Download RELS 110:12: An Introduction to World Religions

RELS 110:12: An Introduction to World Religions
Week
Sept 6
Sept 915
Sept.
16-22
Sept
23-29
Sept
30-6
Oct 713
Oct 1420
Tentative Course Outline (as of April 28, 2017)
Tuesday
Chapter; Ass’ts
Monday
LR chapter 1;
What is religion?
“Describe what religion is in terms of it necessary and
optional characteristics. What distinguishes religion from
spirituality, philosophy, and cultural worldview?”
Marx, Freud,
Nietzsche;
Making Sense 1
LR chapter 2;
African Spiritual
Ways; Native
American Sacred
Ways
LR pages 73-85;
Bhagavad Gita
“Introduction”
(pages vii-xxxix;
206-210)
LR pages 86-96;
Bhagavad Gita 1-8
(pages 1-100)
LR pages 97-118;
Bhagavad Gita 918 (pages 101-205)
Chapter 4
Three approaches to religion:
“Describe the three main approaches to
religion. Who are some of the most wellknown proponents of each approach?
How does each explain why religion
exists?”
Thursday
Introduction to Course
Wish projection; evolution of religions;
comparing religions.
“Give three specific examples of how a religion has
changed over the centuries.”
Service Learning presentation
Making Sense chapter 1 “Introduction to
Higher Education and Religious Studies”
Religions of Small Societies.
“What makes studying religions of simple societies especially
challenging?”
Indigenous Religions
“What do religions of simple societies
tend to have in common, and why?”
North American; African;
Introduction to Asia;
"How do Indians describe their religion? What is the Hindu
name for Hinduism, and what are the seven features that
characterize Hinduism?”
The Vedic era
“Describe the religion of the oldest
Vedas. Include in your answer a
description of some of the main gods
and what the rituals were like.”
The Hindu epics;
“What is the Bhagavad Gita about?
Who is the main character, what does
he come to realize, and how does he
learn this?”
Hindu gods and goddesses;
“Identify the Hindu deity visually”
Key concepts
“What is the relation of the caste system to the
Hindu religion?”
Upanishads
“How do the Upanishads compare to the earlier Vedas?
What do they teach about what happens when one dies?”
Thanksgiving
Making Sense chapter 2 “Making the Most
of Your Time in Higher Education”
Making Sense chapter 12 “Giving an Oral
Presentation”
Varna, Karma, Dharma, and Samsara in the
Bhagavad Gita (#75-81)
Making Sense chapter 3 “Writing and
Thinking”
Hindu goddesses: the divine feminine
Making Sense chapter 11 “Tests and
Examinations”
Bhakti: devotional Hinduism
Poems of Mirabai, Kali
Modern Hindu practices:
What is puja, Prasad?
Midterm Test;
Jainism
When did Jainism emerge? What are the
Tirtharankas? What are the divisions of Jainism?
What are the three ethical principles of Jainism?
What are the five vows commonly taken by nonmonks?
Making Sense chapter 4 “Finding and Using
Academic Resources”
Week
Oct 2127
Chapter; Ass’ts
Chapter 5;
Hagiographa of
the Buddha;
Deer Park Sermon
Monday
Buddhism in India;
Which concepts did Buddhism retain from Hinduism?
Which did it reject?
Briefly outline the key events in Siddhartha’s life before he
became known as the Buddha.
What experiences in his early life helped him to formulate
the idea of a “Middle Way?”
Tuesday
the Buddha;
Describe the contents of the Buddha’s
Deer Park Sermon.
Explain the concept of dukkha and its
role in Buddhist teaching.
List the steps on the Noble Eightfold
Path and note briefly what each step
involves.
Thursday
Philosophical Buddhism
Describe the three jewels and the five precepts.
Describe the three marks of existence, non-self;
dependent origination, impermanence, the five
aggregates.
Introduction to China and Chinese Thought;
Which concepts from Ancient Chinese Religion were
taken up by Confucianism, Daoism, and Chinese
Buddhism?
Proposal due
Compare the view of human nature in Mengzi to
that in Xunzi? How does these relate to their views
of politics?
Oct 28Nov 3
Dhammapada
Expansion of Buddhism;
Who was Ashoka and why is he significant?
What are the two main schools of Buddhism?
Describe the three baskets.
Theravada;
What is the Theravadin ideal?
What is worshipped and celebrated in
Buddhism, and how?
Nov 410
Chapter 6;
Analects; Mengzi;
Xunzi
Confucius;
Compare what we know of the life of Master Kong
(Confucius) with what we know of the life of Siddharta
Gautama (the Buddha)
Confucian philosophy; Confucian
religion;
What are the “five relationships” of
Confucius, and what do they illustrate
about what Confucius thought was
important?
Religious Daoism;
Daoism: Philosophical: Laozi
Compare and contrast philosophical
Daoism and religious Daoism.
Guest: Dr. Adela Sandness on
Mahayana Buddhism
Explain the technique of upayakaushalya, with examples of how it
was used.
Nov
11-17
Dao dejing
Nov
18-24
Tibetan Book of
the Dead?
Nov
25-Dec
1
7
Daoism: Philosophical: Zhuangzi
Explain why Confucianism is sometimes described as a
father-son relationship, whereas Daoism is sometimes
represented as a mother-child relationship.
Guest: Laurinda Matheson (from the Library) on
using Refworks
Making Sense chapter 5, part 1 “Writing
Essays: Planning Your Research”
Making Sense chapter 6 “Writing Book
Reviews and Book Reports”
Shinto video
Making Sense chapter 7 “Writing Short
Assignments: Chapter Summaries and
Article Reviews”
Chinese Buddhism:
Chan, Pure Land;
What are some notable characteristics of Chan
Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism?
8: “Reading Religious Texts and Writing
Interpretive Essays”
Dec 514
Tibetan Buddhism
Describe some of the tools Vajrayana Buddhists use to focus
their meditation and prayer.
Japanese (Zen) Buddhism;
Describe the main similarities and the
important distinctions of the
Theravada, Mahayana, and
Vajrayana traditions. Describe their
geographical development and name a
main text in each tradition
Term Exam
Visit from Buddhist monastics
Annotated Bibliography due
Week
Jan 612
Chapter; Ass’ts
Zoroastrianism
Monday
Welcome back; review
Tuesday
Abrahamic Faiths;
We have discussed five common
characteristics shared by the
“Abrahamic faiths.” Illustrate the role
of each of these convictions in each of the
three faiths.
Thursday
Zoroastrianism
Which similarities between Zoroastrian and Judaism
lead scholars to suggest Zoroastrianism influenced
Judaism?
Making Sense chapter 9 “Writing
Comparative Essays” (review chapter 5,
part 1 “Writing Essays: Planning Your
Research”)
Jan 1319
LR 8.1
Judaism: Basic Principles;
Cultural Context;
Read Proverbs 1-3; 10-12
What, according to Proverbs, are the
differences between the “wise” and the
“foolish” in terms of their (a) thinking,
(b) behaviour, and (c) fortunes?
Jan 2026
LR 8.2
Torah
What is meant by “Torah”? What role does “Torah” play
in Judaism?
Read Exodus 1-10; 19; Deuteronomy 4-6; 28-30; 2
Samuel 7;
Ancient History of Judaism;
Read Amos; Isaiah 1; 5; 11; 4445;
Discuss briefly the Jewish Scriptures
(Old Testament) as a drama of the
relationship of God with humanity.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Michael Steinitz (Physics)
Judaism in North America;
How do the major groupings of
contemporary Judaism differ in practice
and beliefs?
Jan 27Feb 2
LR 8.3
Hebrew Scriptures;
What is in each of the three parts of the Jewish
scriptures?
Read Genesis 1-3; 6-9; 12; 13; 16; 17; 21; 22
What view of human nature and potential is reflected
in the first three chapters of Genesis?
Summary due
History of Jewish Diaspora;
Read Psalms 51; 92; 122
10. “Writing with Style”
Prophets;
Summarize the message of the following prophets to
their contemporaries and the themes in their
prophecies that are important in Judaism: Amos,
Isaiah.
Jewish Practice; Rites of Passage
The State of Israel;
Read Herzl
Making Sense chapter 5 part 2 “Writing
Essays: Writing Drafts of the Essay”
Feb 3-9
LR 9.1
Jesus & Gospels;
Read Matthew 1-13; 16; 18-21; 26-28; John 1-5; 11;
_
What is meant when Christians say Jesus is “Christ”?
Early Expansion & Acts;
Read Acts 1-2; 6-9; 13-16; 21-25;
27; 28
What is the relationship of Christianity
to Judaism? How did the two come to
separate?
Paul and Faith;
What do Christians mean when they speak of
human nature as “fallen”? How, according to Paul’s
letter to the Romans, does God redeem “fallen”
humankind?
15. “Documenting Your Sources”
Week
Feb 1016
Chapter; Ass’ts
LR 9.2
Monday
Early Persecution; Constantine & Councils; Fall of
Rome
Read Romans.
What fundamental convictions led Christians to understand
God as “Trinity,” and how does the doctrine of the
“Trinity” express these convictions?
Tuesday
Christendom; Orthodoxy;
Read Nicene Creed.
What are the three main branches of
Christianity today? Explain the issues
that led to these divisions and the main
differences in their doctrines.
Feb 1723
LR 9.3
Christianity in England & North America;
Read Fundamentals
Christian Holidays ; Christianity
in the 21st Century
Feb 24Mar 2
Mar 3-9
Thursday
Protestant Reformation; Luther, Calvin,
Radical Reform
Read 95 Theses
Briefly explain the development of the Protestant
Reformation, highlighting the most important issues
raised in this movement. What were the problems
Luther saw with the way Christianity was being
practised? What were some of his solutions? How
did the Roman Catholic Church respond?
Essay draft due
Test
Recess
LR 10.1
Arab religion; & Muhammad
Tell the story of how Muhammad came to be the prophet of
Islam, and describe his original teachings.
Islamic Texts;
What scriptures does Islam use?
Describe the contents of each.
Succession & History of Islam; Sunni, Shi’a
What are the two main branches of Islam, and how
did they come to separate?
14. “Receiving Feedback and Reflecting on
Your Studies”
Mar 1016
LR 10.2
Islamic Religious Practice;
Explain the five pillars of Islam, the ways they are practiced,
and the purpose of each.
Sufism; Islamic Resurgence
Compare the relationship between
religion and politics in Islam, Judaism,
and Christianity.
Islamic practices around the World
For Muslims, the religion of Islam is not distinct
from Judaism and Christianity but the completion
thereof. What is meant by this claim? Who are some
of the people these three religions share in their
traditions? What, ultimately, are the chief
distinctions between these three Semitic religions?
16 “Common Errors in Grammar and
Usage”
Mar 1723
LR 11
Mar 2430
LR 12
Major Tenets of Islam; Women and Islam;
According to the Koran, what “revelations” of God are
contained in nature and revealed by the prophets, and how
ought human beings to respond to these revelations? What
does the Koran say about the “signs” that God has provided
for humankind: what kinds of “signs” are there, what are
they “signs” of, how should people react, how do they
respond?
Sikh Rituals & History;
Sikhism: Guru Nanak & 10
Gurus;
Khalsa & Beliefs;
17. “Punctuation”
New Religious Movements:
Sociology; NRMs and violence
Scientology; neo-paganism;
18. “Misused Words and Phrases”
Week
Mar 31Apr 6
Apr 1020
Chapter; Ass’ts
LR 13
Monday
Religion & Science;
Tuesday
Science and Religion
Thursday
Review
19 “Afterword”
Essay revision
Final Exam