This class was easy. The information and slides were very straightforward. The professor doesn't allow you to take pictures of the slides and will call you out if you take some, he doesn't record audio or video, doesn't post the slides or weekly schedule, and doesn't send you the slides if you are absent. There are weekly readings but he basically told one of the students that we don't have to read them and he didn't ask about them during class once. He also takes attendance in every class by passing around a sheet of paper and having everyone write their names on it. The midterm was very easy. Final was pretty hard for me, but it's because I didn't study. The final 10-page paper made me suicidal. You have to visit a religious site and compare it with another one in an observational study/report. I waited until the last day to do it so if you start at least a week earlier you'll be fine. He offered two extra credit opportunities on the paper, visiting a second religious site and formally interviewing someone from the site. I ended with an A+ because it was so easy and the information he gave was minimal and exactly what he asked on exams (except for some questions on the final). Take this class if you're going to show up or if you have another friend who goes to the class who will send you notes and write your name on the attendance sheet. Otherwise, if you aren't going to show up, don't take this class.

It's a fascinating subject! The class is not difficult at all. The only assignments are a midterm, 10-page final paper, and a final. The tests are straight memorization of your notes according to the provided study guide, and the paper requires at least one in-person site visit to a religious ritual. The lectures are interesting, and since the professor does not record lectures nor upload slides, make sure to write everything down. The professor is a cool person too.

This was such a great class with a great professor!

FYI for those taking this class next, don't go on your phones or leave early, he will call you out, lol.

Simon's a great teacher, most of his classes are all 33%/33%/33% midterm, final, and a final paper. He didn't record lectures so participation in every lecture is a must. The exam questions are open response—just memorize and study the review bullet points like it's an exam and you can BS the rest. The final 10-page paper requires you to visit 2 religious sites and compare them.

Simon's very accommodating and I recommend you to take advantage of his OH if you have the time.

Overall, his lectures were pretty engaging as someone who took it as a blow-off GE class.

This class was interesting, but the hour plus lectures did get a bit boring sometimes. It was in person, without the recordings or slides posted, so you had to get the notes from someone if you did not go to class. The issue with this is he adds on a lot of important stuff that are not included in the slides, and if someone did not take notes on what he talked about you kind of missed the material. He gives a study guide for the midterm and final, and if you know the study guide by heart you will do extremely well. The midterm and final were 20+ short answer questions matching the study guide exactly. I did not study enough for the midterm and did not do well, but ended up getting an A anyway (I think he curved the class a lot). Professor Joseph was really nice and provided all course readings, so there was not a need to purchase anything except blue books for the midterm and final. The final paper was kind of tough but as long as you wrote more than 10 pages and put in effort you got a good grade.

I took this class to satisfy the diversity course requirement. I highly recommend taking this class because the professor is very passionate about what he teaches. I always looked forward to his lectures because they felt like a time to relax. The way he teaches the material helps you really learn the material without feeling stressed. His exams do require you to memorize almost all of his lecture slides.