Studies religions of the world with attention to origin, history, and doctrine. Lecture 3 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

To introduce students to the attitudes of other cultures and to other religions and philosophic ideas. There will be a use of the critical methods of interpretation introduced in the twentieth century.

Course Prerequisites/Co-requisites

None

Course Objectives

At the completion of this seminar, students will have developed a comprehension of what religion is in varied cultural settings. Specifically, students should be able to

• Discuss relevant terminology such as "metaphysics", "cosmogony", "cosmology", "asceticism", "monism", "henotheism", "phenomenology", "dharma", "karma", "samsara", "moksha", "yoga", "ahimsa", "kannagara", "exclusivism", "inclusivism", "pluralism", etc
• Examine the role great religious founders have filled in human history
• Recognize the distinctive genius of each great religion studied
• Explain the general history, basic teachings, important practices and values of the religions studied
• Interpret some of the sacred writings and mythical imagery of Indian and Asian religions
• Identify recurring themes in the religions studied such as: mysticism, loving devotion, reincarnation, ultimate liberation
• Summarize the ideological similarities and appraise the historical relationships among the different religions studied
• Employ various critical methodologies in the study of religion
• Demonstrate a mature respect for the religions of others

Critical attention will be given to the following topics:

• Religious responses
• Encounter between science and religion
• Indigenous sacred ways
• Hinduism: Vedic and Brahmanic origins, Vedanta metaphysics and popular Hindu beliefs and practice other Indian religions: Jainism and Sikhism
• Buddhism: Origins and teachings, development and variations (including Thervada, Mahayana, Vajrayana, Zen and Tibetan Buddhism)
• Taoism: The Way of the universe and its dialectical unfolding
• Confucianism: The high ethical religion of China
• Shinto and other Japanese traditions
• Taoism: The Way of the universe and its dialectical unfolding
• New Religious Movements
• Religion in the Twenty-first century