Aztec Priestly Activities: Burning Incense, Playing Drums, Studying the Stars.
Codex Mendoza, c. 1541-42. Bodelian Library, Oxford.

ANT 352 / THL 352
Witchcraft, Oracles, and Magic:
The Anthropological Study of Religion
Fall Semester - 2006

 

Fr. Raymond Bucko, S.J. Tu Th 9:30 - 10:50 AM Admin Room 337

Virtual Classroom C U Mail Course Schedule

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course takes its title from E. E. Evans-Pritchard's classic monograph on religion among the Azande of East Africa. We will study the variety of ways in which anthropology describes and interprets religious phenomena. Our focus is on the phenomenon of religion within the context of specific human social groups, primarily those which are sometimes referred to as "local" in that they are contiguous with specific cultural groups and are not part of the proselytizing religions. We begin the course with examining anthropological theories about religion, discuss how these theories apply to specific religious phenomena, and end with an intensive case study of the Azande of East Africa, critically applying what we have learned to Evans-Pritchard's field data and analysis.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Through using a core text books and an ethnography of a religious phenomenon (the traditional belief system of the Azande of East Africa) and by writing a a research/application paper in which the student interprets a religions phenomenon according to a chosen theoretical viewpoint, this course seeks to fulfill these goals:

• Students will gain a basic knowledge of local religions and gain an appreciation for their worth and integrity.
• Students will be able to analyze religious phenomenon according to a variety of theories used in cultural anthropology.
• Students will be able to apply the theories of anthropology to a religious phenomenon in a non-western culture.
• Students will learn the necessity of both ethical research and basic respect in the study of religion.
• Students will begin developing their own theoretical stance by critically evaluating the theories which are covered in this class.

COURSE FORMAT:

The course will be conducted using interactive lectures and group discussion of basic concepts and issues covered both in class and in the readings. Students are also expected to contribute to the common good of the class through in-class discussions, electronic interaction, assisting colleagues during the semester, and contributing to the electronic classroom (BSCW).

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance: If you miss more than three classes you will lose a half grade for each excessive absence. If you miss more than three days without notifying the professor ahead of time, you will be in danger of failing the class.

ACTIVE Class participation: You are expected to read the texts and answer pertinent questions BEFORE each class. Readings and assignments, all found on the course page, are to be completed on the day for which they are listed . Thus, the readings for September 14th are to be read for the class to be held on September 14th.
Participation includes the following:

• speaking in class,
• adding relevant internet sites to the BSCW,
• initiating discussions, responding to comments, or posting items of itnerest to the course discussion list (ant352@creighton.edu)
• using the academic resources of the college such as writing center and office hours which the professor holds.
  Attendance, deep thought, attentiveness, and interest are all vital to your success in class but represent passive participation. Active participation enhances the educational experience for everyone in the class. You will be asked to evaluate our own participation performance twice during the semester. It pays to examine the self-evaluation form ahead of time to see the criteria for evaluation. The professor will take your own evaluation into consideration when formulating your participation grade.

Quizzes: Each student will take 12 quizzes on the reading and lecture material. The lowest quiz will be dropped at the end of the semester. There are no make-up quizzes. A quiz is dropped to allow for your one rare absence. The quizzes cover everything from the last quiz up to and including the material that will be covered the day of the quiz. The quiz is on: basic terms (definitions) and general concepts (short answer questions); -- the quiz tests your comprehension of the texts and your understanding of the course lectures.

Exams: There will be a midterm and final exam. The final exam will be cumulative.

Cyber Classes: Because the professor is actively engage in field work during the semester one of your classes will take place on the net. You will be asked to engage your colleagues via the internet at those times. Thus the class does not meet face to face but students are expected to use the equvialent class time on the web performing specific tasks that the professor will assign. These tasks may be performed at any time up to the deadline for the assignment (the end of that specific class period).

Term Paper: Each student will prepare a 7-10 page research paper. The paper will utilize some element of anthropological theory learned during the semester in order to explain or understand some aspect of a non-western religion (this excludes Christianity, Islam, and Judaism).

Computing:: You are expected to be able to use e-mail, the BSCW, the discussion list ( ant352@creighton.edu ), search engines and word processing to enhance your educational experience in this class. Each student is required to have an active e-mail account at Creighton. All correspondence will be sent to that account. The professor will teach the students all the electronic skills necessary for this course so a current lack of confidence in this area should not discourage a student from signing up for the course. If you wish to manipulate your account so that your mail is forwarded to another service you may use AMI ( http://ami.creighton.edu ) for this purpose.

GRADING:

The total grade will be determined in the following manner:

Participation	20%
Quizzes	10% [lowest quiz is dropped]
Exams	40%
Term paper	30%

Letter Grades are Awarded as Follows:

A	100 - 90
B+	89.9 - 85
B	84.9 - 80
C+	79.9 - 75
C	74.9 - 70
D	69.9 - 65
F	Below 65

COURSE TEXTS:

All required texts can be obtained through the bookstore:

Evans-Prichard, E. E., Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic among the Azande

Lessa, William, and Vogt, Evon, Reader in Comparative Religion

ABSENCES:

If you are unable to attend a class for a good reason please notify me before the class and then give me a written note explaining the circumstances. I will not deduct points for absolutely unavoidable absences provided they are both announced (e-mail is sufficient) and properly documented afterwards using paper (an e-mail is not sufficient). The expectation is, however, that you will attend all the classes.

SPECIAL NEEDS:

If you have any special learning needs or are in circumstances which necessitate special consideration, please contact me at the beginning of the semester. If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact me within the first week of class or as soon as possible. Students who believe that they have a disability that may influence their academic performance, but who have not yet had the disability documented, should immediately contact and meet with Denise Le Clair, Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities. If a student suspects a disability, he or she can meet with Linda Pappas who is the Academic Success Counselor at Creighton's Counseling and Psychological Services.
 

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Office: Administration Building 433

Office Hours:
Tuesday 11:00 - 11:50 AM
Wednesday 9:00 - 11:00 AM
Thursday 8:00 - 9:20 AM
and by appointment

Phone:
OFFICE EX 3587
HOME EX 3115 (do not call after 9:00 PM)

E-mail Address: bucko@creighton.edu
Mail for Fr. Bucko There will be a sign-up sheet on my office door. Please sign up for as much time as you think will be necessary.

E-Mail Office Hours:
I normally check my e-mail several times a day. I receive over 100 e-mail messages a day. Generally you will receive a brief reply from me. I am not being dismissive of your message but expeditious in working through my mail. If you find my response inadequate, please notify me and I will respond again more fully. If your question or request is complicated, I may ask you to sign up for office hours rather than respond to you by e-mail. Because I encourage electronic communications, I guarantee that I will check my e-mail and respond to your questions and requests at minimum on the following days and times:

Monday 6:00 AM

Wednesday 6:00 AM

Friday 6:00 AM

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

Students are required to adhere to the requirements of integrity as outlined in the Creighton University Creighton College of Arts & Sciences Committee on Academic Policy, Discipline, and Appeals. Students are expected to interact with each other in a way which will enhance the learning experience of all and which is never destructive of other pesons. Because of the importance of acknowledged collaboration, students are required to cite all assistance, including that gained from peers. Students must never plagiarize or cheat on quizzes or exams. The professor maintains an audit policy for this course to both reward extraordinary performance and to guard against misuse of sources. Infringements of academic integrity will result in your failing the class and the incident being reported to the academic dean. Students discovered in any form of cheating will be subject to penalties up to and inclucing an F grade for the course.

PAPER SUBMISSIONS:

When you submit your paper, you are required to submit both a hard copy of the paper and a digital copy. The digital copy will be uploaded to the BSCW or you can submit it on removable media (3.5 inch disk or CD Rom). You will not receive a grade for the course until I have an electronic copy of your paper that I am able to open in Microsoft Word. You are also required to maintain a backup copy of your paper until you receive your graded paper in case a paper is lost or there is a question over whether a paper was submitted or not. If you are not technologically inclined I am most willing to help you provided you come for office hours well in advance of the due date for the paper. A visit to the Writing Center for review of your draft will greatly improve clarity. You may also ask me to review a draft of your paper before submission provided you give me the draft at least 48 hours before the paper is due and and you set up a personal meeting to review the paper.

I keep electronic versions of your papers for two reasons: 1) I link examples of outstanding papers to the course page for the rest of the class to read provided I have the permission of the authors; 2) I maintain a digital database of previous papers to ensure that there is no plagiarism in these assignments either among classmates or from year to year. If there is a suspicion of plagiarism I will utilize copyfind to susbtantiate or disprove the suspicion.

SENIOR EXAM EXEMPTIONS:

I do honor the University Policy for Graduating Seniors

"Graduating seniors with a "B" or better average in a particular course, with the approval of the instructor, may be released from the final examination in that course. This option would, of course, be open only in those courses where adequate testing has been accomplished to satisfy the teacher in his or her determination of the grade. This decision will normally be made after the last regular class meeting of the semester. This policy in no way precludes a senior with a "B" or better from taking the final exam, should he or she choose to do so" (Bulletin Page 87).

If you qualify for this exemption you need to notify Fr. Bucko and specifically request the exemption. After the last graded assignment in the class is completed Fr. Bucko will notify you of your grade at that point and whether or not you qualify for the exemption. Please do not assume that you have an exemption.

MUTUAL EXPECTATIONS :

Below are mutual expectations for this course. I invite students to amplify the list for this specific course for both expections of me and of yourselves.

You can expect me to :

• be on time for class and office hours
• be prepared for class
• return tests and papers promptly with sufficient comments so you understand why you received the grade you received
• distribute grade reports electronically so you can check the accuracy of my gradebook and know your standing in the class at any given time
• allow students to question grades without prejudice and, when asked, re-evaluate work based on the material you initially gave me
• be respectful and attentive when you speak
• give prior notice of any necessary changes made in the syllabus and make additions or alterations only with the consensus of the class
• treat you with respect, fairness and impartiality
• tell jokes and make humorous remarks, some of which may actually be funny
• create at least one opportunity for students to socialize with each other and the professor over a gourmet meal

I expect you to:

• be on time for class (Note: When people arrive late for class, they interrupt the work that has begun. If you are late, I believe an explanation is due us immediately after class.)
• do all assignments on time and be prepared for class by completing all the required readings and pre-discussions
• sign up for office hours at least 24 hours before the actual appointment and be on time for the appointment.
• be respectful and attentive when I speak and when your classmates speak
• treat each other and me with respect consistent with the norm of academic freedom and the Jesuit tradition's focus on the dignity that is due all individuals
• not leave class once it has begun unless some truly critical situation arises (Note: If you know you must leave class before the period ends, you should explain this to me before class; if you find that you must leave class without prior notice, you should explain the situation to me by the next class meeting.)
• attend class and give prior notice of illness or other events that prevent you from attending class
• give me prior notice of important events/conditions (e.g. disabilities, medical conditions, child and other care-providing obligations, work schedules, etc.) in your life that may influence your performance in the class, if you believe that these events/conditions put you at an unfair disadvantage relative to other students and you believe that there is some way in which I can assist you (Note: prior notice is essential. Once exams are taken and papers turned in, my ability to assist you is extremely limited.)

 

CLASS LECTURES AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

Please refer to the course schedule for the complete schedule of lecture, reading, quiz, exam and paper assignments.

NOTE: Additions and subtractions to this syllabus will not be made without prior class discussion and announcment. Corrections and clarifications will be made as necessary to make the on line course page more effective. All changes will be announced through the course discussion list. If you print a paper version of this syllabus be aware that it could become out of date due to revisions. The on-line version of this course page is always the official course document. It is preferred that you use this on-line version rather than print out copies. Note that part of active class participation is giving suggestions for improvements to electronic course resources.

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This page is managed by Rev. Raymond A. Bucko, S.J. of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Creighton University. E-Mail: bucko@creighton.edu Page Last Updated: January 10, 2007

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