EXAM # 1

RLST 4800: RELIGION AND NONVIOLENCE SPRING, 2003

Choose one (1) of the following statements. Write an essay explaining why you agree or disagree with the statement, and explain WHY. Be sure to identify which question you are answering.

1.The history of nonviolence movements in the U.S., from colonial times to the 1940s, can easily give the impression that nonviolence must be linked with left-wing egalitarian politics. It may seem that people who are truly nonviolent will also want to narrow (and perhaps eliminate) the differences in power and wealth that separate people. But this history does not prove that any that nonviolence must logically involve such an egalitarian trend. It just turns out that many people drawn to nonviolence also held egalitarian political views. The history of the ideas of nonviolence shows that there is no necessary connection between the two.

2. The history of nonviolence movements in the U.S., from colonial times to the 1940s, shows the many different ways in which people have tried to argue logically that principled nonviolence is the best way to live. What is most striking in this history is the diversity. There is no single argument or approach to the subject that all these adherents of nonviolence shared in common. If they could not agree among themselves, this shows that there is no single, coherent, convincing argument FOR nonviolence. Therefore, it does not make sense to try to convince someone logically to adopt principled nonviolence.

In each case, in your answer to the question, be sure to explain which of the sentences in the paragraph you think are true, which are not true, and WHY.

This exam covers material studied in class through january 31. It is due in class on February 3. Essays should be about four (4) typed pages or the equivalent in neat handwriting; all papers double-spaced, please.

I will be happy to discuss your paper with you as you prepare it, either in office hours or by appointment.

(OVER)

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING ESSAY EXAMS

There is no "correct" answer to the questions in this course. The questions are merely a springboard to give you an opportunity to show what you have learned in the course. As in any other academic course, you are being tested on your ability to understand, organize, synthesize, and think logically about the ideas presented in the course. Therefore, in answering the question, you should show that you have read the assigned readings, attended class, and grasped the main ideas presented in readings and class. But please remember that your grade is always based on your demonstrated understanding of the course material. Your primary responsibility in every essay is to show what you have learned in this course. The more course material you include in your essay, presented accurately and logically, the better your grade will be.

A good essay is written clearly, concisely, and precisely. It offers a series of general ideas, with each one supported by more specific ideas or evidence, and all the general ideas are arranged in a logical order. Make sure your essay has a clear logical flow of ideas within each paragraph and from one paragraph to the next. If your paragraphs could be rearranged in a different order and make just as much sense, your essay is not yet well organized! A good way to avoid this problem is to write a draft, make an outline of it so that you can see the organization of your essay clearly, then reorganize the outline in more logical form, then write a final draft following the revised outline. Make every word count, from the very first word; avoid needless introductions and repetitive conclusions. Make every sentence add a new thought or a new way of supporting a main idea.

You should always show that you can express the main ideas of the course in your own words. A good way to do this is to assume that you are writing for someone who knows nothing about the subject; imagine you are writing to a parent, a friend, etc. Do not use lengthy quotations (though you may want to refer to specific pages in the readings in parentheses or footnotes).

THE SAME GUIDELINES WILL APPLY FOR EVERY EXAM.

PLEASE SAVE THIS SHEET FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

EXAM # 2

RLST 4800: RELIGION AND NONVIOLENCE SPRING, 2003

Write an essay evaluating Niebuhr’s critique of Gandhian nonviolence. Explain the most important (in your opinion) objections or doubts that Niebuhr raises about Gandhi’s nonviolence and evaluate them: Does Niebuhr treat Gandhi’s ideas fairly and accurately? In what ways are his criticisms persuasive? In what ways are they not? How would Gandhi respond to them? In what ways would Gandhi’s responses be persuasive? In what way would they not be persuasive? Be sure to show how Niebuhr’s main points are logically related to each other in the overall context of Moral Man and Immoral Society. And show how Gandhi’s responses are logically related to each other. What general conclusions can you draw about the differences between Gandhi and Niebuhr? Which one do you think makes a more persuasive case?

Essays should be 4 – 5 pages. They are due in class on March 12.

Please follow the guidelines distributed with Essay # 1.

I will be happy to discuss your essay with you as you are preparing it.

EXAM # 3

RLST 4800: SPRING, 2003

RELIGION AND NONVIOLENCE

Answer ONE (1) of the following:

1. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a Christian. Thich Nhat Hanh is a Buddhist. Barbara Deming and Gene Sharp offer no religious basis at all for their commitment to nonviolence. This raises the question of how much religion really matters in principled nonviolence. Drawing on the thought of these four, write an essay discussing the importance of religion to principled nonviolence. Is religion essential, very important, somewhat important, or not necessary at all to support a commitment to nonviolence, as you have come to understand nonviolence in this course? If religion has importance, how important is it which religion a nonviolence advocate adheres too? Give reasons for your answer, making specific reference to these writers.
2. A well-know nonviolent activist, James Douglass, has written: "We all share the responsibility today of choosing either the end dictated by our age, annihilation, or a nonviolent beginning." Many advocates of principled nonviolence contend that it is the only alternative to a very terrible future for humanity. They seem to suggest that either one fully embraces nonviolence as a way of life or one sides with the destructive forces in our society. Do you accept this point of view? What are the arguments for it? What are the arguments against it? Which do you find more convincing? Why?

Please refer to previously distributed guidelines for essays, which should be followed for this essay too.

Essays should be about six (6) typed pages or the equivalent in neat handwriting. All papers double-spaced, please.

The exam is due in the Religious Studies mail room, Humanities 273 on Friday, May 2, by 5:00 PM. (Look for the box marked RLST 4800).

I will be glad to discuss your essay with you at any time, as you are preparing it. If you want the final version returned to you with my comments after it is graded, please attach a stamped self-addressed envelope, or get in touch with me after May 10.

THANK YOU FOR A MOST ENJOYABLE COURSE.