Catalog Description
Advisory: Eligibility for ENGL 1A
Hours: 54 lecture
Description: Interdisciplinary survey of the beliefs and practices of the world's major religious traditions; focuses on primal religions, Hinduism, Judaism, Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. (CSU, UC)
Course Student Learning Outcomes
- CSLO #1: Identify and describe key elements of major religious traditions.
- CSLO #2: Analyze and explain key elements of major religious traditions.
- CSLO #3: Communicate effectively orally or in writing on important figures or topics within various religious traditions.
Effective Term
Fall 2022
Course Type
Credit - Degree-applicable
Contact Hours
54
Outside of Class Hours
108
Total Student Learning Hours
162
Course Objectives
Through oral and written work:
1. Describe and compare the common motifs and patterns of tribal religions;
2. Describe, compare and contrast the doctrines and ethical systems of Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam;
3. Describe, compare and contrast the originating myths and subsequent interpretations of these myths in the religions of Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam;
4. Read and analyze various sacred texts from Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam;
5. Describe, chart and interpret the rituals and celebrations found in Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam;
6. Analyze the relationship between the institutional structures and the cultures of Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
General Education Information
- Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
- AA/AS - Literature & Language
- AA/AS - Multicultural Studies
- CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
- CSUGE - C2 Humanities
- Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
- IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)
- IGETC - 3B Humanities
Articulation Information
- CSU Transferable
- UC Transferable
Methods of Evaluation
- Classroom Discussions
- Example: After learning about the various etiological narratives, students will be prompted to compare and contrast the various themes found in these originating myths. Based on these discussions, students will write a short paragraph identifying which story is most appealing to them, and explain their choice. Submitted paragraphs will be evaluated by whether they include relevant concepts and coherent reasoning.
- Essay Examinations
- Example: In a short essay, students describe the beliefs, practices, and ethics Buddhism. Compare and contrast the ethics of Buddhism with your conception of what it means to be a good person. Use examples and passages from relevant primary texts to help explain and support your ideas.
- Objective Examinations
- Example: A. Students will take a multiple-choice examination that identifies religions with its religious leaders. For example: Siddharth Gautama is this religions major leader. (A) Hinduism, (B) Jainism, (3) Buddhism, (D) Islam
- Projects
- Example: Create a poster board that presents compares and contrasts the rituals and celebrations of Judaism and Islam.
Repeatable
No
Methods of Instruction
- Lecture/Discussion
- Distance Learning
Lecture:
- Using a slide-presentation for an on-ground lecture, the instructor will present the various themes present in several etiological narratives. Through an interactive discussion, students will be asked to compare and contrast the themes found in originating myths.
Distance Learning
- The instructor will assign and mediate an online discussion that asks students to describe, compare and contrast the doctrines of ethical systems of Buddhism and Judaism. Students will be asked to reply to at least one other peer's post reviewing it for accuracy of interpretation and the use of supporting quotes from instructional material.
Typical Out of Class Assignments
Reading Assignments
1. Read excerpts from Bhagavad-Gita and be prepared to discuss the meaning and significance of Jiva. 2. Read excerpts from Upanishads and be prepared to discuss the meaning Karma compared to its common use in Western culture.
Writing, Problem Solving or Performance
1. Pick a topic related to world religions and write a 6-8 page research paper on that topic. 2. Based upon your comparative readings of the excerpts from Jewish and Christian Sacred texts, compare and contrast the "nature of woman" according to these two Prophetic religions. 3. After reading excerpts from Hindu writers (the Upanishads, Shankara, Ramana Maharshi) in the anthology "The Enlightened Mind", write a 1-2 page response paper; some questions you might ponder in response to these readings are: Did you enjoy the reading? Why or why not? Do you agree with the author? Why or why not? Did you find their ideas moving, or crazy, or profound, or ridiculous? Why or why not?
Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)
Required Materials
- Experiencing World Religions
- Author: Michael Molloy
- Publisher: McGraw Hill
- Publication Date: 2012
- Text Edition: 6th
- Classic Textbook?:
- OER Link:
- OER:
- World Religions Today
- Author: John L. Esposito, Darrell Fasching and Todd Lewis
- Publisher: Oxford University Press
- Publication Date: 2014
- Text Edition: 5th
- Classic Textbook?:
- OER Link:
- OER:
- A Concise Introduction to World Religions
- Author: Roy C. Amore, Amir Hussain, and Willard G. Oxtoby
- Publisher: Oxford University Press
- Publication Date: 2019
- Text Edition: 4th
- Classic Textbook?:
- OER Link:
- OER:
- The Enlightened Mind
- Author: Stephen Mitchell
- Publisher: Harper Perennial
- Publication Date: 1993
- Text Edition:
- Classic Textbook?:
- OER Link:
- OER:
- The World's Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World's Religions
- Author: Philip Novak
- Publisher: HarperOne
- Publication Date: 1995
- Text Edition: 1st
- Classic Textbook?:
- OER Link:
- OER:
