Download Comparative World Religions Syllabus 2016

Comparative World Religions Syllabus
Comparative World Religions
Semester I& II
Senior Level
Instructor: Mrs. Jane Hall
Course Description:
Spiritual beliefs and practices provide meaning and inspiration for the majority of people across
the globe. This one semester course on Comparative World Religions has been designed to examine the
five major world living religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Attention will
also be given to other branches of the religions around the world. By investigating the origins, beliefs,
and practices of these religions, we may gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the world we
live in. Additionally, a brief overview of the geographic regions and the cultures associated with these
faiths will be incorporated to provide a complete analysis. Students will be challenged to examine and
analyze the world’s diverse religious landscape and develop an understanding and appreciation of
religion’s role in our world today.
Course Objectives:
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Examine the origins of religion in societies and cultures throughout the world.
Evaluate the similarities and differences among the five world major religions.
Analyze the beliefs, values, and practices of each of the world’s five major religions.
Compare and contrast Eastern and Western religions.
Explain the meaning and importance of religion globally.
Investigate the art, music, and architecture associated with these five major religions.
Identify and explain each religion’s origins, locations of the largest number of believers, and
important landmarks associated with them.
8. Identify the main human figures associated with each of the major religions.
9. Explain the relationship between religious, social, and political events and trends throughout
history and in the contemporary world.
10. Respect their own spiritual beliefs and practices, and with the same breath, respect those that
are different.
Course Requirements:
1. Students will be required to do all readings. Daily students will be expected to read three pages
from their textbook. Once (maybe twice) a week additional reading material may be passed out
or expected to be read from the Haiku site.
2. Each student will be expected to share a reflective story/wisdom/understanding of a teaching
provided by one of the great religions with the class. Dates will be assigned.
3. Students will be required to take all quizzes and tests for the course. There will be a quiz once a
week on the reading material from the textbook.
4. Students will be required to keep a notebook. If you are absent from class – see your instructor
or a classmate for the notes you may have missed.
5. Students will be responsible for the content of the class discussions, videos, presentations, and
information presented to the class by a guest speaker (if absent be sure to check with your
instructor), and all other class materials.
Course Outline:
1. Understanding the power of Religion and Myths
 Review Syllabus
 What is religion? Definitions of religion, beginnings of religion, basic elements of primal
religions.
 Watch “Being Different is Beautiful by littlesikhs.com”
2. Understanding the World’s Religious Heritage
 Function of Religion
 Forms of Religious Expression
 Periods of Religious History
 Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh2m6BPdn_g&authuser=0
“Comparative Religions around the world”
 Fundamental Features of Religions (theoretical, practical, and sociological)
 Women in World Religions
3. Primal Religious Traditions
 First Human Faiths (hunters and gatherers, early settlements/famers)
 Initiations
 Shamans (a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of good
and evil spirits, especially among some peoples of northern Asia and North America.)
4. Introduction to Monotheistic Religions
 Judaism (Ancient story of Judaism – Hebrew Testament, Early history – Jewish Beliefs
and Life – Medieval and Modern Judaism – Festivals and Practices – Women in Judaism
– Judaism in America)
 Christianity (Jesus and St. Paul – Christianity in the Roman World – Roman Catholicism
and Eastern Orthodoxy – Christianity in the World today – Women in Christianity –
Christianity in America)
 Islam (meaning of Islam – Story of Muhammad – Five Pillars of Islam – Historic Islam and
how it spread – Classic Islamic Civilization of art/literature/sciences – Women in Islam –
Islam in the World today)
5. Introduction to Eastern Religions: South Asia
 Hinduism: (Aryans and Dravidians – Practices of Hinduism/Vedas and Upanishads/Gods
and Goddesses/Festivals and Practices)
 Buddhism (Siddhartha Gautama Buddha – Basic Buddhist Teachings – Four Noble Truths
– Eight-Fold Path – Nirvana – Branches of Buddhism/Theravada, Mahayana, and Zen
Buddhism – Women in Buddhism – Buddhism in the World today)
6. Additional religions:
 Daoism/Laozi, Dao De Jing – Confucianism – Shinto – New Religious Movements
Grading: Grade will be an accumulation of quizzes, tests, research and presentations, reflections, and
daily class preparation and participation. All students have a right to retake and test or quiz within the
following week after a quiz or test is given (except for the final exam). Arrangements must be made
with your instructor. Please check power school often to make sure your grades are accurate.