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Topics include:
1. The major world religions include, but are not necessarily limited to, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
2. Key concepts used in the philosophical study of world religions include, but are not necessarily limited to, ultimate reality, theology, mythology, afterlife, monotheism vs. polytheism, morality, history, rituals, scripture.
3. The tenets, cultural setting, historical development, and global spread of the world's religions include, but are not limited to:
a. Hinduism (Bhagavad Gita, Trimurti, Brahman-Atman, maya, karma, samsara, caste system, four stages of life, yoga paths)
b. Buddhism (life of Buddha, relation to Hinduism, Four Truths, Eightfold Path, Tripitaka, anatman, nirvana, bodhisattva,Theravada vs. Mahayana, zen, Tibetan Vajrayana)
c. Confucianism (life & historical context of Confucius, li, jen, filial piety, education, relation to Taoism)
d. Taoism (legend of Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzu, I Ching, tao, wu-wei, yin-yang, popular deities, relation to Zen Buddhism)
e. Judaism (creation, Patriarchs, Prophets, Exodus, Diaspora, relation to Christianity, Zionism, Orthodox, Reform & Conservative branches, Holocaust)
f. Christianity (life of Jesus, relation to Judaism, resurrection, disciples, early Christians, incarnation, original sin, Trinity, last judgment, Roman Catholicism vs. Protestantism vs. Eastern Orthodoxy)
g. Islam (life of Muhammad, Five Pillars, Sunnis vs. Shi'ites, Sufism, jihad, relation to Christianity & Judaism, fundamentalist political movements)
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May include any/all of the following:
1. Readings from course text and/or supplementary materials.
2. Group discussion of specific issues raised in readings or lecture.
3. Short essays (500-1000 words) comparing and contrasting various aspects
of the major religions.
4. Research project and written essay (1250-2500 words) defending a specific
position on a comparative issue.
5. Quizzes (multiple choice and/or short answer) on assigned readings.
6. Midterm examinations including essay, short answer, and multiple
choice sections.
7. Final examination including essay, short answer, and mulitple choice sections.
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A Concise Introduction to World Religions, 2nd edition. Oxtoby, Willard and Segal, Alan. Oxford University Press: 2011
Experiencing the World's Religions, 6th edition. Molloy, Michael. McGraw Hill: 2009
God Is Not One, 1st edition. Prothero, Stephen. HarperOne: 2011
Sacred Words: A Source Book on Religions of the World, 1st edition. Bilhartz, Terry. McGraw Hill: 2006 (Classic)
Scriptures of the World's Religions, 4th edition. Fieser, James and Powers, John. McGraw Hill: 2011
The World's Religions (Plus) 50th Anniversary. Smith, Huston. HarperOne: 2009
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