PHIL 267/RELS 267
RELIGION AND HEALTH (Winter 2010)
Dr. James Gerrie
CONTACT INFO
|
Office Phone: (902) 563-1238 |
Office: B-1016 (End of Hallway B-1012) |
|
Home Phone: (902) 539-6548 |
Office Hours: M/W 2:30-4:00, Th 10:30-12:30 |
|
Fax: (902) 563-1894 |
Classroom: B228 |
|
Web: faculty.capebretonu.ca/jgerrie |
Class Webpage: faculty.capebretonu.ca/jgerrie/PHIL267.html |
|
E-Mail: jim_gerrie@cbu.ca |
Time: Tu/Th 1:00-2:15 |
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces students to the links between religion, culture, and health. The major world religions offer guidance on how to live harmoniously with self, others, and the environment thereby playing a focal role in health issues. The course is directed towards students in the nursing program though other students may enroll with the permission of the instructor.
TEXTS
Neville A. Kirkwood. 2005. A Handbook on Multiculturalism and Religion. Revised Edition. Harrisburg: Morehouse. ISBN: 0-8192-2184-8
Harold S. Kushner, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. New York: Anchor Books, 2004. ISBN9-781400-034727
Various Class Handouts
ASSIGNMENTS
Each student will be responsible for a research paper (30%), a position paper (30%), and a final exam (40%). The research paper is an exercise in researching an assigned topic and sharing ones findings with others in a class discussion. It should be about 750 words or 3 pages in length and must also serve as the basis for a brief oral presentation consisting of observations or questions meant to spur class discussion. The position paper involves making a detailed argument, drawing on course materials and outside research, for a stance on a specific philosophical issue regarding spirituality and health to be assigned. It should be about 1000 words in length. It will provide the student with an opportunity to develop a position in depth on a specific course topic. The final exam consists of multiple-choice, short-answer and long-answer type questions based on the assigned readings, lectures and class discussions. Possible (optional) visit to Friday night worship at Sons of Israel Synagogue, Sydney.
COURSE OUTLINE
1. Lecture: Intro and assignments [Overheads] (Jan 7)
Voluntary Spirituality and Health Research Study: http://jbplab.net/survey
2. Lecture: Cultural Competence [Overheads] (Jan 12)
Reading: Kirkwood, pp. ix-7
3. Lecture: Judaism [Overheads] (Jan 14)
Reading: Kirkwood, pp. 41-53.
4. Visiting Speaker: Shayna Strong (Jan 19)
Reading: Kirkwood, pp. 41-53.
Reading: www.religionfacts.com
5. Visiting Speaker: Rabbi Ellis (Jan 21)
6. Lecture: Islam [Overheads] (Jan 26)
Reading: Kirkwood, pp. 28-40.
7. Visiting Speaker: Doctor Abdul Atiyah [Overheads] (Jan 28)
Reading: Kirkwood, pp. 28-40.
8. Class Discussion 1: What is the religious basis for the Jewish Law forbidding direct action to hasten death, including the removal of life support systems? What kinds of specific difficulties does this principle pose for Jewish patients and medical staff and what are some of the ways such difficulties are being addressed in the Canadian medical system? Class Discussion 2: What is the Muslim attitude towards organ donation? Are all Muslim authorities united in their teaching about organ donation? [Overheads] (Feb 2)
9. Lecture: Christianity: Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christianity [Overheads] (Feb 4)
Reading: Kirkwood, pp. 8-14; pp. 19-20; pp. 22-25; p. 27.
10. Lecture: Christianity: Roman Catholic Christianity and the Protestant Reformation [Overheads] (Feb 9)
Reading: Kirkwood, pp. 8-27.
Reading: http://www.chac.ca/
11. Visiting Speaker: Father Norman MacPhee, Chaplain at the CB Regional Hospital (Feb 11)
Reading: Kirkwood, pp. 9-11; pp. 16-19; pp. 21-24; pp. 26-27.
12. Class Discussion: What is the Catholic teaching on abortion? Are all Catholic authorities agreed on this teaching? (Feb 16)
13. Lecture: Christianity: Protestantism [Overheads] (Feb 18)
![[Overheads]](http://faculty.cbu.ca/jgerrie/CanProts.bmp){kind=link}
Reading: Kirkwood, pp. 9-11; pp. 16-19; pp. 21-24; pp. 26-27.
14. Class Discussion: Why, specifically, do Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse blood transfusions? Do other protestant groups follow this practice as well, and if not, what accounts for this difference? (March 2)
15. Lecture: Hinduism [Overheads] (March 4)
Reading: Kirkwood, pp. 54-63; pp. 81-89.
16. Class Discussion: What was the community perception of the relationship between the goddess Lakshmi and the little girl called Lakshmi, born with 8 limbs in the state of Bihar in India? What is the religious significance of the multi-armed forms of Hindu gods and goddesses? (March 9)
17. Lecture: Buddhism [Overheads] (March 11)
Reading: Kirkwood, pp. 81-89.
18. Class Discussion: What is the main reason that many Buddhists are vegetarians? Are all Buddhist groups agreed on the necessity of the practice of vegetarianism? (March 16)
19. Visiting Speaker: Michael Milburn: Traditional Chinese Medicine (March 18)
Reading: Kirkwood, pp. 89-126
20. Visiting Speaker: Doctor Virick [Overheads] (March 23)
Reading: Kirkwood, pp. 72-80
21. Lecture: The Problem of Evil [Overheads] (March 25)
Reading: Kushner, pp. 3-52
22. Lecture: Traditional Responses to the Problem of Evil [Overheads] (March 30)
Reading: Kushner, pp. 53-144
Reading: Chapter from Bart D. Ehrman. (2009) God’s Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question—Why We Suffer. HarperOne. http://faculty.cbu.ca/jgerrie/Ehrman.html
23. Class Discussion: What is your response to the Problem of Evil? Position Paper Due. (April 1)
Reading: Kushner, pp. 3-144
Reading: Chapter from Bart D. Ehrman. (2009) God’s Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question—Why We Suffer. HarperOne. http://faculty.cbu.ca/jgerrie/Ehrman.html
24. Review [Overheads] (April 6)