Course

Course Summary
Credit Type:
Course
ACE ID:
SOPH-0008
Organization's ID:
REL1001
Organization:
SOPHIA Learning, LLC
Location:
Online
Length:
This is a self-paced course. Students have up to 60 days to complete
Dates Offered:
Credit Recommendation & Competencies
Level Credits (SH) Subject
Lower-Division Baccalaureate 3 Humanities or Religion
Description

Objective:

The course objective is to gain mastery of the basic concepts integral to the study of religion and will demonstrate how these concepts apply in real world situations; explore key components of religions as they apply to a range of different belief systems; and explore the role of religion in modern society.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Identify common elements of religions
  • Analyze religion's impact on individuals, society, and the world
  • Evaluate social, ethical, and cultural topics through the lens of religion
  • Investigate the major approaches to studying religion

General Topics:

  • Purposes for studying religions
  • Reasons for studying religion
  • Role of religion in modern life
  • The religious impulse
  • Religion and the individual
  • Religion and origins
  • Religion and the family
  • Religion and society
  • Defining religion
  • Origins of religion
  • Religion as myth
  • Religion as culture and social convention
  • The sacred and the profane
  • A definition of religion
  • An overview of religions
  • Categorizing religions
  • Primal religions
  • Judaism
  • Christianity
  • Islam
  • Hinduism
  • Confucianism
  • Buddhism
  • Other Eastern religions
  • Approaches and methods of studying world religions
  • Phenomenology
  • Theology
  • Historical approaches
  • Comparative religion
  • Philosophy of religion
  • Sociology of religion
  • Common elements of religions
  • Sacred and transcendent
  • Summum Bonum
  • Judaism and Yahweh
  • Christianity and the Trinity
  • Islam and Allah
  • Hinduism, Brahman, and Atman
  • Taoism and the Tao
  • The transcendent in primal religions
  • The problem
  • Suffering
  • Sin
  • Death
  • Evil
  • The solution
  • Mysticism
  • Sacramentalism
  • Silence
  • Action
  • Religious narratives
  • Transmission of the teaching
  • The nature of religious narratives
  • Early creation stories
  • Parable, myth, and allegory
  • Revelations
  • Philosophy and doctrine of world religions
  • Animism and related beliefs
  • Monotheism
  • Theism vs. deism
  • Polytheism and henotheism
  • Atheism
  • Non-theism
  • Religion's impact on individuals, society and the world
  • Fear and wonder
  • Death and eternity
  • Social convention
  • Humanism, atheism, and nihilism
  • Gender
  • Economics
  • Law
  • Family structure
  • Societal structure
  • Morality and ethics
  • Marriage, family, and sexuality
  • War and peace
  • Duties and law
  • The environment
  • Overview of ritual and material culture
  • Holy places
  • Architecture
  • Festivals
  • Pilgrimages
  • Life cycle events
  • Sacred objects
  • Religion in government
  • Religious states
  • Separation of church and state
  • National religions
  • Religious and political issues
  • Atheistic states
  • Religion in global affairs
  • Many 'worlds' in one
  • Religious wars and violence
  • Liberation theology, economic inequality, and social justice
  • Religious inclusion and exclusion
Instruction & Assessment

Instructional Strategies:

  • Audio Visual Materials
  • Case Studies
  • Computer Based Training
  • Lectures
  • Practical Exercises

Methods of Assessment:

  • Case Studies
  • Examinations
  • Quizzes

Minimum Passing Score:

70%
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