WORLD RELIGIONS – COURSE SYLLABUS
School Year: 2011-2012
Course Name: World Religions
Department: Social Sciences
Credits: 1.0
Instructor: Mr. Baird
Room: Region B lab
Course Description: The students will be presented with a comprehensive, clear and balanced introduction
and guide to the world’s religions, from the earliest forms of worship to today. We will investigate and
evaluate how events, people, economics, politics, government, ideas, philosophy, cultures and geography
affect change in the religious lives and beliefs of the world’s cultures from pre-literate times through today.
PROPOSED CLASS SCHEDULE
UNIT ONE
(weeks 1-2)
The Study of Religion.
~ Our own perspectives
~ Definitions of Religion
~ Origins of Religion
~ The Spiritual and the Physical
UNIT TWO
(weeks 3-6)
Ancient Religions
~ Land of the Aztecs and Incas: America before Columbus.
~ Cradle of Civilization: The Ancient Near-East.
~ Ancient Egypt: Land of the Priest-King.
~ The Cosmic Battle: Zoroastrianism.
~ The Ancient Religions of Greece and Rome
~ The Old Gods: Religions of Northern Europe
~ Nomads of the Steppes.
UNIT THREE (weeks 7-10)
The Primal Religions: World of Spirits (Case Studies)
~ Oceania.
~ The Foe of Papua New Guinea
~ The Aborigines of Australia.
~ The Maoris of New Zealand
~ African Religions: The Luba Epic
~ The Zulu
~ Native North Americans
~ The Andes
UNIT FOUR
(weeks 11-18)
Living Religions of the East
~ The Eternal Teaching: Hinduism
 Roots: The development of Hindu Religion
 Approaches to Truth: The Great Interpreters
 Concepts of Hinduism
 Hindu Worship and the Festivals
~ Religion of the Gurus: The Sikh Faith
~ Respect for all Life: Jainism
~ Courage and Faith: The Parsis
~ The Enlightened One: Buddhism
 Gautama the Buddha in His Setting
 Buddha---Just a Good Hindu?
 The Buddhist Lands
 The Buddha’s Teachings
 From Memory to Writing
 One Goal, Many Paths
D:\106752423.doc
 The Appeal of Buddhism in the West
 Cao Dai and Hoa Hao
~ Sages and Immortals: Chinese Religions
~ A Tapestry of Traditions: Japanese Religions
~ Unity and Peace: The Baha’i Faith
UNIT FIVE
(weeks 19-32)
People of a Book
~ Chosen People: Judaism
 Story of a Nation
 Branches of Judaism
 Developments in Judaism
 The Influence of Judaism
 Life in a Jewish Family
~ Christianity: Christ at the Center
 Jesus
 The New Community of the Church
 Christian Beliefs
 Branches of the Church
 The Bible
 Christian Worship
 Christian Life
~ Islam: The Way of the Prophet
 Muhammad
 The Worship of Islam
 Science, Art and Culture in Islam
 The Unity and Variety in Islam
 Islam in Today’s World
UNIT SIX
(weeks 33-35)
Religion in the Today’s World
~ The Challenge of Secular ideologies
 Western Culture
 Communism and post-Communism
 From Existentialism to Post-Modernism
~ The Spiritual Search
~ A Plural Society
Major Assignments
~ Unit assignments
Throughout each unit
~ 8 Unit Tests
One on each major religious study area.
~ 30 Weekly Quizzes
One most every week.
~ Final Exam
Comprehensive test combining the 8 Unit Tests
Grading Scale
~ Unit Assignments
30%
~ Unit Tests
40%
~ Weekly Quizzes
15%
~ Final Exam
15 %
Classroom Expectations
~ RESPECT: to all people at all times.
~ RESPONSIBILITY: for your attitude, your behavior and your work.
~ PARTICIPATION: you come to learn.
~ Homework is due at the beginning of the class.
~ Unexcused late work will be marked down 10% if turned in within one week and is then marked down 50%
~ No food, drinks (except unflavored water) cell phones, CD players or iPods in class
.
IEP, 504 and ELL students PLEASE see Mr. Baird about modifications particular to you.
D:\106752423.doc