): Two 3-5 page critical responses to specific readings, with short oral presentations in seminar. Research paper (1/3): A 10-15 page paper (plus bibliography) on one of the two traditions or topics you presented in seminar, using at least two additional books or articles (not counting web sources). Follow the Paper Format Guide on the course website. The topic and preliminary bibliography must be discussed with me by Thursday, November 16. The paper will be due Friday, December 15. "Solitary Temple Amid Clearing Peaks" (detail), by Li Cheng (China, 10th century) Click here for whole painting

SEMINAR SCHEDULE

Summer Mountains After Rain,
by Kao K'o-kung (13^th century)

Edit date: 8/31/06