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 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:
6. Prerequisite Courses:
PHIL 1411 - World Religions
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
PHIL 1411 - World Religions
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
|
Name of Institution
|
Course Number and Title
|
Credits
|
|
Century College
|
PHIL 1051 World Religions
|
3
|
|
Saint Paul College
|
PHIL 1760 World Religions
|
3
|
III. Course Purpose
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 9 – Ethical and Civic Responsibility
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. |
| 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:
|
Expected Outcome
|
MnTC
Goal Area
|
|
Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
|
6
|
|
Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within an historical and social context.
|
6
|
|
Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.
|
6
|
|
Examine, articulate, and apply their own ethical views.
|
9
|
|
Understand and apply core concepts (e.g. politics, rights and obligations, justice, liberty) to specific issues.
|
9
|
|
Analyze and reflect on the ethical dimensions of legal, social, and scientific issues.
|
9
|
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
|
Introduction: What is religion?
A. Theories of the origins and social functions of religion as universal phenomenon
B. Geographical distribution of world religions
C. Overview of main areas of concern in all religions
i. The nature of the absolute
ii. World view
iii. Human nature
iv. The problem for humanity
v. The solution for humanity
vi. Interpretation of history
vii. Nature of myth in preliterate cultures
viii. Sacred writings
ix. Rituals and symbols
x. Life after death
D. Relationships among religions
|
|
Ancient Religions of Iraq and Iran
A. Historical development of Mesopotamian civilization
B. Myths and religions of Sumer and Babylon
C. Early versions of Biblical tales
D. Zoroastrianism
E. Possible links to developments in Judaic thought
|
|
Abrahamic faiths timeline and overview
|
|
Judaism—Worldview and history
A. The Biblical account.
B. Patriarchs of the Old Testament.
C. Evolution of the Torah – the Graf-Wellhausen documentary hypothesis.
D. Polytheism and pre-exilic Judaism
E. Postexilic Judaism
F. Modern forms of Judaism
G. The Holocaust and Israel
H. Roots of Arab-Israeli conflict
|
|
Christianity
A. The life of Jesus
B. Teachings of Jesus
C. Paul, the Apostles and the early church
D. Early competitors: Ebionites, Gnostics, Marcionites
E. Constantine and early ecumenical Councils
F. Philosophical currents: St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas
G. Five proofs of God’s Existence
H. The problem of evil
I. A Historical timeline of the origins of modern divisions in the church
|
|
Islam
A. Historical antecedents, connection to Judaism and Christianity
B. The life of the prophet Muhammad
C. The Koran
D. The pillars of Islam
E. Sunni and Shi’a
F. Muslim response to modernism
G. Middle East conflict
|
|
Hinduism
A. History, Aryan invasion, indigenous peoples
B. Metaphysics, Brahman, age of the universe
C. Shruti and Smriti, revelation and scriptures
D. Vedas
E. Brahmanas and Aranyakas
F. Karma, Samsara, Castes
G. Bhagavad Gita
H. The four stages of life
I. Four ways of salvation
J. Orthodox Hindu systems of philosophy
|
|
Buddhism
A. The life of the Buddha
B. Buddhist scriptures
C. Four noble truths
D. Dukkha
E. Tanha
F. The eightfold path
G. Samsara and Karma
H. Metaphysics and the Buddha
I. Theravada and Mahayana
J. Buddhism in China
K. Buddhism in Japan
|
|
New forms of Older Religions
A. Rastafarians
B. Baha’a
C. Satanism
D. Scientology
E. UFO based faiths
F. Unification church
G. Voodoo
H. Wicca
I. Globalization and world religions
|
2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions
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 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:
6. Prerequisite Courses:
PHIL 1411 - World Religions
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
PHIL 1411 - World Religions
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
|
Name of Institution
|
Course Number and Title
|
Credits
|
|
Century College
|
PHIL 1051 World Religions
|
3
|
|
Saint Paul College
|
PHIL 1760 World Religions
|
3
|
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 9 – Ethical and Civic Responsibility
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. |
| 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:
|
Expected Outcome
|
MnTC
Goal Area
|
|
Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
|
6
|
|
Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within an historical and social context.
|
6
|
|
Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.
|
6
|
|
Examine, articulate, and apply their own ethical views.
|
9
|
|
Understand and apply core concepts (e.g. politics, rights and obligations, justice, liberty) to specific issues.
|
9
|
|
Analyze and reflect on the ethical dimensions of legal, social, and scientific issues.
|
9
|
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
|
Introduction: What is religion?
A. Theories of the origins and social functions of religion as universal phenomenon
B. Geographical distribution of world religions
C. Overview of main areas of concern in all religions
i. The nature of the absolute
ii. World view
iii. Human nature
iv. The problem for humanity
v. The solution for humanity
vi. Interpretation of history
vii. Nature of myth in preliterate cultures
viii. Sacred writings
ix. Rituals and symbols
x. Life after death
D. Relationships among religions
|
|
Ancient Religions of Iraq and Iran
A. Historical development of Mesopotamian civilization
B. Myths and religions of Sumer and Babylon
C. Early versions of Biblical tales
D. Zoroastrianism
E. Possible links to developments in Judaic thought
|
|
Abrahamic faiths timeline and overview
|
|
Judaism—Worldview and history
A. The Biblical account.
B. Patriarchs of the Old Testament.
C. Evolution of the Torah – the Graf-Wellhausen documentary hypothesis.
D. Polytheism and pre-exilic Judaism
E. Postexilic Judaism
F. Modern forms of Judaism
G. The Holocaust and Israel
H. Roots of Arab-Israeli conflict
|
|
Christianity
A. The life of Jesus
B. Teachings of Jesus
C. Paul, the Apostles and the early church
D. Early competitors: Ebionites, Gnostics, Marcionites
E. Constantine and early ecumenical Councils
F. Philosophical currents: St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas
G. Five proofs of God’s Existence
H. The problem of evil
I. A Historical timeline of the origins of modern divisions in the church
|
|
Islam
A. Historical antecedents, connection to Judaism and Christianity
B. The life of the prophet Muhammad
C. The Koran
D. The pillars of Islam
E. Sunni and Shi’a
F. Muslim response to modernism
G. Middle East conflict
|
|
Hinduism
A. History, Aryan invasion, indigenous peoples
B. Metaphysics, Brahman, age of the universe
C. Shruti and Smriti, revelation and scriptures
D. Vedas
E. Brahmanas and Aranyakas
F. Karma, Samsara, Castes
G. Bhagavad Gita
H. The four stages of life
I. Four ways of salvation
J. Orthodox Hindu systems of philosophy
|
|
Buddhism
A. The life of the Buddha
B. Buddhist scriptures
C. Four noble truths
D. Dukkha
E. Tanha
F. The eightfold path
G. Samsara and Karma
H. Metaphysics and the Buddha
I. Theravada and Mahayana
J. Buddhism in China
K. Buddhism in Japan
|
|
New forms of Older Religions
A. Rastafarians
B. Baha’a
C. Satanism
D. Scientology
E. UFO based faiths
F. Unification church
G. Voodoo
H. Wicca
I. Globalization and world religions
|
2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions