I. General Information

1. Course Title:
World Religions

2. Course Prefix & Number:
PHIL 1411

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

4. Course Description:

This philosophy of religion course offers a comparative framework for understanding the diversity of beliefs found in the modern world. Major religious traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Islam and Christianity are examined, with special attention paid to historical development, current practices and manifestations, and fundamental beliefs.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

Reading College Level CLC or Reading College Level

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Century College, PHIL 1051 World Religions, 3 credits
Saint Paul College, PHIL 1760 World Religions, 3 credits

III. Course Purpose

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:

• Goal 6 – Humanities and Fine Arts
• Goal 8 – Global Perspective

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate reading and listening skills	Demonstrate an understanding of major ideas conveyed in the course by correctly answering a satisfactory percentage of randomly selected test questions derived from lecture content, films and assigned readings.
Analyze and follow a sequence of operations	Satisfactorily assess religious concepts presented in readings, class lecture and discussion in terms of quality, quantity and relevance of evidence in short written assignments and group discussion exercises.
Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations	Accurately apply basic theoretical concepts detailed in various philosophical theories to specific issues raised by religions.
Apply ethical principles in decision-making	Clearly articulate informed, logically consistent, and adequately supported moral solutions for selected controversial religious ethical issues.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities. MnTC Goal 6
• Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context. MnTC Goal 6
• Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities. MnTC Goal 6
• Engage in the creative process or interpretation of various viewpoints. MnTC Goal 6
• Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities. MnTC Goal 6
• Describe and analyze political, economic, and cultural elements which influence relations of states and societies in their historical and contemporary dimensions. MnTC Goal 8
• Demonstrate knowledge of cultural, social, religions, and linguistic differences. MnTC Goal 8
• Analyze specific international problems, illustrating the cultural, economic, and political differences that affect their solution. MnTC Goal 8
• Understand the role fo a world citizen and the responsibility world citizens share for their common global future. MnTC Goal 8

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Introduction: What is religion?
• Theories of the origins and social functions of religion as universal phenomenon
• Geographical distribution of world religions
• Overview of main areas of concern in all religions
• The nature of the absolute
• World view
• Human nature
• The problem for humanity
• The solution for humanity
• Interpretation of history
• Nature of myth in preliterate cultures
• Sacred writings
• Rituals and symbols
• Life after death
• Relationships among religions
2. Ancient Religions of Iraq and Iran
• Historical development of Mesopotamian civilization
• Myths and religions of Sumer and Babylon
• Early versions of Biblical tales
• Zoroastrianism
• Possible links to developments in Judaic thought
3. Abrahamic faiths timeline and overview
4. Judaism—Worldview and history
• The Biblical account
• Patriarchs of the Old Testament
• Evolution of the Torah – the Graf-Wellhausen documentary hypothesis
• Polytheism and pre-exilic Judaism
• Postexilic Judaism
• Modern forms of Judaism
• The Holocaust and Israel
• Roots of Arab-Israeli conflict
5. Christianity
• The life of Jesus
• Teachings of Jesus
• Paul, the Apostles and the early church
• Early competitors: Ebionites, Gnostics, Marcionites
• Constantine and early ecumenical Councils
• Philosophical currents:  St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas
• Five proofs of God’s Existence
• The problem of evil
• A Historical timeline of the origins of modern divisions in the church
6. Islam
• Historical antecedents, connection to Judaism and Christianity
• The life of the prophet Muhammad
• The Koran
• The pillars of Islam
• Sunni and Shi’a
• Muslim response to modernism
• Middle East conflict
7. Hinduism
• History, Aryan invasion, indigenous peoples
• Metaphysics, Brahman, age of the universe
• Shruti and Smriti, revelation and scriptures
• Vedas
• Brahmanas and Aranyakas
• Karma, Samsara, Castes
• Bhagavad Gita
• The four stages of life
• Four ways of salvation
• Orthodox Hindu systems of philosophy
8. Buddhism
• The life of the Buddha
• Buddhist scriptures
• Four noble truths
• Dukkha
• Tanha
• The eightfold path
• Samsara and Karma
• Metaphysics and the Buddha
• Theravada and Mahayana
• Buddhism in China
• Buddhism in Japan
9. New forms of Older Religions
• Rastafarians
• Baha’a
• Satanism
• Scientology
• UFO based faiths
• Unification church
• Voodoo
• Wicca
• Globalization and world religions

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions