Learning Smart

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Course Description:

The goal of this course is to enable students to develop an understanding of religious belief and its development over human experience.

The study of world religions is an integral part of understanding individuals, countries, and nations. Many concepts in religion can be abstract. Consequently, an effort has been made to create a course that simplifies the task at hand: teaching world religions in a manner that communicates abstract concepts in historical context with an understanding of diversity and sensitivity to individual beliefs.

The study of each religion is shaped according to seven dimensions outline by Ninian Smart. The dimensions are listed in the sections below. For each religion, knowledge of major developments that illustrate or link the seven dimensions of religious experience is expected.

This course also places a significant emphasis on the philosophy of ethics, focusing on the western tradition. The course will take a chronological journey through western ethical thinkers (from Plato to Post-modernism), and then approach ethics through topical issues. Each major world religion addresses ethical issues, and this course will identify the different frameworks proposed by philosophies and theologies for approaching ethical decisions.

By providing an engaging and rigorous course it is hoped that the students will develop the background knowledge to help them understand the complexities of their world and an appreciation for cultures other than their own.

Dimensions:

1. Practical and ritual dimension (formal behaviors and actions)
2. Experiential and emotional dimension (religious experiences)
3. Narrative or Mythic dimension. (stories and scriptures).
4. Doctrinal and philosophical dimension (beliefs and scriptures).
5. Ethical and legal dimension (laws, conditions and ethical frameworks)
6. Social and institutional dimension (organizations, and people).
7. Material dimension (buildings, art, creations, natural world)

Habits of Mind:

• Constructing and evaluating arguments: using evidence to make plausible arguments.

• Using documents and other primary data: developing the skills necessary to analyze point of view, context, and bias, and to understand and interpret information.
• Developing the ability to assess issues of change and continuity over time.
• Enhancing the capacity to handle diversity of interpretations through analysis of context, bias, and frame of reference.

Required Texts:

1. Text (provided by school): Elwood, Robert and McGraw, Barbara. Many Peoples, Many Faiths, 8rd ed. New Jersey, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2005.
2. Text (for reference): Smart, Ninian. The World’s Religions, 2nd ed. Cambridge, UK: CUP, 1998
3. Other texts and readings will be given during the year.

Supplies & Learning Materials:

• Supplies : Pen, pencil, bound notebook required. Colored pencils, highlighters, scissors, glue optional.
• Learning materials: Professional e-mail address. Internet access at home, library or school.
• A flash drive (optional, but recommended).

Course Outline:

This course relies upon a chronological and geographic approach. For first quarter a sequential approach is employed. Towards the end of 1st quarter, a geographic approach is added. At this point the study of world religions is divided into eastern and western with Mesopotamia being the dividing line. Under the development of western religions a study of Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are included. Under the development of the eastern religions a study of Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Sikhism, Shinto, and religions of Korea and Japan are included. Although this is only one approach, by taking a geographic perspective, religions with similar history and features are automatically grouped. Additionally, the study of religions benefits from an approach that considers the three fundamental features of religions: theoretical, practical, and sociological.

Quarter	Religions	Ethics
1st	Intro to Religions Classical Polytheism TheWestern Tradition: Zoroastrianism Judaism	History of Western Ethics
2nd	The Western Tradition (ctd): Christianity Islam	Topics in Ethics
3rd	The Eastern Tradition (South Asia) Hinduism Buddhism Sikhism	Topics in Ethics
4th	The Eastern Tradition (East Asia) Daoism Confucianism Shinto Modern Religions	Topics in Ethics

Topics covered each quarter are stated following Howard County guidelines but may change due to instructional needs.