REQUIRED TEXTS:
1) E.E. Evans-Pritchard Nuer Religion
2) Alma Gottlieb Under the Kapok Tree
3) Paul Landau In the Realm of the Word
4) Photocopy Book

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
There are millions of Africans who count themselves as Christians or Muslims, but the study of so-called African religion often begins and ends with the study of local systems of belief. This course will focus on local beliefs and how they have been appraised as "religion." Nevertheless, the course will eventually move beyond those beliefs to investigate how global religions have been localized in the African context. We will begin the course with a classic work, Nuer Religion, by a British anthropologist, Evans-Pritchard. E-P's work has shaped the way that scholars define "African religion." We will contemplate Okot p'Bitek's rejection of this perspective and Ali Mazrui's scathing attack on p'Bitek. We will consider whether or not African religion is focused on Gods or Ancestors, whether or not society and symbolism are more important in African religion than spirits and spirituality. We will look at witchcraft, spirit possession and religious rebellion and question whether or not these issues are responses to western presence or indigenous creations. We will also look at the way Christianity and missionization have interacted with local philosophies. Though we cover a wide range of topics we nevertheless only scratch the surface of information on African religion. This course hopes to inspire the student to delve more deeply into this rich and exciting field.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
The class will be run as a seminar. Students are required to attend every class session and to have read the week's material before the session. Each student will bring to class three discussion questions for the class to answer. These questions, drawn from the readings, will serve as the entré into our deliberations. Students will be evaluated on the following:
(1) Class Participation and weekly questions on key topics--10% of grade
(2) Map test--Worth 15% of grade
(3) Midterm essay exam worth--25% of grade
(4) Final essay exam worth--30% of grade.
(5) Paper worth--20% of grade.

PAPER:
Students are expected to write a 10 page paper on selected topics to be handed out in class.

HONOR SYSTEM: Every piece of written work presented by individual students must have the honor pledge and the student's signature on it.

OFFICE HOURS: I hope that the readings and issues we'll be dealing with in this class will excite you. I'll be in my office each week for the sole purpose of chatting with you--please feel free to come by just to talk. If the regular times are impossible for you, we can try to find a better time that's convenient for both of us. Periodically during the semester I will have scheduled meetings with you.