____________________________________________________________________        Global 102/ Soc118GR/ Relig 108              *  Spring 2009  *                             ___________________________________________________________________                    v GLOBAL RELIGION v        ____________________________________________________________________                PURPOSE: Religion is one of the most significant aspects of global culture. Sometimes it is a part of the rebellion against globalization, and at other times it serves the globalizing process by transporting cultures across national boundaries. International migration disperses religious cultures into myriad diaspora communities, and the process of conversion expands religious ideologies and communities around the world. This course explores these aspects of global religion in their contemporary and historical settings, focussing on global religions that can be found nearby in Southern California. We will look at the globalizing aspects of each of the major religious traditions. Guest speakers and field trips will allow us to experience these global religious cultures directly. The goal of the course is to think critically and analytically about global religion: to understand how it develops and how it impacts the contemporary world.      STUDENT PROJECTS: Students will create their own global religions. Choosing partners from the class they will form teams of four that will brainstorm and come up with ideas about a new religion that will relate to new global changes and conditions. “Worldtradecenterism,” for instance, might envision the end of the world that began on 9/11. (An alternative project could be to show how existing religions adapt to cultural encounters, new ideas, and modern technologies—for example “Cyber-Judaism.”)  Student PAPERS will focus on one aspect of the religion the team creates, such as a) its symbol and beliefs, b) concept of God and sacred founders, c) rituals and worship, and d) organization and community. An individual’s paper should describe this component, show how it’s global, compare it with an existing religion, and analyze it using ideas from lectures and readings. The paper should be 5-6 double-spaced pages. It is due on the last class, June 4.    READINGS: Students should acquire the book, Global Religions: An Introduction (ed. by Juergensmeyer) and the Reader for the course at Alternative Copy in IV.

   FIELD TRIP: There will be several "in class" field trips: car pools will leave from UCSB and return within the scheduled 3:30-4:45 class time. There will also be one Saturday field trip on May 10. THIS TRIP IS REQUIRED. It will leave UCSB at 8am via car pools and return approximately 7pm. Students will be expected to participate in both in-class and all-day field trips as part of the class requirements.

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OFFICE HOURS for Juergensmeyer (juergens@global.ucsb.edu): Mon-Wed 2p Orfalea Center (next to Rob Gym)