Anthropology of Christianity Syllabus

The Anthropology of Christianity Dr. Adam Dunstan [email protected] 330-G Chilton Hall Office Hours: T/W 10:30 AM – Noon Course Description With 2.2 billion estimated adherents, Christianity is the largest religious movement in the world. Despite this large size, Christianity has, until relatively recently, been under studied by anthropologists. However, the past two decades have seen an explosion of anthropological studies of the social, cultural, and discursive dimensions of Christianity. In the first part of this course (Units 1 and 2), we explore the underlying elements of Christianity, outlining common beliefs and various divisions; we also consider the difficulties in defining “Christianity.” As well, we will unpack the importance of ritual to Christianity, while also focusing on how Christianity teaches people to understand themselves and their emotions. In the second half of this course (Units 3 and 4) we will explore how conversion to Christianity transforms cultures across the world and how these cultures, in turn, transform Christianity. From syncretic Mayan/Catholicism to Filipino crucifixion commemoration rites (seen above), we highlight the “ethnographic paradox” of Christianity: that it sees itself as a universal transcendent truth but has been radically re-envisioned by the diverse peoples who practice it. Finally, we consider the impact of Christianity on other social phenomena, such as conceptualizations of gender, U.S. politics, medieval European monarchies, and anthropology itself. In this regard, we question our understanding of Christianity as simply a religion and highlight it as a culture of its own. Class Sessions: M/T/W/TH 12-1:50PM BLB 060 Learning and Skills Development Objectives  Students will be able to perform ethnographic analyses of Christian groups.  Students will be able to explain central concepts from the anthropology of religion, such as ritual and subjectivity, and apply them to Christianity.  Students will comprehend the ways in which Christianity produces cultural change by identifying specific examples of this phenomenon.  Students will be able to apply an anthropological perspective to identify Christianity’s intersections with other social forces such as the economy, political systems, and kinship.  Students will develop the ability to recognize and think holistically and with cultural relativism towards manifestations of Christianity, particularly in north Texas. Required Texts --Lurhmann, Tanya. When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God. Vintage Books, 2012. --Robbins, Joel. Becoming Sinners: Christianity and Moral Torment in Papua New Guinea Society. University of California Press, 2004. Grading Scale: 900-1000 A / 800-899 B / 700-799 C / 600-690 D / 0-590 F Grade Components Photo Assignment…………………... 100 Points Journal Assignment…………………..100 Points Midterm Exam……………...................250 Points Sacred Social Term Paper…...................250 Points Sacred Social Seminar Attendance……..50 Points Final Exam…………………………...250 Points ________________________________ Total………………………………….1000 Points Assignments  Journal Assignments: You will write two 200-300 word “journal” responses (submitted through Blackboard) which ask you to reflect on core concepts from this course. Rubric provided in class. Due: 06/09/16 (#1) and 06/23/16, in-class (#2).  Photo Assignment: One of the central points of this course is how Christianity pervades our daily lives through our cultural and social worlds. You will submit electronically through Blackboard five photographs that showcase the influence of Christianity in our community. A rubric will be provided in class. Due: 06/16/16, Midnight (CST).  Midterm Exam: On 06/22/16, we will have a midterm exam in class. It will be a mixture of multiple choice and short answer questions. Date: 06/23/16.  “Sacred Social” Term Paper: An important purpose of this course is for students not only to learn about the anthropology of Christianity, but to gain the tools to empower them to do ethnographic research on Christian communities. As such, students will produce a paper in which you choose a Christian group and document 2-3 interesting cultural or social dimensions of that group. The paper will be 3-4 pages, singlespaced, Times New Roman 12 point font. Additional instructions and a grading rubric will be provided. Due: 06/30/16, In-class.  “Sacred Social” Seminar Attendance: On 06/30/16 you are required to attend class, where we will have a seminar-style discussion about our respective term papers. Date: 06/30/16, in-class.  Final Exam: On Friday, 07/08/16 we will have a final exam, which will be comprehensive of the semester. Date: 07/08/16 in-class. ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES 06/09: Journal Assignment #1 06/16: Photo Assignment 06/23: Journal Assignment #2 06/23: Midterm Exam 06/30: Sacred Social Seminar 06/30: Term Paper 07/08: Final Exam Professional Expectations I am extremely excited to teach you this semester, and I have expectations which will help ensure that the environment is conducive to learning and your professional development. I believe in respecting the dignity and maturity of my students: you are adults, in a professional setting, and I will treat you accordingly. As such, the following expectations apply: 1. Read the syllabus thoroughly – and then read it again. It is your guide in this course. This is a fast-paced course; it is imperative that you be self-disciplined and know the dates for readings and graded work, which are in the syllabus. 2. If you ask me a question that’s on the syllabus, I will refer you to the syllabus. 3. When you email, please tell me your full name and course number (since I have hundreds of students). 4. When you write an email to me, please compose the email as if you are writing a professor or employer an email, not a text message to a friend. 5. If you email me outside of regular work hours – i.e. after 5 PM – I will likely not respond until the next business day. 6. Do not panic if I do not respond immediately to an email. I require at least 24 hours to respond to emails – and 48 hours if it is a weekend or holiday. 7. I am only available to talk in my office during scheduled office hours and appointments. 8. I cannot provide extensions or make-up work after the fact, period. If you missed an assignment, that is your responsibility. If there are extenuating circumstances, you must let me know well in advance, and it is up to my discretion to allow any modifications to due dates. 9. If an emergency prevented you from doing assigned work, it is your responsibility to go through proper university channels and (as applicable) obtain medical documentation. Unfortunately, I cannot simply take your word for it, as not all students are fully honest (even though the vast majority are). It is up to my discretion to allow make-up work, and the format of it, in the case of documented emergencies. 10. At the end of the course you will receive the grade you earned. Even if you really think you need a higher grade (for your GPA, financial aid reasons, scholarships, probation, graduate school applications, etc.) I will not bump your grade up, give you extra credit, or accept past assignments and exams – you will receive the grade you earned based on the mathematics of the grading system and the points available in the course. This is the only way to ensure fairness and transparency in assigning grades. 11. Most importantly: if you have a problem, are falling behind, or even just need some extra help understanding a concept, reach out to your professor! I am here to help – but I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s going on. Keep the lines of communication open. The sooner you reach out, the more helpful I can be. Course Policies Withdrawal: If you are unable to complete this course, you must officially withdraw by the University-designated date (for a “W” with instructor approval).Withdrawing from a course is a formal procedure that YOU must initiate. I cannot do it for you. If you simply stop attending and do not withdraw, you will receive a performance grade, usually an “F”. Attendance: There is no attendance requirement; however, without attendance you will likely learn much less, miss announcements, and do poorly on the assignments and exams. Miss class at your own risk. Discussion Participation: Students are expected to complete required readings and to be prepared to discuss these in class. Discussion will play a critical role in this class and will be a benefit both to you and your colleagues. Extra Credit: There is no extra credit planned at this time; however, I will notify you if this changes. Acceptable Student Behavior: Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students’ opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Dean of Students to consider whether the student’s conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university’s expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classrooms, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at www.deanofstudents.unt.edu. In this classroom, “acceptable student behavior” includes: Being respectful of others’ thoughts, opinions, and perspectives. Arriving to class on time. No usage of cell phones, internet browsing, or social media unless directed by the instructor. Refraining from engaging in side-conversations. Giving every student a chance to participate by not dominating discussions. Contacting the Professor: Please feel free to come by office hours for assistance. Otherwise, email is the best way to get in touch with me outside of class: [email protected]. In the email, you must indicate your course and full name to facilitate my response. You must also use your official UNT email, not a private email. Understand that I have hundreds of students and may not respond immediately. However, if I have not responded within 48 hours, feel free to email me to make sure I have received your email. Do Not Miss Essays or Exams: If you have a conflict with any due date, presentation date, or exam date, it is your responsibility to make alternative arrangements ahead of time – NOT the week of the due date. Students may NOT take exams late or do presentations late unless there is written permission from the instructor. Allowing alternative arrangements is up to the discretion of the instructor. Late Work: Unexcused submissions of late work will incur a 20% loss of points per calendar day, including the day the assignment was due [i.e. if you turn the term paper in after class on the day it was due, that is 1 day late; the next day is 2 days late]. Academic Misconduct: The Department of Anthropology does not tolerate plagiarism, cheating, or helping others to cheat. Students suspected of any of these will be provided the opportunity for a hearing; a guilty finding will merit an automatic “F” in the course. In addition, I reserve the right to pursue further disciplinary action within the UNT legal system, which may result in dismissal from the university. Plagiarism is defined as misrepresenting the work of others (whether published or not) as your own. It may be inadvertent or intentional. Any facts, statistics, quotations, or paraphrasing of any information that is not common knowledge, should be cited. For more information on paper writing, including how to avoid plagiarism, and how to use citations, see http://www.unt.edu/anthropology/writing.htm. For information on the University’s policies regarding academic integrity and dishonesty, see the UNT Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities, http://www.unt.edu/csrr/. ADA: The Anthropology Department does not discriminate based on an individual’s disability, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Our program provides academic adjustments or help to individuals with disabilities, and attempts will be made to meet all certified requirements. Please see me if you have a documented disability so that appropriate arrangements can be made to help you get the most out of this class. In such cases, please make sure to obtain documentation through the Office of Disability Accommodation. Course Schedule Date 06/06 06/07 06/08 06/09 06/10 06/13 06/14 06/15 06/16 06/20 Lesson Unit 1: Foundations Anthropology & Christianity A Brief History of Christianity Ritual, Sin, and Redemption: An Anthropological Perspective How To Do Ethnography with Christian Communities Unit 2: The Making of Christian Selves The Problem of Presence Christian Subjectivities: Learning to Hear God Crafting the Christian Self: Affect and Cosmology Unit 3: Christianity and… Christianity and Communication Christianity and Gender 06/21 06/22 Christianity, Individualism, and Social Relationships Christianity and Politics Christianity and Capitalism 06/23 Midterm Exam 06/27 06/28 06/29 06/30 07/05 07/06 07/07 7/08 Unit 4: Conversion and Culture Change Early Protestantism in Papua New Guinea Pentecostal Conversion among the Urapmin Urapmin Christian Social Structures “Sacred Social” Seminar Syncretic Catholicism in Guatemala Localization and Hybridity: Presbyterians in Ghana Conclusion: Christianity & Anthropology Final Exam Reading for the Day Robbins, Ch. 7 Pp. 253268 & 281-288 Luhrmann, Preface; Luhrmann, Chapter 1 Assignment Due Dates Journal Assignment #1 Luhrmann, Chapter 2 Luhrmann, Chapter 4 Luhrmann, Chapter 5 Smilde Reading (Blackboard) Robbins, Ch. 8 Pp. 293303; Bellah Reading (BB) Weber Reading (BB); Robbins, Prologue Photo Assignment Midterm Exam; Journal Assignment #2 Robbins, Chapter 2 Robbins, Chapter 3 Robbins, Chapter 6 Term Paper; Seminar Attendance McKenzie Reading (BB) Meyer Reading (BB) Cannell Reading (BB) Final Exam