Download Introduction to World Religions

Introduction to World Religions
Syllabus for Religious Studies Course
Björn Krondorfer, Professor of Religious Studies
This course will introduce you to some of the major world religions: Judaism, Christianity,
Islam and Hinduism. Basic beliefs, rituals and practices of these religious traditions are
introduced empathetically and critically; and we will also employ a comparative religious
studies approach. Throughout the course, we will focus on questions such as:
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What are the fundamental beliefs and practices of these traditions?
What are their sacred sources of divine wisdom, authority and enlightenment?
What are some of the changes through history?
What are the visions of salvation, liberation or religious transformation suggested by each
tradition?
What are fundamental experiences in each religion and how can we compare them?
By focusing on these questions, commonalities and differences become apparent.
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Required Books:
John Esposito, Darrell Fasching, Todd Lewis, World Religions Today (2nd edition)
Amanda Porterfield, The Power of Religion: A Comparative Introduction
The Bible (best:NRSV; or any edition)
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Outline
1/18: Introduction
1/20: Approaches to the Study of Religion
Judaism
1/23: Biblical Judaism: Torah & Creation
1/25: Covenant & Prophets
1/27: Parting of the ways (Judaism and Christianity)
1/30: Rabbinic Judaism: Mishna & Talmud
2/01: What is an observant Jew? Halakha
2/03: Practicing Jews—Messianic expectations
2/06: Jewish History: Diaspora & Exile, Holocaust & Israel
2/08: Sacred Time: Festivals & Holidays
2/10: Comparative Study I
2/13: Jewish Fundamentalism: Promised Land
2/15: Exam I
Christianity
2/17: Jesus of Nazareth
2/20: Christ of Faith and Paul’s Mission to Gentiles
2/22 Early Church: Householders, Wanderers, Martyrs
2/24: Orthodox and Heterodox, Canon and Heresies
2/27: Creeds, Councils and the Imperial Church
3/01: Church Controversies: Catholics, Protestants, and the Eastern Church
3/03: Revivalism, Denominationalism, Liberation Theology
3/06: Exam II
3/08: Christian Fundamentalism: Power and Glory
Islam
3/10: Surrender and Recite: Islam and Quranè Comparative Essay 1 due
SPRING BREAK
3/20: Muhammad and the Straight Path: Sunnah/Hadith & Sharia
3/22: Righteous Living: Five Pillars & Dar al-Islam
3/24: Muslim Empires and Diversity: Caliphs, Sunnis, Shias & Sufis
3/27: Women and Islam (scheduled for evening lecture w/ Prof. Basaran)
3/29: Islam in America
3/31: Islamic Fundamentalism: Revivalism and Protest
4/03: Comparative Study II
4/05 Exam III
Hinduism
4/07: 330 Million Gods—how can that be?
4/10: Paths to Liberation (moksha)
4/12: The Pantheon of Gods
4/14: From the Vedas to Sutras: Hindu Scriptures
4/17: Way of Devotion: Bhakti and Puja
4/19: Ordinary and Sacred Time: Samskara & Utsavas
4/21: Hindu Fundamentalism: Hindutva
4/24: Comparative Study III
4/26: Exam IV
4/28: Conclusion è Comparative Essay 2 due
5/08 Final Exam