REL 300 Paper Topics 2

Topics for Paper 2, REL 399 Religion, Love, and Death

Due Wednesday, Apr 22, 2020 by 1:00 p.m. submit to Canvas

Double-spaced, 2-3 pages. (You may use parenthetical notation to indicate page numbers for textual references. BE SURE TO INCLUDE PAGE REFERENCES FROM THE READINGS.)
Be sure to write your name, the name of the class, and your TOPIC NUMBER at the top of the page.
I encourage you to discuss these topics with one another.
I also strongly encourage you to read the essays on my Writing web pages, especially "Four Keys to Writing in the Humanities," "Paper Writing Guidelines," "Checklist for Papers," and "Writing: The Bridge between Consciousness and Unconsciousness."

Topics: CHOOSE ONE from below, either a topic from TYPE A, or do the topic for TYPE B. ONLY DO ONE TOPIC.

TOPIC TYPE A: Select one of the following
1. Jerome Bruner and "The 'Remembered' Self": Bruner describes the self as continuously having to negotiate the past, present, and future together in each moment of present awareness. He says this is necessary because the self is having to negotiate or rewrite itself, its story, in relation to shifting circumstances beyond one's control. That is the self stands in dynamic tension with its own agency as well as "victimicy," or circumstances from the past and present beyond its control. Show how one of the following figures rewrites their past in relation to the present and future they are striving towards: Zhungzi grieving his wife's passing and contemplating his own death (pp. 115-117); Michael Morton in Getting Life as he faces the loss of his son Eric and seeks God; Henry Shukman in "Light and Dark: Koans and Dreams" as he faces buried memories of childhood wounds and seeks Zen awakening; Cheryl Strayed in Wild as she faces the loss of her mother, the inadequacy of her addictive behavior, and seeks a new perspective in undertaking the hike along the Pacific Coast Trail. As part of your paper, discuss whether the rewriting of the past is convincing or not. Is it realistic to be able to rewrite the past in that way? Why or why not? How does rewriting the past in that way help to reconfigure the present and move towards the future?

2. Counterstory: According to Hilde Nelson, the creation of an effective "counterstory" becomes necessary for the establishment of a viable sense of self identity in the face of a "master narrative" that a) either denies the opportunity for authentic self-representation and self-expression, and/or b) infiltrates (gaslights) a person's conscious awareness of self. Show how one of the following figures from our readings is able to overcome either or both of these obstacles to creating a viable story for themselves: Woodworker Qing from the Zhuangzi (p. 129); Michael Morton, Getting Life; Henry Shukman, "Light and Dark: Koans and Dreams"; Cheryl Strayed, Wild. In the process of forming this counterstory, does the figure in question achieve a critical mass in their community of choice in order to challenge and transform the found community? Is Nelson's explanation sufficient, of forming the counterstory based on achieving critical mass in the community choice? Or, is another explanation necessary, based not just on shifting the balance on the horizontal plane of society? Is it necessary to appeal to the vertical dimension of depth or transcendence for the figure in question to find the empowerment necessary to move forward in their life?

3. Historical Time and Nature's Time: In the story of Woodworker Qing (p. 129), the author Zhuangzi describes the woodworker engaging in a purification practice of body and mind whereby Qing physically fasts and clears his mind (sometimes referred to as 'fasting the mind'). In doing so, how is Qing's relation to society and history changed, if at all? How is his relation to nature and the universe ('Heaven') transformed? How is his sense of time changed? Is this realistic story? Can you think of any examples from other literature or real life examples that are similar or analogous to the case of Woodworker Qing? In what ways is this change in the transformation of Qing's consciousness and awareness applicable or helpful for us today? In what ways is it not helpful?

4. Influence of Course Readings: Describe how two of the readings from the course thus far have changed or influenced your view of religion, love, and death and how one might conceive of the self as story (Storied Self). Select at least one reading each from Week 1 as well as Week 2 onwards. BE SURE TO INCLUDE PAGE REFERENCES FROM THE READINGS.

TOPIC TYPE B:

BASED ON YOUR FIRST SHORT PAPER: You will further develop your story. Use direct quotations or cite page references from the sources you use as described below:

Either fill out or add to the story of your first paper by incorporating 2 or 3 of the following ideas: i) Jerome Bruner notion of continually rewritten story of the self as it negotiates ageny and "victimicy"; past, present, and future; 2) Hilde Nelson's notion of "counterstory" and how the self fails to or is able to overcome "denial of opportunity" and "infiltrated consciousness" (gaslighting); 3) Infusing the sense of time and reality from Nature into one's life in society and history (see examples from Zhuangzi and Cheryl Strayed); 4) Henry Shukman's idea of awakening to an experience of cosmic oneness as helping to cast light on previously hidden wounds and opening new possibilities for one's future story; 5) Appealing to the vertical dimension of depth or transcendence to find new sources for inspiration beyond the horizontal dimension of society, as found in any of the readings from Week 2 onwards. YOU CAN ADD TO YOUR FIRST ESSAY BY EXPANDING ON THE PERSON YOU DESCRIBE, YOUR OWN PERSPECTIVE ON THE PERSON WHO YOU WROTE ABOUT IF IT IS NOT YOUR OWN STORY; OR ADDING A NEW PERSON OR CHARACTER TO THE STORY IF THAT IS RELEVANT.