REL 160 World Religions
Lecture Hours: 4
Credits: 4
Surveys the major world religions, including a look at their founders and their theology in terms of their views of God, self, society, purposes of life, traditions, and rituals. Includes the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and the primary Asian religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Also includes attention to religious offshoots of (and precursors to) the mainstream religions (e.g., Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Sikhism and Bhakti faiths). Uses reflective and critical reading, thinking, writing, and discussion to explore the principal components of the world’s dominant wisdom traditions.
Prerequisite: Placement into WR 115 (or higher), or completion of WR 090 (or higher) with a grade a C or better; or consent of instructor.
Recommended: Placement into WR 121Z (or higher), or completion of WR 115 (or higher) with a grade of C or better.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Identify and explain the founders of the religions, the circumstances that crystallized each religion, and the historical development of each religion.
- Identify the primary traditions and rituals of different religious practices.
- Explain major themes, traditions, historical figures and teachings of the world’s dominant religious traditions.
- Articulate informed account of the complex relationship between faith, reason, religion, worldview, and experience.
- Articulate personal worldview while respectfully engaging and understanding the worldviews of others: theistic, non-theistic, atheistic religious, and non-religious.
- Use various forms of written and verbal discussion to articulate understanding and practical application of various aspects of the world’s religions.
- Write coherent essays using textual support, documentation (where applicable), and standard grammar/mechanics.
- Use strategies to thoughtfully and respectfully engage those who hold a different philosophical worldview.
- Describe, and assess how power and worldview impacts the ways people treat each other, including oppression, discrimination, and fundamentalism.
Statewide General Education Outcomes:
- Interpret and engage in the Arts and Letters, making use of the creative process to enrich the quality of life; and
- Critically analyze values and ethics within a range of human experience and expression to engage more fully in local and global issues.
Cultural Literacy (DPR) Outcome:
- Identify and analyze complex practices, values, and beliefs and the culturally and historically defined meanings of difference
Content Outline
- Introduction to the Study of Religion
- God, Gods, Goddesses, none of the above, all of the above
- Religion, myth, symbol, and ritual (Joseph Campbell)
- Worldview
- How to write a religious studies essay
- Religious Experience
- Indigenous Spirituality
- Historical context
- Sacred text(s)
- Founders and historical figures
- Beliefs, rituals, customs
- Current manifestations in the United States
- Hinduism
- Historical context
- Sacred text(s)
- Founders and historical figures
- Beliefs, rituals, and customs
- Current manifestations in the United States
- Jainism
- Historical context
- Sacred text(s)
- Founders and historical figures
- Beliefs, rituals, and customs
- Current manifestations in the United States
- Buddhism
- Historical context
- Sacred text(s)
- Founders and historical figures
- Beliefs, rituals, and customs
- Current manifestations in the United States
- Taoism
- Historical context
- Sacred text(s)
- Founders and historical figures
- Beliefs, rituals, and customs
- Current manifestations in the United States
- Confucianism
- Historical context
- Sacred text(s)
- Founders and historical figures
- Beliefs, rituals, and customs
- Current manifestations in the United States
- Shinto
- Historical context
- Sacred text(s)
- Founders and historical figures
- Beliefs, rituals, and customs
- Current manifestations in the United States
- Zoroastrianism
- Historical context
- Sacred text(s)
- Founders and historical figures
- Beliefs, rituals, and customs
- Current manifestations in the United States
- Judaism
- Historical context
- Sacred text(s)
- Founders and historical figures
- Beliefs, rituals, and customs
- Current manifestations in the United States
- Christianity
- Historical context
- Sacred text(s)
- Founders and historical figures
- Beliefs, rituals, and customs
- Current manifestations in the United States
- Islam
- Historical context
- Sacred text(s)
- Founders and historical figures
- Beliefs, rituals, and customs
- Current manifestations in the United States
- Sikhism
- Historical context
- Sacred text(s)
- Founders and historical figures
- Beliefs, rituals, and customs
- Current manifestations in the United States
- Atheism
- Historical context
- Sacred text(s)
- Founders and historical figures
- Beliefs, rituals, and customs
- Current manifestations in the United States
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