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Academic Year 2000/2001

Trends in the Origins of World Religions
RELI 208 FA
Clusters:
Christian Studies

"Religions" do not arise and continue to develop in specific geographical, cultural, and historical contexts unless they adequately answer certain felt needs of the people adopting them. This course seeks to investigate the origins of three of the world's major religious traditions--Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam--in light of the historical and cultural backgrounds from which they sprang. Special notice will be taken of the lives of the founders of these traditions and of the particular "revolutionary" character of their teachings for those decisive historical moments.

MAJOR READINGS

Dawood, N.J., THE KORAN
Esposito, John L., ISLAM: THE STRAIGHT PATH
Kazantzakis, N., THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
Rahula, W. WHAT THE BUDDHA TAUGHT
THE HOLY BIBLE (Revised Standard Version)
Batchelor, Stephen, BUDDHISM WITHOUT BELIEFS

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Three short papers plus a final essay.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS RELI    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-26-2001

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