Since the beginning of human civilization, religions have played a major role in influencing how cultures and societies have developed, and how human beings interact with one another. From its impact on art and music, to government and the law, religion touches so many aspects of our contemporary world. The study of some of the world's religions offers us an opportunity to examine how people across the globe and over time have struggled to find deeper meaning and purpose in life. Developing literacy about other religions helps to foster tolerance and understanding in our increasingly diverse world.
This class seeks to enhance our studies of religions not only practiced in the West, but also in places like Africa and Asia. Religions we will study throughout the semester include Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, and Taoism, as well as some traditional African religions. The goal of this class is not to judge as superior or inferior any particular religion but rather to increase our understanding about numerous belief systems practiced in cultures around the globe. Our studies will focus on evaluating similarities and differences between world religions as we look to enhance our general knowledge about religion and its role in society. The course will also provide context to help you better analyze and understand both past and contemporary events related to religion that occur throughout the world.