WREL-201 :World Religions for Undergraduate Students

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This undergraduate-level course provides a comprehensive and critical introduction to the major religious traditions of the world, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as indigenous and East Asian traditions such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto. Students will explore the historical origins, central teachings, devotional practices, and contemporary expressions of each tradition, examining them in relation to common themes of human experience: the sacred, evil and suffering, love and compassion, wisdom and justice, death and deliverance. The course emphasizes the development of interpretive skills appropriate to religious studies through the analysis of primary sources, comparative reflection, and critical essay writing. The goals of the course are to impart understanding of the essential doctrines and institutions of the world’s religions, stressing their founding and normative principles; to identify similarities and differences of thought and practice among the traditions; and to clarify and articulate one’s own religious attitudes and orientations in the context of comparative study.

COURSE TEACHING OBJECTIVES

1. Analyze the historical origins, central teachings, and devotional practices of the major religious traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

2. Compare and contrast the similarities and differences of thought and practice among the world’s religious traditions.

3. Examine the common themes of human experience that unite religious traditions, including the sacred, evil and suffering, love and compassion, wisdom and justice, death and deliverance.

4. Evaluate the role of religion in shaping cultural, social, and political life across different historical and contemporary contexts.

5. Develop interpretive skills appropriate to religious studies through the writing and revision of descriptive and critical essays.

6. Articulate one’s own religious attitudes and orientations in the context of comparative study.

COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Discuss the origins of religion from an anthropological and historical perspective.

2. Explain the historical and theological trajectories of the major world religions, including the religions of ancient India (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism) and East Asia (Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto).

3. Articulate the central beliefs, practices, and institutions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

4. Identify common themes and distinctive features across diverse religious traditions.

5. Analyze contemporary developments and geopolitical issues associated with religion and religious worldviews.

6. Apply interpretive and critical skills to the study of religious texts, practices, and communities.

ORGANIZATION OF COURSE STUDIES

The course is organized into five study periods (typically 2 weeks each, though self-paced). Each period includes intensive reading of the assigned textbook, viewing of the supplementary video, and a short response paper or reflective assignment (500–1,000 words) reflecting on the material and its application. Students must contact the instructor for feedback after each period