Course

Objective:

Learning Outcomes:

• Explain the definition of religion, theories on religion's origin, the differences between polytheism and monotheism and types of primal religions and mystery cults
• State the origins of Hinduism, its sacred texts, its deities, the castes, the four stages of life and the four aims, and rituals, ceremonies and festivals
• Examine the founding of Buddhism and the significance of the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path and the Middle Way
• Describe the origins of Taoism, its texts, the differing sects, and the development of institutional Taoism
• Compare the laws and beliefs of Judaism as outlined in the Torah and Talmud, the history of Christian anti-Semitism in medieval Europe and holidays and rituals
• Explain the basics of the gospels, early Christian church persecution, ties to Judaism, the Crusades, various sects of Christianity and the major saints and thinkers in Christianity
• Summarize the beginnings of Confucianism, its five relationships, the concept of the dual soul and its origins in China, Japan and Korea
• Recall the biography of Muhammad and examine the Qur'an, the five pillars of the Islamic faith, Sharia law, scientific and cultural advancements during the Islamic Golden Age, and the major sects of Islam

General Topics: