PHIL 267 - Comparison of Religions

1. Identify and describe: Date, Geographical Location, Major Characteristics of: (some or all of these and others as appropriate) a. Religions of Ancient Civilizations Mesopotamian Egyptian Chinese Greek and Roman b. Living Religions of Today Native American Vedantism Judaism Jainism Zoroastrianism Buddhism Confucianism Taoism Christianity Hinduism Islam Shinto Parsis Sikhism.
2. Identify and describe the major academic approaches to religion: (some or all of these and others as appropriate) a. Religion from the inside Theology Interpretation of Scriptures Ethics Worship b. Religion from the outside Anthropology Sociology History Phenomenological Studies.
3. Identify and describe the nature and role of myths, symbols, ritual (most notably that of the ritual of sacrifice), priesthood, oracles, temples and other monuments, magic, meditation and scripture.
4. Compare and contrast the major teachings of the living religions. Concerning Deity: Monism, Dualism, Pantheism, Polytheism, Monotheism, Atheism, Secularism. Concerning life after death: Reincarnation, heaven/hell. Human responsibility: Sin, liberation, karma, enlightenment, ego, grace. Relation to other religions: Synthesis-dialogue-holy war.