RELI448 2020 MAY Full Course Latest

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 1 Discussion

The Study of Religion

Textbook: Chapter 1

Initial Post Instructions

Choose one of the following psychological views of religion: Freud, James, or Jung. Briefly describe this theory. Defend this theory as an explanation as to the origin of religions.

 

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 2 Discussion

Upanishads

Textbook: Chapter 3

Link (online PDF): The Upanishads (Links to an external site.) (Skim the first few chapters or locate a specific section in the table of contents. You are not responsible to read the entire text.)

Minimum of 1 scholarly source

Initial Post Instructions

For the initial post, respond to one of the following options:

Identify and describe one of the five (Brahman and Atman, Maya, Karma, Samsara, Moksha) key concepts from the Upanishads. Examine these teachings and the way they have influenced other expressions of Indian spirituality. Make sure your response is supported with quotes from the Upanishads and citations from scholarly sources.

Choose one of the 4 Yogas. Define this path to the Divine, using examples. How does this path help to lead a person to realization? Why did you choose this path to discuss?

 

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 3 Discussion

Buddhism

Textbook: Chapter 4

For the initial post, respond to one of the following options:

Define Theravada and Mahayana. Describe the Arhat and the Bodhisattva. Explain how each achieves the goal of nirvana. Examine how they relate to some of the key concepts/teachings (e.g., the Four Noble Truths, the three marks of reality).

Many scholars feel that "suffering" may be a misleading translation of the word dukkha. Why might the term suffering be misleading? What might be a better translation? What was the Buddha trying to explain in his commentary on dukkha?

 

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 4 Discussion

Chinese Religion:

Textbook: Chapter 6

For the initial post, respond to one of the following options:

Define the Confucian terms: ren, yi, li, zhi, and xin. Choose one of these principles and examine how it contributes to social harmony.

What is wuwei? How does this ideal contribute to harmony with heaven? How does the Daoist idea of wuwei compare to Confucian notions of how one should live in the world?

 

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 5 Discussion

Judaism

Textbook: Chapter 8

For the initial post, respond to one of the following options:

From the following terms, choose two: Orthodox Judaism, Hassidic Judaism, Reform Judaism, and Conservative Judaism. Briefly define these two terms, then explain their relationship to one another. How are they similar, and how are they different? What lead to their development?

The destruction of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem marks a major shift in the history and character of Judaism. What characterizes Jewish practice before the destruction of the 2nd Temple, and what characterizes Jewish practice after the Temple's destruction? How are these practices different? What was maintained?.

 

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 6 Discussion

The Role and Identity of the Messiah

Textbook: Chapter 9

For the initial post, respond to one of the following options:

What was the Jewish conception of the Messiah and how does the Christian understanding of the Messiah differ? What were the Jewish people expecting from their Messiah? How did Jesus’ teachings challenge these views?

What are some of the issues facing Christianity in 21st century America? How is American Christianity responding to these challenges (adapting/resisting)?

Make sure you are citing scholarly sources in your response.

.

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 7 Discussion

Islamic Belief and Practice

Textbook: Chapter 10

For the initial post, respond to one of the following options:

List and briefly describe the Five Pillars of Islam. Select one of the pillars to examine in more in depth. How do Muslims express this pillar? How do Sufis express this pillar differently from other Muslims? Explain why you choose this particular pillar.

Define Sunni and Shia. Choose one of these two forms of Islam and explain their core beliefs in greater detail, including their history, countries where this form of Islam is practiced, and sub-sects within each branch. Conclude with a brief analysis about the ways in which these two school's differences continue to influence Islamic culture and politics in the modern world.

 

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 8 Discussion

Contemporary Religions

Textbook: Chapter 12

For the initial post, address all of the following:

What are some of the challenges facing major religious traditions in the modern world? As nurses, what are some of the particular issues that you might encounter with patients regarding the intersection of faith and healthcare (see the Science and Ethical Issues section of Chapter 12; you can address one or more of the issues noted in this section)? How might the material covered in this course affect the way in which you respond to these concerns?

Select one of the topics from Chapter 12 listed under Modern Influences on the Future of Religion and examine how modern religious traditions are dealing with these contemporary challenges. If you identify with a particular religious tradition, how has your religious tradition responded to the topic you have chosen? Make sure that you support your answer.

 

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 1 Assignment  

Perspectives Essay

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 1

Lesson

Minimum of 2 scholarly sources (1 for the etic view, and 1 for the emic view. Your source for the emic view should come from someone who writes with authority in the religion you chose. For example, if you chose Buddhism, you could use a quotation from His Holiness, Dalai Lama XIV).

Instructions

Make sure to read the lesson this week to learn about etic and emic perspectives so that you can appropriately apply them in this assignment. In an essay, apply the etic and emic perspectives to your own religion or a religion with which you have some familiarity.

How would your tradition be described etically? Remember that this is an outsider’s perspective of what can be measured, studied, or observed.

How would it be described emically? Remember that this is an insider’s perspective as seen by practitioners

Make sure that you are using at least one source for each approach and include citations from the assigned readings and additional scholarly sources.

Writing Requirements (APA format)

Length: 350-500 words (not including title page or references page)

1-inch margins

Double spaced

12-point Times New Roman font

Title page

References page (minimum of 1 scholarly source)

 

 

 

 

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 3 Assignment  

Comparison-Contrast Essay

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 4

Lesson

Minimum of 4 scholarly sources (at least 2 for Hinduism & 2 for Buddhism)

Instructions

Select one of the following pairs and compare and contrast these ideas in the religious traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism:

Self/No-self

Samsara/Nirvana

Karma/Rebirth

Your paper should include an introduction and thesis that clearly states your central claim, thoughtful examples and analysis in your body paragraphs, and a conclusion to finalize your thoughts.

Writing Requirements (APA format)

Length: 1200-1400 words (not including title page or references page)

1-inch margins

Double spaced

12-point Times New Roman font

Title page

References page (minimum of 4 scholarly sources)

 

 

 

 

 

 

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 5 Assignment  

Interview Essay

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Review chapters as needed

Lesson

Link (library article): Talking About Religion - How to Do It Right (Links to an external site.)

Minimum of 1 scholarly source

Instructions

For this assignment you are required to sit down for a conversation with someone whose religious identity differs from your own (this means that if you identify as Christian, for example, you should find a conversation partner who does not identify as such). The purpose of this exercise is for you to engage with someone else in conversation. That means that you will not only ask questions, but you will hopefully answer questions about your own beliefs, as well.

Review the article for this activity, "Talking About Religion – How to Do It Right" (link in Required Resources), for some guidance on how to engage in conversations about religion before meeting with your partner. You may also wish to share this information with your partner.

In this exercise, you will listen to the ideas of someone who you identify as religiously "other." You will share your own ideas and report on what you learned. This would include what you learned about your conversation partner's beliefs, and how those beliefs compare to your own religious upbringing and/or current practice.

The report should give a description of the major topics of discussion and a detailed summary of what you learned. As part of your assignment you should include the following:

Describe your conversation partner's beliefs. Some things to consider include the following:

What are the material expressions of their tradition (statues, paintings, music, etc.)?

Do they see any conflict between the stated beliefs of their tradition and their own beliefs?

Based on your partner's description, which theory of the origin of religions (Week 1) offers the best explanation for their approach to religion?

What challenges can your partner identify that their religious tradition faces in the modern world? Do they feel that their tradition is responding positively?

Is the tradition focused on belief (orthodoxy) or behavior (orthopraxis)?

Apply the 8 elements of religion from Week 1.

Provide some cultural and historical context for the religious tradition of your conversation partner. (It is important that you do some research before you have your conversation so that you are able to ask informed questions that come from genuine interest.) Make sure you use citations in your discussion of what you learned from your research.

Compare your partner’s beliefs and practices to your own religious upbringing and/or current practice. This is to be done in the report not as a debate with your partner.

Conclude with your personal reaction to this experience and any additional questions that came up after your conversation. Be kind!

This is a formal academic paper so pay careful attention to the basics of writing a good English composition.

Writing Requirements (APA format)

Length: 1000-1200 words (not including title page or references page)

1-inch margins

Double spaced

12-point Times New Roman font

Title page

References page (minimum of 1 scholarly source)

 

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 7 Assignment  

Analytical Essay

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 8, 9, 10

Lesson

Minimum of 6 scholarly sources (at least 2 for Judaism, 2 for Christianity, & 2 for Islam)

Please review criteria for scholarly sources.

Instructions

In a short essay, complete the following:

Explain the historical relationship between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. What are their geographical connections? What are their historical timelines?

Analyze the historical relationship between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in order to make an argument about the similarities and differences between the three religions. Select one main example from the following list on which to focus your comparison: the nature of God, the nature of Jesus, Holy Books, or Salvation. Your analysis should span multiple paragraphs and utilize specific examples.

Conclude by examining the current relationship between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam today. How has globalization influenced or affected the current relationship?

Your paper should include an introduction and thesis that clearly states your central claim, thoughtful examples and analysis in your body paragraphs, and a conclusion to finalize your thoughts.

Writing Requirements (APA format)

Length: 1200-1400 words (not including title page or references page)

1-inch margins

Double spaced

12-point Times New Roman font

Title page

References page (minimum of 6 scholarly sources)

 

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 2 Quiz   

Question 1Monotheism is the view that:

  There is only one God.

  Everything in the universe is divine.

  All elements of nature are filled with spirits.

  The existence of God cannot be proven.

Question 2Agnosticism is the view that:

  The existence of God cannot be proven.

  All elements of nature are filled with spirits.

  There is no God or gods.

  Everything in the universe is divine.

Question 3The term immanent implies that the Divine is:

  Extant primarily in a realm beyond the everyday world.

  Present in the immediate, natural world.

  Only found after death.

  Completely inaccessible.

Question 4The theory that religion is exerts a positive influence on the lives of individuals, helping to fulfill psychological needs like a feeling of safety and of having a place in the universe, is attributed to:

  William James

  Sigmund Freud

  Rudolf Otto

  Carl Jung

 Question 5The theory that the religious impulse arises from the encounter with something that disturbs our ordinary view of reality, creating a sense of wonder or mystery, is attributed to:

  Sigmund Freud

  William James

  Carl Jung

  Rudolf Otto

 Question 6The approach to religious experience that seeks union with a reality greater than oneself, such as with God, the process of nature, the universe, or reality as a whole, is called:

  Dualism

  Monism

  Mysticism

  Monotheism

 Question 7All of the following are examples of characteristic emotional experiences of religions except:

  Dread

  Inner Peace

  Guilt

  Pride

 Question 8Derived from the words for “sitting near,” these texts record insights into external and internal realities:

  The Upanishads

  The Vedas

  The Sutras

  The Bhagavad Gita

 Question 9The parable of salt being dissolved in water is used to describe which concept of Indic religions?

  Karma

  Moksha

  Brahman

  Samsara

 Question 10The Hindu deity associated with creation is:

  Brahma

  Vishnu

  Shiva

  Ganesha

 Question 11

All of the following are forms of the Divine Mother except:

  Durga

  Kali

  Lakshmi

  Ganesha

 Question 12The yoga that proposes that all useful work, if done unselfishly, can be a way to perfection is called:

  Bhakti Yoga

  Jnana Yoga

  Karma Yoga

  Raja Yoga

 Question 13The practice of ahimsa (non-violence) is part of which aspect of Hindu meditation?

  Observance (niyama)

  Restraint (pratyahara)

  Posture (asana)

  Self-control (yama)

 Question 14The goddess __________ is often shown with fanged teeth, dripping blood, a symbol of the fierceness with which she protects her devotees.

  Lakshmi

  Saraswati

  Kali

  Radha

 Question 15The act of looking into the eyes of a guru in order to experience the divine energy that the teacher radiates is called:

  Karma

  Moksha

  Darshan

  Siddhi

 

 

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 4 Midterm Quiz   

Question 1A worldview that sees all elements of nature as being filled with spirit or spirits is called:

  Animism

  Polytheism

  Atheism

  Pantheism

Question 2If the Divine is seen as being beyond space and time, it is:

  Animistic

  Polytheistic

  Transcendent

  Immanent

Question 3A technique that sets aside ordinary categories of analysis and makes use, instead, of unexpected perspectives on cultural elements is:

  Deconstruction

  Structuralism

  Construction

  Dualism

Question 4

All of the following are used as symbolic forms of the female divine except:

  The moon

  A snake

  Water

  A lightning bolt

Question 5The female divine is an important element in the religions of India. Which of the following is not a form of the goddess in Hinduism?

  Saraswati

  Shiva

  Kali

  Durga

Question 6The spiritual essence of all human beings is called:

  Brahman

  Atman

  Moksha

  Anatman

Question 7Which of the following is not one of the 4 Life Stages of Hinduism?

  Student

  Business Owner

  Renunciate

  Retiree

Question 8True or False: The presence of female divinities means that women have always enjoyed equality and fair treatment in the religious traditions of India.

  True

  False

Question 9Ritual offerings in honor of a deity are called:

  Puja

  Yoga

  Renunciation

  Caste

Question 10The spiritual discipline of devotion to a deity or a teacher is called:

  Karma yoga

  Bhakti yoga

  Jnana yoga

  Raja yoga

Question 11The spiritual discipline of knowledge or insight is called:

  Karma yoga

  Jnana yoga

  Bhakti yoga

  Raja yoga

Question 12The Buddha who is expected to appear on Earth in the future is:

  Maitreya

  Amitabha

  Guanyin

  Shakyamuni

Question 13This term means non-violence:

  Anatta

  Anicha

  Bodhi

  Ahimsa

Question 14A question, employed in Zen Buddhism, that cannot be answered logically is called a:

  Koan

  Haiku

  Stupa

  Sutra

Question 15A sacred text that records the words of the Buddha is called a:

  Vinaya

  Abhidharma

  Sutra

  Stupa

Question 16The approach to Buddhism that rejects the personal quest for enlightenment, instead embracing the idea that enlightenment must be universally shared by all sentient beings is called:

  Theravada

  Bhakti

  Mahayana

  Dukkha

Question 17A book of sayings attributed to Confucius and his early disciples is the:

  Yijing

  Analects

  Daodejing

  Zhuangzi

Question 18The classical literature, which preceded Confucianism, and upon which Confucius based many of his teachings, is called:

  Daodejing

  Analects

  Five Classics

  Zhuangzi

Question 19Doing only what comes spontaneously and naturally is called:

  Ren

  Li

  Wu wei

  Yang 

Question 20Confucius believed that the virtues:

  Would lead to harmonious society.

  Must be learned and nurtured.

  Defined a noble person.

  All of the above.

Question 21Compare and contrast a psychological view of religion (Freud, Jung, or James) with a sociological point of view (Durkheim or Levi-Strauss). Defend one of the two theories you selected as a better explanation for the origin of religions.

 

RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 6 Quiz   

Question 1Biblical Judaism refers to Judaism that:

Predates the destruction of the Second Temple

Follows the destruction of the Second Temple

Is led by teachers called Rabbis

Encourages the creation of the nation-state of Israel

Question 2Which of the following is not a form of Judaism?

Conservative Judaism

Orthodox Judaism

Revisionist Judaism

Reform Judaism

Question 3A coming-of-age ceremony that marks the time when a young person is considered a legal adult within the Jewish community is called:

Bar (Bat) Mitzvah

Sabbath

Tallit

Midrash

Question 4Jewish mysticism and Jewish mystical literature is called:

Tanakh

Midrash

Kabbalah

Covenant

Question 5The Jewish Day of Atonement is called:

Passover

Yom Kippur

Sukkot

Rosh Hashanah

Question 6True or False: Moses Maimonides argued that Judaism was a rational religion and that faith and reason were complimentary.

True

False

Question 7Jewish history is divided into two major periods, which are then each divided into two additional periods. The event that marks the transition from the first major period to the second is:

The Holocaust

The Babylonian Exile

The destruction of the Second Temple

The establishment of the State of Israel following the Second World War

Question 8Key events in Moses’ life included all of the following except:

Early years as the adopted son of Egyptian royalty

The revelation of the 10 Commandments

The Babylonian Exile

The Exodus

Question 9The belief that the world will soon come to an end is called:

Destructionism

Evangelism

Apocalypticis

Fundamentalism

Question 10In 1054 CE, the Great Schism divided the Roman church from the Church in Constantinople. All of the following were contributing factors in the split except:

A disagreement about the sale of indulgences

The growing power of the Bishop of Rome, and the claim that he was the head of all Christians

The inclusion, by the Roman Church, of the term filioque in the Nicene Creed

Cultural differences between the East and the West

Question 11All of the following are forms of Protestant Christianity except:

The Greek Orthodox Church

Lutheranism

Calvinism

The Quakers

Question 12Which of the following is not a Gospel of the New Testament?

John

Paul

Luke

Matthew

Question 13Martin Luther’s reforms included:

An end to the sale of indulgences

The removal of the term filioque from the Nicene Creed

The acceptance of the doctrine of predestination

The rejection of a dependence on ordained clergy

Question 14Dialogue between Christian denominations is called:

Evangelism

Ecumenism

Sectarianism

Orthodoxy

Question 15The Second Vatican Council included which of the following reforms:

It permitted liturgy in native languages

It endorsed ecumenism

It opened the church to respectful contact with other religions

All of the above

 RELI448 Comparative Religions

Week 8 Final Quiz   

Question 1 A common element often found in religions is:

respect for sculpture.

feelings of wonder.

rules governing meditation.

use of permanent places of worship.

Question 2 The position that argues that we cannot know whether there is a god or not is known as:

monotheism.

polytheism.

atheism.

agnosticism.

Question 3 Who was the American psychologist who viewed religion as a positive way of fulfilling needs and praised its positive influence on the lives of individuals?

James Frazer

Carl Gustav Jung

Sigmund Freud

William James

Question 4 Who was the Scottish anthropologist and author of The Golden Bough who saw the origins of religion in early attempts by human beings to influence nature and who identified religion as an intermediate stage between magic and science?

James Frazer

Rudolf Otto

William James

Wilhelm Schmidt

Question 5 What is the name of the Austrian ethnographer and philologist who argued that all humankind once believed in a single High God and that to this simple monotheism later beliefs in lesser gods and spirits were added?

James Frazer

William James

Wilhelm Schmidt

Carl Gustav Jung

Question 6 One feature that probably contributed to the rich developments in Hinduism was which of the following?

the constant invasions of India by foreigners

the frequent floods and fires across India

India's isolation from other areas

India's extensive natural resources

Question 7 (TCO 8) "Liberation" from personal limitation, egotism, and rebirth is:

satyagraha.

ahimsa.

maya.

moksha.

Question 8 Hinduism, as formulated in the Upanishads,

encourages meditation to understand the essence of reality.

says we must honor our social obligations and roles.

rejected the authority of the Vedas in formulating new religious insights.

advocates devotion to any of the many gods.

Question 9 Which of the following is not formally one of the 4 yogas?

jnana yoga

karma yoga

kundalini yoga

raja yoga

Question 10 The Buddha's name comes from a Sanskrit word meaning:

Spirit warrior

Middle path

To wake up

The teacher

Question 11 Buddha was silent on questions about:

suffering.

greed.

meditation.

philosophy.

Question 12 The Chinese word for "propriety," savoir faire, "ritual" is:

Ren (jen).

Wen.

Shu.

Li.

Question 13 Confucius taught that people are:

not born good but must be taught goodness.

naturally good and should be left alone.

individuals first and members of a society second.

selfish and need strict laws to control them.

Question 14 Which of the following is not a Daoist value?

Simplicity

Spontaneity

Sensing movements of nature

Formal education

Question 15 In Zhuangzi's (Chuang Tzu's) famous dream, he was not certain that he was not:

Confucius.

an ox.

a butterfly.

a Daoist.

Question 16 Which of the following is not one of the five relationships of Confucianism?

Father-son

Husband-wife

Business owner-customer

Ruler-subject

Question 17 Taoism does not have this element of a major world religion.

An overall worldview of the universe

Myths about the origin of the universe

A shared religious community

Specific rules of human behavior

Question 18 The Hebrews trace themselves to an ancestor named:

Adam.

Abraham.

Moses.

Amos.

Question 19 A savior figure to be sent by God to bring in God's kingdom is the:

King.

Suffering Servant.

Messiah.

Prophet.

Question 20 A joyful spring festival that recalls the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt and freedom from oppression is:

Yom Kippur.

Passover (Seder).

Purim.

Hanukkah.

Question 21 Jesus sometimes summed up his teachings in:

ten commandments.

one commandment.

two commandments.

five commandments.

Question 22 Letters written in the New Testament to instruct, encourage, and solve problems are called:

Gospels.

Epistles.

Acts.

Revelations.

Question 23 Muhammad's job before he became the Prophet was as a:

merchant.

date grower.

caravan driver.

camel breeder.

Question 24 What is the word for a pilgrimage to Mecca?

Hajj

Dhikr

 Hadith

Sura

Question 25 The ___________ is the single sentence, when recited with belief, that makes a person a Muslim.

Salat

Shahadah

Ramadan

Hajj

Question 26 Identify and analyze the Four Noble Truths, in particular, the Noble Eightfold Path. What ideas from Hinduism did Buddhism essentially keep? Describe them. Include enough details to support your answer.

Question 27 Compare and contrast a psychological view of religion (Freud, Jung, or James) with a sociological point of view (Durkheim or Levi-Strauss). Defend one of the two theories you selected as a better explanation for the origin of religions.