Religious News 2.12

• West Virginia high schoolers stage walkout after school hosts a Christian revival at assembly (ABC News)
• Why are there so many Evangelical Christians involved in the Canadian "Freedom Convoys"? (OttawaCitizens)
• Indian governor: Hijabs mentioned only seven times in Quran—not essential to Islam (Hindustan Times)
• Atheists gaining traction in largely-Christian Kenya (Religion News Service) 
• Buddhist scholar claims China is destroying Tibetan Buddhist identity (Republic World)
  

The Toulmin Model

For the past 30 years, a debate has raged over whether or not religious institutions in the United States should pay federal, state, and local taxes. Proponents often argue that churches do many good works, including attending to the needs of the less fortunate in society. Meanwhile, opponents point to the massive financial reserves and real estate holdings of many churches, all of which is tax-free. What do you think? Should churches’ tax-exempt status remain or must they assume tax liabilities, like everyone else?

For this assignment, you will utilize the Toulmin Model to construct a rhetorically-sound claim for or against churches paying taxes. You are responsible for constructing a single, logically-sound claim that will be supported by two distinct sets (A and B) of grounds, warrants, backings, etc.

Note:

1. You are responsible for providing at least FOUR sources to support your claim.
2. Cite your sources (in MLA Style) below your Toulmin Model. 
3. Use THIS (updated 2.18) template for your Toulmin Model.

Submission Window:  Thu 2.17-Thu 24 (via Canvas)

Multimedia Presentations: The Assignment

This semester, you will be responsible for a 10-minute multimedia presentation on a spirituality-themed topic:

Requirements:

• The presentation must be no more than 10 minutes in length
• There should be 10-12 slides (including mandatory introduction and conclusion slides) and should contain least one video or audio clip—absolutely no more than 1.5 minutes in length
• A works cited slide in MLA Style 
  
• Presentations will be submitted in Canvas
  

Additionally:

• You may utilize any presentation program you like (PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi, etc.)
• It is highly recommended that you present from a downloaded version of your presentation
• Presentations without an introduction and/or conclusion cannot score higher than a C 

Topics:

1. No Bitching: What’s the True Meaning of Karma?
2. End Times: Three Religious Views on the End of the World
3. Ancient Deities: The Egyptian Gods
4. Will We Ever Have an Atheist President?—Atheists and American Politics
5. Understanding Sharia
6. American-Born Faiths: Mormonism
7. The Passion of Joan of Arc
8. The Crusades: An Historical Overview
9. The Amish and Rumspringa
10. American-Born Faiths: Christian Science
11. Angels Around the World: Four International Views
12. Wait For It: Inside the Purity Movement
13. What Jesus Likely Looked Like
14. On the Victorian Obsession with the Occult
15. Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene Married?: The Cases For and Against
16. Possession: Views from Around the World
17. Ancient Deities: The Greek Gods
18. The Healing Power of Prayer: What Science Says
19. Acts of Faith: The Snake Handlers
20. What is a Vision Quest?
21. Three Goddesses: Danu, Durga and Itzpapalotl
22. What is Santeria?
23. Ancient Deities: The Mayan Gods
24. Who was the Buddha?
25. The Controversy of von Däniken's Chariots of the Gods: Unsolved Mysteries of the Past
26. Mythical Creatures of the Bible
27. One Nation Under God: Understanding Christian Dominionism
28. What are The Gnostic Gospels?
29. Three Christian Mysteries: The Incorruptibles, Bérenger Saunière, and Stigmata
30. Ancient Deities: The Norse Gods
31. Three American Indian Creation Myths
32. New Gods: When People Worship Technology
33. Animals Who are Worshiped
34. Honor Killings: A Worldwide Crisis
35. White Christian Nationalism: When White Nationalism and Christianity Mix
36. Infamous Cults: The Branch Davidians, The People's Temple, and The Manson Family
37. Banned: Religions in Totalitarian States
38. God and Sex: Three Positive Religious Views on Sexuality
39. Movie Uproars: The Exorcist, Dogma, and The Passion of the Christ 
40. Understanding Prosperity Gospel

Choose partners and topics via Google Docs here: 

• Sec. 8
• Sec. 25

Due: Tue 2.15 (by 10 p.m.)

Week 3: Tue 2.8/Thu 2.10 – New Ageism

Originating in the 1960s, New Ageism combines elements of Eastern and Western religions and philosophies.

Week 3: Tue 2.8/Thu 2.10 – New Ageism
Review: CAN—“MLA Style 101”
Class: Presentation partner and topic assignments; Lecture—“Better Multimedia Presentations: An How-To” and “Inside the Toulmin Model”
Due: REFLECTION 1

Upcoming:

Week 4: Tue 2.15/Thu 2.17 – Islam
Review: CAN—“Citing Sources in MLA: The Basics”
Read: BLUE—1. Beginnings: God on a Dirt Road Walking Toward Me – 4. Shifts: Find a Penny Class: Reading discussion