Religions in the World

Religions in the World

Course Description

This course explores the nature and function of religion in human life by investigating the diversity of religious experience and expression across several cultures. The emphasis of this course is equally placed on comparative and historical religion. Thus, we will attempt to understand both the specific contexts and conditions in which a variety of religious traditions arose and exist, and also the common religious elements in the specific historical manifestations of individual religions. It is through this attention to some of the common elements of different traditions that we will develop an understanding of what it means to be religious, how religion shapes and guides societies, and what religion means and how religion functions in the life of individuals. One of the central, orienting questions that will run throughout this course is how religions change and adapt themselves to new historical and geographical settings, and especially how the five world religions we examine have adapted themselves to modernity.

Course Goals

-To acquire orderly knowledge of the historical development, major teachings, and current practices of selected living religious traditions;

-To try to understand a religion as a committed practitioner might, not simply as a detached observer;

-To develop a richly nuanced conception of religion that recognizes both the social and the personal dimensions of religious belief and practice; and

-To develop and maintain an attitude of critical self-awareness about the limits and possibilities of our intellectual tools and methods for understanding religion.

Course Requirements

This course is packed with substantial material, both in the lectures and the readings. It is expected that students will attend every lecture and prepare all the readings before they arrive in class.

There will one two take-home essay exams , each of which should be 4-6 pages in length, and which will be worth 40 points each.

Class participation will be worth 20 points.

There are thus 100 possible points in this course. If your points add up to at least 90, your grade will be no lower than an A-; if 80 or above, no lower than a B-; if 70 or above, no lower than a C-; and if 65 or above, no lower than a D-.

All work must be completed in order to receive a passing grade. Incompletes will only be given in extenuating circumstances, and students must adhere to Iliff’s Incomplete Course Policy.

Required Readings

All “basic” readings available at www.patheos.com .

Diana L. Eck, Darsan: Seeing the Divine Image in India (Columbia)

Eugene Herrigel, Zen in the Art of Archery (Vintage)

Elie Wiesel, Night (Bantam)

Peter Brown, The Cult of the Saints: Its Rise and Function in Latin Christianity (Chicago)

Farid Esack, On Being a Muslim (Oneworld)

Class Schedule and Readings:

Week One

Thursday 30 March – Judaism One - No Class Meeting

Readings: http://www.patheos.com/Library/Judaism.html

Video: Kinnard, "Introduction to the Course;" and " Jerusalem

Week Two

Thursday 6 April – Judaism Two

Readings: Wiesel, Night

Week Three

Thursday 13 April – Christianity One

Readings : http://www.patheos.com/Library/Christianity.html

Week Four

Thursday 20 April – Christianity Two

Readings: Brown, Cult of the Saints

Brown Glossary

Brown Lecturing

Week Five

Thursday 27 April - Islam One

Readings: http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam.html

Week Six

Thursday 4 May – Islam Two

Readings: Esack, On Being a Muslim

Ten Steps to a Better Paper

First Essay Due

Week Seven

Thursday 11 May – Hinduism One

Readings: http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism.html

Week Eight

Thursday 18 May – Hinduism Two

Readings: Eck, Darsan

Week Nine

Thursday 25 May – Buddhism One

Readings: http://www.patheos.com/Library/Buddhism.html

Second Essay for Graduates Due

Week Ten

Thursday 1 June Buddhism Two

Readings: Herrigal, Zen in the Art of Archery

Second Essay Due