RS 222A: Symbol and Sacrament

Syllabus- Fall 2003
MW 2:30-3:45 pm
SE 207

Instructor:

Raymond A. Patterson

Office:

JE 148

Phone:

ex. 2427

E-mail:

rpatterson@smcvt.edu

Web Page:

http://academics.smcvt.edu/rpatterson

Office Hours:

M
Tu
W

4-5 pm
4-5 pm
10-11 am
and by appointment

Course Description

RS 222: Symbol and Sacrament examines the ritual, symbols, and theology of Christian worship. The course will include:

1)

An introduction to the anthropological study of worship and ritual

2)

A consideration of the major Christian sacraments from an anthropological, historical, and theological perspective

3)

An overview of various concepts and practices related to Christian worship

4)

An examination of the diverse forms that Christian worship takes in today’s world

 

Required Texts:

Students should have access to a Bible. I’ll be using the New American Bible, but other versions are acceptable. The text for the class, available at the bookstore, is:

Martos, Joseph. Doors to the Sacred. Ligouri Press, 2001.

Other readings will be made available on Reserve. In the library system, students should use the library catalog to look up the folder numbers of the reserve readings, which are organized by the title of the article under my name. Please do not mark the Reserve readings when taking notes.

Class Requirements:

Regular attendance is expected of all students. If a student is unable to attend class, he or she should notify the instructor. More than one absence without the instructor’s permission will negatively impact the final grade. Frequent absences will result in a failing grade.

Students should be on time for class. Arriving late or leaving during the class period can be disruptive for the class and the instructor. Excessive tardiness will be reflected in a lower grade for class attendance.

Students will be evaluated on the following course work:

Mid-Term Exam

25%

Final Exam

25%

Term Paper (9-12 pages)

40%

Class Participation/Attendance/Papers

10%

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to adhere to the Academic Integrity Policy established by St. Michael’s College and distributed to all students.

Class Schedule

 

(The instructor reserves the right to change the schedule. Students will be notified in class of any changes.)

 

Class Schedule

September 1

Class Introduction
Christianity: A review

 

Anthropology of Ritual

 

September 3

Encounter with the Divine / Human Behavior and Ritual

Martos, pp. 3-18.
Martos, "Psychology and the Sacraments," pp. 20-48.

September 8

Rites of Passage and Liminality: Victor Turner

Handout on Turner

September 10

Ritual and Society: Mary Douglas
Ritual in a Secular Age
Theology of the Sacraments

 

September 15

Baptism-I

Martos, pp. 147-169.

September 17

Baptism-II

 

Martos, pp.169-181.

September 22 Confirmation

Martos, 184-207.

September 24

Eucharist-I

Martos, pp. 209-217.

September 29

Eucharist-II

Martos, pp. 218-235 (236-246).
October 1 No Class!

 

October 6

Eucharist-III

Martos, pp. 246-257.
 

October 8

Eucharist-IV

Martos, pp. 258-270.
 

October 13

[Columbus Day Holiday]

 

October 15

Eucharist-V

TBA

October 20

Mid-Term Exam

October 22

Marriage

Martos, pp. 351-395.

October 27

Holy Orders

Martos, pp. 400-460.

October 29

Reconciliation-I

Martos, pp. 275-322.

November 3

Reconciliation-II
Anointing of the Sick

Martos, pp. 325-348.

November 5

Funerals/Burial-I

Paxton, Christianizing Death, pp. 19-27, 34-46.

Catacombs of Rome

November 10

Funerals/Burial-II

Memento Mori

November 12

Eastern Orthodox Worship
Roman Catholic Devotionalism

First Visit to an Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox service

Taves, Household of Faith, pp. 22-45.
Killen, "Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament," 44-52.
 

November 17

Asceticism
Cult of the Saints/Pilgrimage

Carrasco, "Those Who Go on a Sacred Journey," pp. 13-24.
Vidal, "Pilgrimage in the Christian Tradition," pp.25-47.
in Pilgrimage (Concilium 1996)


 

November 19

Protestant Forms of Worship-I

 

November 24

 AAR Convention

(No class today!)
 

November 26

Thanksgiving Recess

(No class today!)
 

December 1

Protestant Forms of Worship-II
Ecstatic/Charismatic Worship

White, "Pentecostal Worship," pp. 192-208.
 

December 3

Inculturation

Healey, "Inculturation of the Liturgy and Worship in Africa," pp. 412-423.

 

December 8

Blessings/Sacramentals
Consecration/Religious Orders

Killen, "Reception of Novices into the Order of the Sisters of St. Benedict," 74-86.
 

December 10

Liturgy of the Hours

St. Benoit du Lac

 

December 19

Final Exam     9-11:30 am