The purpose of this course is to enhance your awareness and critical appreciation of the role of religion in the lives of people. You be challenged to appreciate the diversity of world religions as well as to develop a deeper understanding of Christianity as the faith tradition that has loomed largest in the dominant culture of the United States.

Unlike other experiences that you may have had in “religion classes,” this course has been created from an observer’s rather than a believer’s perspective. What that means is that it will not be taught from “inside” the symbols, beliefs and values of any single faith; instead, we will attempt to enter into conversation with and develop an appreciative awareness of a number of the faith traditions that have brought meaning, value and purpose into the lives of millions of people throughout the world for thousands of years. Our orientation will be like that of the anthropologist, sociologist or psychologist, rather than that of the believer.

As you will discover, the adjective “religious” is not a synonym for “Christian” or “Catholic” or “Baptist”; rather, it names an orientation to a set of universal human questions or concerns such as the meaning of birth and death, of sufferings and blessings. The authentic questions of religion are universal; being human makes us ask them. The answers offered by any particular tradition are particular--they come from people living in a specific place and time with their own priorities and problems, loyalties and blind spots. As such, religions necessarily reflect the plurality and ambiguity of all human cultures.

Some contemporary philosophers of religion have suggested that, whether one is a believer in some particular tradition or not, there is a religious dimension to all human experience. This would mean that our religiousness goes far beyond whether the existence of a God or gods makes sense to us. It is our response to questions like: Why do good people suffer? or What obligation do I have to the well being of others? or Does my life continue in some manner after my death? or Why not commit suicide? To be a person is to face such questions over the course of our lifetimes. In that very powerful sense we are, all of us, religious beings.

Grades for the course will be based equally on the following four assignments.

1.) A “religious autobiography” in which you articulate the current place of religion in your life and tell the story of how you arrived at it (5 pages; due June 26)

2.) Mid-term examination (short-answer essays; July 10). Mid-term and Final Study Guide

3.) A written report on your attendance at a religious service in a denomination or religion other than your own. (5 pages; due July 31) Field Research Guide

4.) Final examination (short-answer essays; August 7) Mid-term and Final Study Guide
 
 

Fisher, M.P., Living Religions (4th Ed.). Prentice-Hall, 1999.
 
 

June   5      Human experience, interpretation and religion (Chapter 1)

    “   12     Hinduism (Chapter 3)

    “   19     Buddhism (Chapter 5)

    “   26     Taoism and Confucianism (Chapter 6)

  July  3      Indigenous Religions (Chapter 2)
                  Mid-term examination

    “   10     Islam (Chapter 10)

     “  17     Judaism (Chapter 8)

     “  24     Christianity (Chapter 9)

Aug.   7     Final exam