This course offers an introductory approach to "World Religions." Through this module, you will be exposed the critical study of religion as a human cultural phenomenon. You will also be exposed to a multitude of religious traditions that may be completely different from your own, and even totally foreign and incomprehensible.
The primary goal of this module is to help you appreciate each religious tradition on its own terms, and to understand "religion" (whether belief, practice, or identity) as a universal human phenomenon that structures many contemporary social, political and cultural issues. We will do this by introducing different social science concepts used by scholars of religion (especially by anthropologists who study religion) that allow us to differentiate between someone's "faith" (i.e., what they might believe) and their "religion" (i.e., what they actually practice), as well as examine critically why some practices are labelled as "World" religions and others are not.
Lecture periods and tutorials will be devoted primarily to understanding the historical development of selected "classic" world religions from antiquity (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism), along with their unique patterns of ritual and worship, and the variety of sects that have stemmed over time from each tradition. However, other areas such as indigenous religions, and more recent (late 20th century) global movements - such as Cao Dai, New Age spirituality, and New Atheism - will also be discussed. We will focus on the tremendous diversity of particular religious traditions, acquiring a broader understanding of what constitutes and defines a "religion," and what roles (both positive and negative) religion may play in human societies.