Cultures and Religions of the Himalayan Region

Mr.Dillon
Himalayan Cultures
Lesson Plans for Teachers and Info for students

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RELIGIONS ASSIGNMENT

FIELD WORK
Value = three reports at 50 points each for a total of 150 points.

Your understanding of readings and class discussion, and thus of religion itself, should be enhanced by careful observation of different types of social behavior that is or might be classified as religious. You are expected to observe at least three services or other religious gatherings and to write short- as in four pages, on average--descriptive and interpretive papers based on your observations.

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Field Research Assignment:

You are now going to get a taste of the Social Scientist. Anthropologist and sociologist often do field work. This assignment is worth a large portion of your grade, but the good news is: it is fun! Most of us would never reach outside of the world we live in. But now, as students studying world religions & cultures, you will get a taste of going outside your own constructed boundaries.

In doing this assignment, you should be able to prepare an observation report in one evening with little difficulty, just based on some notes and observations. However, your report will be better if you use background information to report on a particular group.

What to look for: Jeffery K. Hadden, a Professor at the Univiersity of Virginia gave me some guidelines a few years ago, and I think they are helpful for your research.

"ELEMENTS OF RELIGION: Religious Experience" section of the reading list) will give you an idea of the kinds of things that will be helpful in your observations. Science requires an observer to work systematically, so be look for the following:

DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS:
Is the group homogeneous or diverse in terms of age, sex, race, and apparent social class? Do congregation and leaders differ significantly? What are the social class of the religious group? What kinds of clothes, hair styles, manners, and speech patterns do you observe? What kinds of cars are in the parking lot? What is the church building like? Is it a building the group funded or built or are they renting? Note such things as architecture, signs, stained glass windows, pews or chairs, carpeting,
decorations, microphones, displays in the foyer or halls, etc.) What is the pulpit/platform area like? What do these things tell you about the people's location in society?

What is the style of 'worship'? Is there a liturgy? Is it informal or formal? Is a church bulletin used to outline the service or are are they spontaneous in their organization? If they appear to be spontaneous, are there signs of a routine? Is the atmosphere one of inspiration and awe or
of mundane commonness? Do people talk loudly in the sanctuary or kneel and pray quietly before the service begins? What kind of music is used? How is prayer used?

What do you notice about Role Specialization? Is the service run by professional clergy or does it involve considerable participation by laypeople? Do women participate or is the service led by men? If both sexes participate, is there is difference in their roles? What is the relationship between specialists (if any) and the congregation? Does it change before, during, and after the service?

What is the sermon content and style (if there is a sermon)? Is the leader trained theologically? How do you know? Does s/he speak from a manuscript or notes or is the sermon apparently free-form? What themes are stressed in the sermon? Does the leader use some form of scripture? How--literally, allegorically, incidentally, etc.? Does the leader address everyday matters or more theological matters? Is the message inspirational? Fire and brimstone? Is his/her manner of speaking "everyday" or specialized (either more formal or distinct in some other way)? What social values are
expressed? Political views? What is the relevance of the general message? How is it related to changing social currents? Do you regard it as positive or negative? How do you suspect people will feel when they leave the service? How do you feel?

What is the Music like (is there any)? Is music a part of the worship? If so, what sort? What kinds of songs are selected? What do they stress? What is the hymnbook like (if they use hymnbooks)? Are the hymns relatively older or more recently written? What religious values are expressed? Is
there a choir? Are they trained singers? Do they wear robes? Where do they sit? What musical instruments are used in the service? Are there solos? Duets? Special groups? Do they perform classical works (Bach, Handel, etc.) or more recent and more popular-style "praise" songs, with words projected onto screens?

When and how does the Social Interaction take place? What do you notice about friendship and interaction patterns of church members? Are they intimate and close? Formal and distant? Does the congregation function more like a theater audience or an intimate family? Is the pattern of
interaction noticeably different before, during, and after the service, or relatively consistent? What patterns of gender relations do you notice? How are children regarded and treated? Are there eduocational facilities for them? What kind? Do children have a part in the worship service? How
are visitors treated?

Is there an 'appeal' to the participants. It is likely that some services will appeal to you more than others. Some, perhaps, may strike you quite negatively. There is no rule against feeling or recording negative impressions. Still, you should try to figure out why the service attracts at least some people. What do they find appealing in it? How do you account for this?

You have much to notice and write about. So do your observations carefully, make good notes (see below), then organize and condense your data and impressions carefully.

Other Suggestions:
Try for variety. The services you attend for this assignment should be different from the religious tradition in which you were reared or now take part, if any. The point is to broaden your experience. Since we are studying world religions, please consult with me so I can find out your background and give a good recommendation for a broad exposure. In otherwords, if you are Sikh, the Sikh Gurdwara (Temple) is not a good choice. They religions investigated should also differ from each other. Do not, for example, choose three mainline Protestant churches (e.g., Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal). I recommend, however, that you not limit your observation choices to groups that may strike most people as strange or bizarre. Your understanding of the unusual will be
enhanced if you are able to compare it with the more usual.

You can use other areas in San Jose or the Santa Clara Valley. But even here we have quite a variety. You may notice a correlation between various parts of the city and the religious groups that inhabit them, but maybe not. Does the group that participates seem to be from the local
neighborhood?

Friends, Parents, & Companions: It is OK to go with one or more friends, either from the class or otherwise, but I prefer that your group not be so large as to attract undue attention. If you cannot arrange for transportation, please let me know and we'll find a way. Don't come to me
the day the assignment is due and report that you had no way to get to a service. This will negatively impact your grade.

Time. Be aware that some services will last more than the hour to which you may be accustomed. Unless you are going to a mainline Catholic or Protestant church that you are fairly sure will last no more than an hour, do not make the mistake of allotting only an hour and then feeling justified in leaving before the service ends. It is frequently, even typically, the case that long services tend to change momentum as time passes. Don't be disappointed by spending more time than you may have expected to spend. Do record the length of time of the service, as part of your report.

I think you will find this to be one of the most interesting and experiences you may have in school this year. It will open your eyes to what other people do and believe in your own neighborhood. It is not the purpose of this class to get you to join another religion, but to learn about other people's beliefs and practices. You don't have to limit yourself to the assigned three visits.

Some Suggestions for Observation. I will give you a listing of churches/temples, etc.If and as you learn of other interesting opportunities for observation, please let me know and we can share the
information with the class.

To enable your observational and analytical skills to develop and mature with increased reading and discussion, the observations are to be spaced over the first half of the semester rather than completed in a flurry at the end of the semester. One report will be due on each of the following
days, at the beginning of class:

(DATES TO BE ASSIGNED)

Reports may be turned in prior to these dates. In fact, it is most helpful
for you to prepare notes as shortly after your observation as possible. Late reports will be subject to lost points.

TAKE GOOD NOTES: In any situation in which you are an observer, please take special care to respect the beliefs and practices of those you are observing. You should avoid attracting attention to yourself or getting into any kind of argument, although conversation and questioning may be highly desirable. Women attending African-American churches should wear skirts or dresses, as some black churches have a policy prohibiting women from wearing pants. In general, groups with more conservative theological positions will probably feature more conservative dress. This will not
always hold true, but you are not likely to offend anyone by dressing modestly.

Any note-taking should be done in a discreet manner. I do not recommend clip-boards. You may be asked to explain your presence, you are not a spy, so just tell them that you are interested in learning something about this religious group, or this experience. Sometimes it is easier to say "My teacher assigned me to attend the services of a religious group and I chose this one." The basic rule is to use good judgment. You will find that most groups will be flattered and pleased by your interest.

GRAMMAR, SPELLING, TYPING, AND PRINTING (Your Field Work)
Your notes will be turned in WITH your paper. Proper grammar, accurate spelling, and careful proofreading are part of first-rate academic papers. Grammar, spelling, and typographical errors
can decrease your grade. To help you avoid common grammatical errors, I recommend that you type it on word or any word processing program checking your spelling and grammar. I am also happy to proof-read your rough drafts.