In preparing for the mid-term and final exams, I suggest that you review the following with particular care:

1.) Points that I have returned to repeatedly throughout the course (for example, the definition of religion by William James that I covered during the first session)

2.) Diagrams from the blackboard

3.) Points especially stressed in the videotapes we watched

4.) Major points from assigned readings

Here are samples of the kinds of question you might expect in relation to each of the sources just mentioned.

Sample question #1: What is meant by the expression “unseen order” in William James’ classic definition of religion that we discussed in our first class meeting?

Sample question #2: What is the connection between our background understandings and our interpretations of life situations?

Sample question #3: What is the meaning of the yin/yang symbol from Taoism?

Sample question #4: What is the source of human suffering according to the Buddhist tradition?

• The format of the exams will be short-answer essays like the samples above.

• I will not be asking you for dates, places and names.

•The exams will include 15 questions, from which you will choose 10.

• I will include an additional set of especially challenging questions for extra credit.