(original web
document: http://www.ualberta.ca/~ebenzvi/outline_rel101c3.htm)
OUTLINE
RELIGION 101: Introduction to the Religions of the World
(Lec C-3; Tory B-87; TR 11:00-12:20)
Course Description
An introduction to the major religious traditions of the world. Although historical
aspects of these traditions will be studied, the emphasis will be on the way in which
these traditions are "at work" today.
A substantial use of the INTERNET is required in this course.
Required Books
Neusner (ed.), World Religions in America: An Introduction (Louisville, KY:
Westminster/ J. Knox, 1994).
Fisher, Living Religions (Third Edition; Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall,
1997).
Recommended Books
G. Oxtoby (ed.), World Religions. Western Traditions (Don Mills, ON: Oxford Univ.
Press, 1996.
G. Oxtoby (ed.), World Religions. Eastern Traditions (Don Mills, ON: Oxford Univ.
Press, 1996.
W. S. Bainbridge, The Sociology of Religious Movements (New York, NY: Routledge,
1997).
D. Cannon, Six Ways of Being Religious (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1996)
Homepage Address
Examinations and Grading
- Active participation in class (includes participation in the
electronic discussion group of the class)10 %
- First Term Mini-Paper 15%
- Mid-Term Exam30%
- Second Term Mini-Paper 15%
- Second Term (Final) Exam30%
Note on Grading: Grade points will be assigned according to the Nine Point
Grading System adopted by the University of Alberta and described in sections 23.4.4 and
23.4.5 of the 1998-1999 Calendar of the University of Alberta.
Questions
Instructor First Term: Ehud Ben Zvi, ehud.ben.zvi@ualberta.ca, 337D Old Arts
Building, phone 492-7183, Office Hours: Wednesday, 1:30-3:00 PM or by appointment.
Instructor Second Term: Steven Engler,
engler@vax2.concordia.ca, Office Hours, TBA
Topics to be Covered in the First Term
- General Introduction
- Islam and Islamic groups (Nation of Islam and Ahmadiyya, for instance, are also studied)
- Christianities (includes Protestants, Catholics, Orthodox, African-American
Christianity, Hispanic Religious Traditions, The Latter Day Saint's
Church/Mormonboth main Churches, and Unification Church)
- African-American Religious Experiences, and particularly Kwanza
- Judaisms
- Bahai
- Humanism/s, Agnosticism, Atheism
- Contemporaneous (and recent) Political Ideologies as Religions
- New Religious Groups in the West (e.g., Branch Davidians; Heaven's Gate) (if possible)
Topics to be Covered in the Second Term
- Hinduism
- Jainism
- Buddhism
- Sikhism
- Shintoism
- Taoism
- Confucianism (including modern manifestations)
- Aboriginal Religious Experience
- Comparative Principles for Understanding Religion (if possible)
Note on Plagiarism
: Students MUST make themselves aware of the university
regulations concerning plagiarism. Ignorance is no excuse. Plagiarism consists of quoting
the work of someone else without acknowledgement, e.g. copying a portion of a book without
quotation marks. Students who plagiarize or cheat will be reported to the Faculty of Arts
and will be penalized in accordance with section 26.1.5 of the 1998/99 University of
Alberta Calendar. Please see also section 26.1.4 of the Calendar.