M7340
Course Unit Outline
Unit Code
M7340
Unit Name
Christian Perspectives on World Religions
Unit Weighting
9 credit points
Type of Unit
Specialised
Prerequisites, corequisites:
18 credit points from Theology units or 9 credit points from Theology units plus 9 credit points from
Missions units.
Academic Staff
Patricia Harrison PhD (UQ); M Div, ThM, MA (Intercultural Studies) (Fuller); MSt (Oxon); M Ed St
(TESOL) UNISA; BA Hons, Dip Ed, Grad Dip Multicultural Ed, Grad Dip Aboriginal Ed (UNE); MACE.
Curriculum Objectives
This course presents information on the major world religions and explores Christian perspectives on these
religions.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit students will be able to:
1. explain the characteristics and functions of religion in society, and explore the relationship of major
religions to the cultures and societies from which they emerged;
2. outline the history, beliefs, and practices of several world religions, comparing and contrasting these with
Christian beliefs and practices;
3. construct a Christian theological approach to other religions that includes respect for alternative belief
systems, and willingness, where appropriate, to learn from their insights;
4. evaluate strategies for dialogue and for sharing the Christian Gospel with adherents of the religions
studied;
5. apply knowledge and strategies learned in this unit to interaction with and ministry among adherents
of other faiths.
Threshold concept to be acquired in this unit
Avoiding caricatures of other faiths
Sometimes adherents of one faith can succumb to caricatures of another. To avoid overly negative and
simplistic caricatures there are several things to bear in mind as we approach the study of other faiths:
 Christianity has many denominations and individual expressions, and not all who claim to be Christians
live exemplary lives. The same is true of other faith communities. We should not think of a religion as a
monolithic structure or judge a whole religion by some who behave badly.
 In most religions there is a considerable difference between popular ‘folk religion’ and the sophisticated
philosophical and literary traditions passed down through the centuries by educated religious specialists
such as monks and priests.
 While affirming the uniqueness of Christianity and obeying the call to proclaim the Gospel, we must
respect people of other faiths and their search for truth. If we believe in general revelation, we will be alert
to signs of God’s activity among adherents of other religions.
Content
1. Introduction: definitions and characteristics of religion; functions of religion in society; religion and
multiculturalism in Australia or New Zealand.
2. Religion and politics on the world scene; fundamentalisms, religion and terrorism;
3. Christian Perspectives on other religions; Uniqueness of Christianity in a pluralistic world;
4. Primal religion: General characteristics; the influence of primal religion on popular theology and
practice in most major religions; Traditional Aboriginal or Maori religion.
5. An overview of the history, cultural contexts, beliefs and practices of the following religions, with a
study of selections from sacred texts:
a. Hinduism, a league of religions;
b. Buddhism: Theravada and Mahayana
c. Traditional Chinese religions: Buddhism,d Taoism, Confucian philosophy
d. Islam: Sunni and Shia
6. Introduction to Inter-religious dialogue
7. Christian ministry among people of other faiths
8. According to context of the institution and student interest, some attention may also be given to other
faiths, e.g Judaism, Sikhism, Jainism, Shinto, etc
Learning Activities
A mix of at least several of the following, depending on unit delivery mode:
Lectures; Power Point presentations; Reading; Small Group discussions or projects; Viewing and discussing
relevant DVDs, films, video clips or TV programs; Tutorials (in class or online), Library and Internet
research; Problem-Based Learning; Bible studies; Field Research; Individual or Class Excursions; Interviews;
Guest Speakers; Podcasts.
Required Specialist Facilities or Equipment
Belief systems cannot be adequately studied from books alone. If possible, students should meet with
adherents of other faiths, and visit at least one place of worship, shrine, religious festival, etc., in their own
area.
Assessment Profile
Assessments tasks are designed both to help students attain the unit outcomes and to enable teachers to
assess student attainment. In this unit, assessment of student achievement with respect to the Unit Outcomes
will be based on:
1. A report on a visit (individual or small group to a place of worship, festival, etc., of another religion,), or
on an interview with an adherent of another faith. (This is intended to be a learning experience, not an
evangelistic exercise.) Paper, seminar, forum post, Power Point presentation, etc.). Reports should explain
what students learned from the experience, how it has influenced their theological perspective on that
religion, and how what they learned would affect a missional approach to adherents of that faith. [Outcomes
2, 3, 4 and 5]
2. Comparison and contrast of aspects of Christian beliefs and practices with those of another religion, in the
context of dialogue or mission. E.g. essay or seminar presentation. (The student would normally choose a
different religion from that chosen for assessment 1 above.) [Outcomes 1, 2, 4 and 5]
3. A comprehensive assessment task covering key unit content, including prescribed reading.
E.g. exam, test, a set of short-answer questions based on lectures and reading; literature review, annotated
bibliography, etc. [Outcomes 1, 2, 4 and 5 – and optionally Outcome 3]
4. a) Construction of a personal theological approach to other religions, e.g. short paper, forum post or class
presentation. [Outcome 3]
or
b) Exposition of portion of a sacred text, or of a particular doctrine or practice of another religion. (Paper,
seminar, or etc.) [Outcome 2]
Representative References
1. Aslan, Alice. Islamophobia in Australia. Sydney, NSW: Agora Press, 2009.
2. Bilimoria, Purushottama. The Hindus and Sikhs in Australia. Canberra, ACT : Australian Government
Publishing Service, 1996.
3. Burke, Thomas Patrick, 1934-. The Major Religions: an Introduction with Texts. Malden, MA. : Blackwell, 1996.
4. Burnett, David. World of the Spirits: A Christian Perspective on Traditional Folk Religions. Monarch Books, 2005.
5. “Declaration of the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions - Nostra Aetate” in Abbott, W.M.
(ed.) Documents of Vatican II. (Angelus Books) NY: Guild Press et al.1966.
6. Hinnells, John R. (ed.) The Penguin Dictionary of Religions. (2nd edn.) Penguin Books, 2003.
7. Kung, Hans, 1928-. Tracing the way: Spiritual Dimensions of the World Religions. London : Continuum, 2002
8. Marty, Martin and Appleby, R Scott. (eds.) The Fundamentalism Project. Multiple volumes. University of
Chicago Press.
9. Muck, Terry. Christianity Encountering World Religions: the Practice of Mission in the Twenty-first Century. Grand
Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009.
10. Parshall, Phil. Bridges to Islam: A Christian Perspective. Authentic, 2007.
11. Partridge, Christopher (ed.) The New Lion Handbook: the World’s Religions. (3rd edition) Oxford: Lion
Hudson, 2007.
12. Volf, Miroslav. A Common Word:: Muslims and Christians on Loving God and Neighbor. Grand Rapids :
Eerdmans
Also Various editions of sacred books of other religions