LIBERATION THEOLOGY: EAST & WEST
(WINTER QUARTER, 2003)

 

FACULTY: Jorge Gilbert, Lib 1608-A, 867-6740. gilbertj@evergreen.edu

Ryo Imamura, Lab I Room 2024, 867-6148. imamurar@evergreen.edu

OFFICE HOURS: After class meetings and during breaks (also TBA)

CLASS HOURS : Monday: 12-3pm LH 2 (lecture)

5-7pm Lab 1 1047 (dinner & student-led activity)

7-9pm (small group seminar)

Tuesday: 11-2:30pm LH 2 (video/discussion)

3:30-5:30pm CAB 110 (large seminar)

Wednesday:9-noon (library research, group project meetings, and writing tutoring)

Friday: 1-5pm PLA Video-Project

 

 

REQUIRED TEXTS:

MAJOR CHANGES FROM FALL QUARTER:

1. Liberation Theology and Engaged Buddhism will be taught as two separate modules under the umbrella title of "Liberation Theology: East & West". All program activities and books will focus in depth on either LT or EB and not on the integration of the two movements.

2. Each student will have to bring his/her own copy of the eight assigned books to each of the seminars. Do not share copies to save money. Books are the required tools of all students just as hammers and saws are required of all carpenters.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE:

 

WEEK I

  • Reading: The Faces of Buddhism in America (Intro, CH 3,9-12, Epilogue)
  • Monday: Lecture - Meditation
  • Video – Principles and Practices of Zen

  • Seminar [small and large group]
  • Tuesday: Lecture – Buddhism in the U.S. – Past, Present & Future
  • Video – Becoming the Buddha in L.A.
  • Submit PSW #1
  • Seminar [large group]

WEEK II

  • Reading: The Emergence of Liberation Theology
  • Monday: Lecture – The Church during the Construction of Socialism in Cuba
  • Food (#1)
  • Student-led activity (#2)
  • Seminar; PSW #2 due
  • Tuesday: Video – Cuba
  • Seminar

  • WEEK III
  • Reading: The House of the Spirit
  • Monday: Holiday
  • Tuesday: Lecture - The Chilean Experience
  • Seminar; PSW #3

 

Reading: The Path of Compassion (articles by Western writers only)

Monday: Lecture – Western Engaged Buddhism

Food (#2)

SLA (#3)

PSW #4; seminar discussion

Tuesday: Video – Zen on the street

Seminar

WEEK V

    • Reading: I, Rigoberta Menchu
    • Monday: Lecture – The Christians and Nicaraguan Revolution
    • Food (#3)
    • SLA (#4)
    • PSW #5; seminar discussion
    • Tuesday: Videos - 1)Aggression to Nicaragua 2) Saints or Subversives 3)The Peasant Mass
    • Seminar

WEEK VI

Work on group projects

WEEK VII

  • Reading: Altars in the Street
  • Monday: Holiday
  • Tuesday: Lecture – Buddhist Ethics
  • Video – Chasing Buddha: Life is not a sentence
  • Seminar; PSW #6

 

WEEK VIII

  • Reading: Putting Buddhism to Work
  • Monday: Lecture – Psychotherapy & Buddhism
  • Food (#4); SLA (#5)
  • PSW #7; Seminar discussion
  • Tuesday: Speaker – George Draffan
  • Seminar

 

WEEK IX

  • Reading: Unexpected News
  • Monday: Lecture - The New World Order
  • Food (#5)
  • SLA (#1)
  • PSW #8; seminar discussion
  • Tuesday: Video: World Challenge
  • Seminar

 

WEEK X

  • Monday: Final Examination [open notes]
  • Student Presentations
  • Tuesday: Student Presentations

 

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

        1. Regular attendance and participation in all program activities [2 credits]
        2. Pre-seminar writings on assigned readings [8 credit]
        3. Written examination in Week 10 [2 credits]
        4. Two group oral or video presentations to class on one important topic in Engaged Buddhism and one in Liberation Theology (requires consent of faculty). You will be assigned to groups in Week 4. A brief written synopsis of each group presentation and an annotated bibliography are to be submitted to the faculty at the time of your presentations. [4 credits]

 

COVENANT

Liberation Theology: East & West (Winter, 2003)

 

By remaining in this program, you are agreeing to abide by the following guidelines:

 

1. To attend and to participate in all sessions in a timely manner. Inform the faculty member as soon as possible if you are unable to attend or will be late. Excessive absences (more than 3 instances per quarter) or tardiness will result in loss of credit.

2. To be prepared for all sessions by having carefully read the reading assignments beforehand.

3. To bring own copy of the assigned books to all seminars.

4. To submit all written work and all self, faculty, and student evaluations promptly. Late submissions will not be accepted except in unusual and dire circumstances.

5. To resolve any disputes by the accepted College procedure of working in the context `closest to home’ (i.e., attempt resolution first with the fellow student(s) and/or the faculty member; then with the academic deans; and further, if necessary, according to the Grievance Policy).