RE 170 · B.Th. English syllabus

Major Religions

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Read, reflect and practise

Religion and philosophy · RE 170

Major Religions

B.Th. English · Source syllabus with original formative learning enrichment

Course description

The course will identify and discuss the different approaches to the study of religion. The course aims at giving you an understanding of the basic concepts in the academic study of religion, the approaches to the study of religion and the purposes of religion in the lives of individuals and human community. This course surveys the other religion except Christianity. As students are part of Christianity and studies on various subjects on Christianity this course is limiting with other religion. This course introduces the major religions of the world with attention to origin, history, beliefs, practices, and implications.

Course objectives

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

Understand the Origin, Development, belief and practices of various religions in India.

Interpret other religious teachings and to be able to identify the uniqueness of Christianity in Comparison with other Religions.

Be sensitive to constructively dialogue with the neighbouring people, not compromising with the exclusiveness and uniqueness of their faith.

Original AGBS learning enrichment

Think beyond the outline.

These new exercises are formative suggestions, not changes to your official syllabus, deadlines or assessment weights. Your faculty decides which activities to use in class.

Your study record

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Use fictional or anonymised ministry cases. Do not enter another person’s counselling, medical or private family details.

My unit checklist

0 of 2 sections marked studied by you. This is self-reported learning progress.

UNIT I: Introduction to ReligionUNIT II: Introduction to Major Religions

Reflect

Pause and make a connection.

How could you describe another religious tradition accurately while remaining clear about your own beliefs? Identify an assumption you would need to check with reliable sources.

0/8000 characters

Create and collaborate

Create a respectful religion study panel

Compare two traditions using origins, texts, beliefs and practices. Distinguish practitioners' self-descriptions from your interpretation, and prepare non-leading dialogue questions.

1. Prepare
Read the relevant source unit and record your evidence.
2. Make
Create a draft, diagram, dialogue or teaching resource.
3. Revisit
Invite peer feedback in class; revise and explain what changed.

My creative-work plan and reflection

Check your understanding

Which approach is consistent with the syllabus's dialogue objective?

Assume all adherents of a religion are identicalUse stereotypes instead of sourcesStudy beliefs and practices carefully and engage neighbours sensitively

Practice only. No marks are posted to the gradebook.

RE 170 Major Religions

Amazing Grace Biblical Seminary — B.Th. English

AmaZing Grace Biblical Seminary Erumelikkara, Kumarapuram (PO), Aluva (via), Ernakulam (District), Kerala, India- Pin-683 565. Ph. 8547473926, 8281663926. RE 170: MAJOR RELIGIONS COURSE DESCRIPTION The course will identify and discuss the different approaches to the study of religion. The course aims at giving you an understanding of the basic concepts in the academic study of religion, the approaches to the study of religion and the purposes of religion in the lives of individuals and human community. This course surveys the other religion except Christianity. As students are part of Christianity and studies on various subjects on Christianity this course is limiting with other religion. This course introduces the major religions of the world with attention to origin, history, beliefs, practices, and implications. COURSE OBJECTIVES By the end of the course, you should be able to: Understand the Origin, Development, belief and practices of various religions in India. Interpret other religious teachings and to be able to identify the uniqueness of Christianity in Comparison with other Religions. Be sensitive to constructively dialogue with the neighbouring people, not compromising with the exclusiveness and uniqueness of their faith. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION Class Participation 5% Reading Report 20% Main Term Paper/Assignment 15% Final Examination 60% COURSE OUTLINE UNIT I: Introduction to Religion Meaning and Definition of Religion Concept and Origin of Religion Structure and Function of Religion Impact of Religion Characteristics of Primal/Tribal Religions UNIT II: Introduction to Major Religions Hinduism What is Hinduism? Scriptures of Hinduism History of Hinduism Foundation of Hinduism Hindu Philosophy Contemporary Hinduism Islam a) Prophet Muhammad and the Expansion of Islam b) Foundation of Islam c) Pillars of Islam d) Groups within Islam Sikhism a) Guru Nanak and the Emergence of Sikhism b) Khalsa c) Granth Sahib d) Groups within Sikhism Buddhism a) Buddha and the Expansion of Buddhism b) Teachings of Buddhism c) Scriptures of Buddhism d) Groups within Buddhism Jainism a) Origin and Development of Jainism b) Concept of God, Universe and Man c) Jain Rules of Conduct d) Religious Practices of the Jains e) Sects in Jainism BIBLIOGRAPHY Augustus, Christopher. Major Religions in India. New Delhi: ISPCK, 2003. Coogan, Michael D, ed. The Illustrated Guide to World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003. Daniel, P.S, David C. Scott and G. R. Singh, eds. Religious Traditions of India. New Delhi: ISPCK, 2006. Doniger, Windy. On Hinduism. New Delhi: Aleph Book Company, 2013. Lipner, Julius. Hindus: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. London: Routledge, 2010. Neusner, Jacob. Introduction to World Religions. Nashville: Abindgon Press, 2010. Raju, Swami T. Christian Responses to Plurality of Religion. Bangalore: SATHRI, 2006. Silverstein, Adam. Islamic History: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford, 2010.

Text reproduced from 39 MAJOR RELIGIONS.doc. Source credit values, where present, do not establish an individual registration, teaching dates or faculty approval of later changes.