RELIG 202 , Winter 2004
Introduction to World Religions: Eastern Traditions

Syllabus

Course description

This course will survey the major Eastern-originated religions, including Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism (Theravada, Vajrayana, Mahayana), Daoism, Confucianism, and Shinto. It will introduce some of the most influential cults, ideals, praxes and institutions, with special emphasis on those aspects that are directly relevant to to current attitudes and practices. Participants are expected to prepare the readings assigned to each lecture, to answer near-weekly question sheets in preparation for the mid-term and final exams, and to carry out one task, which will be presented in the smaller sessions and written up in a short paper.

Required Readings

William Oxtoby, ed. World Religions: Eastern Traditions. 2d ed. Ontario: Oxford University Press. 2002 Various primary readings on website