Comparative Religions Syllabus
Comparative Religions Syllabus
COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS COURSE
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Course Title |
[COURSE TITLE] |
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Course Code |
[COURSE CODE] |
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Office Hours |
[OFFICE HOURS] |
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Class Location |
[CLASS LOCATION] |
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Class Time |
[CLASS TIME] |
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Class Duration |
[DATE] - [DATE] |
1. Course Description
This course examines a range of world religions to enhance understanding of the diverse beliefs, practices, symbols, rituals, and ethos of other cultures and traditions. The overview includes Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and other religions.
2. Instructor Information
Name: [YOUR NAME]
Email: [YOUR EMAIL]
Organization: [YOUR COMPANY NAME]
3. Learning Objectives
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To understand the basic beliefs and practices of major world religions.
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To develop comparative skills in the study of religion.
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To acquire an appreciation for the diversity and richness of various religious traditions.
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To promote empathy and respect towards different religious beliefs and practices.
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To cultivate critical thinking and analytical skills concerning religious phenomena.
4. Course Schedule
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Week |
Topic |
Activities |
|---|---|---|
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1-2 |
Introduction to Comparative Religion |
Lectures, Group Discussion |
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3-4 |
Christianity |
Lectures, Reading Assignment |
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5-6 |
Judaism |
Module Quiz, Written Assignment |
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7-8 |
Buddhism |
Research Project, Group Discussion |
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9-10 |
Islam |
Lectures, Reading Assignment |
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11-12 |
Final Assessment |
Individual Presentation, Final Examination |
5. Required Reading and Materials
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"The World's Religions" by Huston Smith
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"A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam" by Karen Armstrong
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"An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices" by Peter Harvey
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"The Tao of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff
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A Bible (New Revised Standard Version), a Quran (English Translation), and a Bhagavad Gita (English Translation)
6. Assignments and Assessments
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Weekly Reading Summaries: Students are expected to submit a brief summary of the assigned readings each week.
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Midterm Exam: A comprehensive test covering all material discussed in class until the midterm.
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Final Project: A comparative analysis on two religions of the student's choice.
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Participation: Regular attendance, thoughtful contribution to class discussions, and engagement with guest lecturers.
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Final Exam: A cumulative examination covering the entire course.
7. Course Policies
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Attendance: Regular class attendance is necessary for optimal learning.
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Academic Integrity: All work submitted must be original; plagiarism will not be tolerated.
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Respectful Discussion: Students are expected to engage in thoughtful and respectful discussion.
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Late Assignments: Late assignment submissions will have points deducted unless a valid reason is presented.
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Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Accommodations will be made for students with documented disabilities.
8. Grading Policy
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Grade Component |
Percentage |
|---|---|
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Weekly Reading Summaries |
20% |
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Midterm Exam |
20% |
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Final Project |
30% |
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Participation |
10% |
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Final Exam |
20% |
Disclaimer
The syllabus that has been handed out is not set in stone and it may be subject to modifications or transformations as deemed necessary. In case there are any such alterations or revisions, students will not be left uninformed. The updated information will be announced and discussed during class sessions. In addition, notifications regarding these changes will also be sent out in detail using email so that it can be accessed by all students in a timely manner.
