World Religions:

An Introduction

In an increasingly multi-cultural and pluralistic society citizens owe it to themselves and to their neighbours to gain an appreciation of the rich religious traditions which have shaped the lives of so many in the Australian and global community. This course seeks to provide students with just that. Giving careful attention to modern sociological analysis of ‘religion' the course will focus on five major historical world faiths: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The history, beliefs, practices and sects of each tradition will be carefully studied with due reflection on the primary texts (‘scriptures') of the faiths. Appropriate to the Australian context, wherein over 70% of the population describes itself as ‘Christian', the course will reflect also on the various ways in which Christianity has responded to the challenge of pluralism.

When & Where Offered

In 2008 this unit will be offered as follows:
Semester 1: Face to Face classes at Macquarie University
Semester 2: Available as an online unit

Lecturers

Dr. John P. Dickson
B.Th. (Hon 1), Moore Theological College, Sydney; Ph.D., Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University.   John holds the position of Honorary Associate in the Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University, and is engaged in continuing research. He is co-drector (with Greg Clarke) of The Centre for Public Christianity.     

Murray Smith
B.A., M.A. Mod. Hist., M.A. ECJS., PhD  Cand.
Murray has a B.A. and M.A. (Honours) in Modern History from Sydney University.  He has also completed his M.A. in Early Christian and Jewish Studies from Macquarie University.  He is currently a PhD Candidate in the Department of Ancient History at Macquarie University working on Early Christian Second Coming Expectation.

Unit Code and Details


IN437 (MCSI 215/315) World Religions: An Introduction
This unit is equivalent to a standard semester unit at advanced level.  For example it is worth:
3 credit points at 200* level towards Maccquarie University undergraduate degrees
4 credit points at 400 level towards Australian College of Theology undergraduate degrees.

For advice on how to credit this subject to other institutions please contact our advisor.

*Note: from January 2008 MCSI units are no longer able to be credited at 300 level towards Macquarie Degree programs.  Students enrolling in this unit will receive 3 credit points at 200 level.

Prerequisites: the equivalent of 6 months (1 semester) full time study (4 subjects) of university level study should be completed before enrolling in this subject.   (Students not meeting this prerequisite can request permission from MCSI Dean to enrol) 

Unit Content /Lecture Topics

1.         What is ‘religion'? The insights of philosophy and sociology.

2.         Hinduism 1: Historical origins of Indian religion up to the time of the Vedas.

3.         Hinduism 2: beliefs, texts and practices of ‘classical' Hinduism.

4.         Buddhism 1: Origins of Buddhism, life of the ‘Buddha' and his relation to Hinduism.

5.         Buddhism 2: beliefs, practices and sects of Buddhism.

6.         Judaism 1: the birth of a ‘nation' and of a religion.

7.         Judaism 2: beliefs, texts and sects of Judaism.

8.         Christianity 1: from Jesus to the New Testament.

9.         Christianity 2: the history and beliefs of the Christian ‘church'. 

10.      Islam 1: Muhammad from Mecca to Medina and back again.

11.      Islam 2: beliefs, practices and sects of Islam.

12.      Religious pluralism as a ‘problem' for Christianity: the challenge of multiple claims.

13.      Jesus as a ‘problem' for religious pluralism: the nature of Christian truth claims.


Assessment             

1.    Seminar participation (includes 1,000 word summary of weekly in-class discussions) (10%)

2.    2,500 word research essay comparing AND contrasting any two of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism.  Reference to primary texts is essential. (50%)

3.    Exam (1.5 hours): Students will be given a selection of scriptural passages from the five course readers. They will choose 3 passages from three different Faiths (one of which must be Christian) and write a brief exposition of the text being careful to explain also how the themes contained in it relate to the broader beliefs of the religion. (40%)


Texts and Readings

A course reader (in 5 parts) is required for this unit.

Suggested further reading (asterisked entries are highly recommended):

Beckerlege, G. (ed.), World Religions Reader (2nd edition). London: Routledge, 2001.

Biardeau, M., Hinduism: the Anthropology of a Civilization. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.

* Bowker, J. (ed.), The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.

Brockington, J. L., The Sacred Thread: Hinduism in its Continuity and Diversity. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1981.

Carter, J. R. and Palihawadana, M. (trans.), The Dhammapada. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Fakhry, M. (Trans.), An Interpretation of the Qur'an: English Translation of the Meanings: A Bilingual Edition. New York: New York University Press, 2004.

* Esposito, J. L., Islam: the Straight Path. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Feuerstein, G. A., Introduction to the Bhagavad-Gita: its Philosophy and Cultural Setting. London: Rider and Company, 1974.

Gotshalk, R., Bhagavad Gita: Translation and Commentary. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1985.

Grabbe, L. L., An Introduction to First Century Judaism: Jewish Religion and History in the Second Temple Period. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1996.

Harvey, P., An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and practices. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990.

Hick, J. and Knitter P. F. (eds), The Myth of Christian Uniqueness. London: SCM Press, 1988.

Hick, J., The Rainbow of Faiths: Critical Dialogues on Religious Pluralism. London: SCM Press, 1995.

* McGrath, A. E., An Introduction to Christianity. Oxford: Blackwell, 1997.

* Neusner, J., The Way of Torah: an Introduction to Judaism (sixth edition). Belmont: Wadsworth, 1997.

Newbigin, L., Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel and Western Culture. Michigan: Eerdmans, 1986.

* Newbigin, L., The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. Michigan: Eerdmans, 1989.

* Rahula, W., What the Buddha Taught (Revised edition with illustrative texts translated from the original Pali). New York: Grove Press, 1974.

Rodinson, R., Muhammad. New York: The New Press, 2002.

Smart, N., Sacred Texts of the World: A Universal Anthology. New York:

Crossroad/Herder, 1984.

* Smart, N., The World's Religions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,

1998.

Stark, R., The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1997.

Sutherland, S. (et al.), The World's Religions (ed. S. et al.). London: Routledge, 1988.

* Taliaferro, C. C., Contemporary Philosophy of Religion: An Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell, 1997.

* Zaehner, R. C., Hinduism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1966.