RELI 2 Comparative World Religions (Winter 2016)

SID# 854122; J. Wayne Bass, Instructor

Who was the Buddha? What are the historical facts surrounding the life and message of Jesus? What do we really mean when we say that someone is “religious”? What effect(s) does religion actually have on people’s actions and thoughts?

RELI 2 serves as an introduction to the comparative study of the historical, social, and cultural phenomenon we call religion. We will draw upon a wide variety of primary and secondary sources including texts, films, art, music, and interviews. We will be looking at five world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Although we will explore the historical roots of these traditions, our primary emphasis will be on beliefs and practices in the modern world. We will explore everything from modern Buddhist meditation movements to snake handling church services in the Appalachian Mountains. We will spend a good deal of time analyzing the relationship between these modern manifestations of religion and their historical underpinnings. Your work in this course will also include ethnographic research, wherein you go out into the world and apply what you are learning. You will interview a practitioner and visit a religious center for one or more religions that you are interested in learning more about. The class will challenge you to appreciate your own traditions and beliefs while noting similarities and differences with others.