CSOC 443 & 543: Sufism

Class Schedule Spring 2019 Required Readings	Suggested Readings and Web References
Week 1: January 29 Introduction to course We will begin with  problematizing  ideas  and notions of  Sufism and the problematic of "the mystical” Readings: S.H. Nasr: The Garden of Truth, 3-2	Suggested Readings and Viewings  A short introduction to Islam,  the geography, and history of the areas and Islam Qawwali  And Sufi Music From the World
Week 2: February 5 “Religion,Theology, Spirituality and Mysticism" Readings: Religion, Spirituality Mysticism Readings :Schimmel: "What is Sufism" in Mystical Dimensions of Islam, pp. 3- 22 Assignment I	Iban al Arabi Truth and Reality What is Sufism
Week 3: February 12 The Classical Period of  Sufism "Voluntarist Mysticism" Readings: Annemarie Schimmel, Islam An Introduction 101-110,  Readings: WC Chittick Intro to Sufism, 18-39	Al Hallaj :: On GOD All Ghazzali,The Alchemy of Happiness Early ascetism: Rabia, Muhasibi, Dhu'n Nun, Bayezid Bistami,
Week 4 & 5: February 19 & 26 Modes of knowing, and  human perfection, Readings: Annemarie Schimmel, Islam An Introduction 111-120, Readings: Ibn Arabi, Oneness of Being  Readings: S.H. Nasr; the Garden of Truth, 59-79 Readings: The Divine Feminine Readings: Ibn Arabi The Path to Gnosis Assignment II	Please Watch Knowing the Self Embracing Otherness Rumi and the Whirling Dervishes
Week 6: March 5. The Role of Music and Poetry in Sufism Readings: A. Schimmel , The role of Music in Islamic Mysticism Readings: Attar, Conference of the Birds, Introduction	How to read Sufi Poetry Listen to the song of the Reed Rumi Poet of the Heart Lose your self
Week 7: March 12 Our Journey to Know the Self Readings: Fariduddin attar; Conference of the Birds, Introduction The Birds Choose a Leader	Assignment II DUE The conference of the birds Theater
Week 8: March 19 The Excuses of the Birds Readings: Fariduddin attar; Conference of the Birds, The need to overcome the Carnel Self	Bab'Aziz 2005
Week 9: March 26 Embarking the Seven Valleys Fariduddin attar; Conference of the Birds,
Week 10 : April 2 Spring Break No Class
Week 11: April 9 Readings: The Mystery of Man and God Fariduddin attar; Conference of the Birds,
Week 12& 13 April 16 and April 23 The Seven Valleys of Loving Submission Fariduddin attar; Conference of the Birds,
Week 14 &15 , April 30 and May 7 Final Presentations and course review.