Details for World Religions: Understanding and Engaging with People of World Religions

This paper provides an overview of the development, practices and beliefs of the world’s religions in order that the contemporary Christian might respond to the cultural and theological challenges they present and engage with their adherents with understanding and respect.

Awards offering World Religions: Understanding and Engaging with People of World Religions

This unit is offered as a part of the following awards:

• Bachelor of Contemporary Ministry

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

This paper provides an overview of the development, practices and beliefs of the world’s religions in order that the contemporary Christian might respond to the cultural and theological challenges they present and engage with their adherents with understanding and respect.

Outcomes

    At the completion of the paper, students will be able to:

1. Describe the theories and approaches to the academic study of religion.
2. Describe the historical development, practices, institutions and cultures expressions of a number of world religious traditions.
3. Summarize beliefs and practices common to Maori religion.
4. Relate knowledge and world religious traditions to social and vocational settings.
5. Critique effective Christian approaches to world religions.
6. Explain theoretical issues in defining and describing living world religions
7. Justify the value of understanding world religions in Contemporary multicultural societies

Subject Content

1.   The Characteristics and Function of Religion in Society

2.   An Evangelical Theology of Religions

3.   Primal and Tribal Religions

4.   Judaism

5.   Islam: Its historical development and practices

6.   Islam: Its beliefs

7.   Islam: Field Trip to a Mosque

8.   Hinduism

9. Buddhism: Its Development into Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism

10. Buddhism: Beliefs; Tibetan Buddhism

11. Eastern Religions: Taoism, Confucianism

12. Eastern Religions: Shintoism

13. Maori Traditional Religion

14. New Religious Movements

This course may be offered in the following formats

Face to face, Intensive, online

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis College.

Assessment Methods

Forum Postings,(2500 words), Interview Report (1500 words), Major Essay (2500 words)

Prescribed Text

Readings on Moodle

Representative References

Berkwitz, Stephen C. ed. Buddhism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2006.

Charfi, Abdelmadjid, et al., Islam: Between Message and History. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2010.

Charlesworth, Max, Francoise Dussart, and Howard Morphy, eds. Aboriginal Religions in Australia: An Anthology of Recent Writings. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing, 2005.

Cioccolanti, S. From Buddha to Jesus: An Insider’s view of Buddhism and Christianity. Toronto: Monarch Books, 2010.

de Lange, Nicolas and Miri Freud-Kandel, eds. Modern Judaism: An Oxford Guide. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Durkheim, Emile. The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life. New York: Free Press, 1915 (various modern editions).

England John C. et al. Asian Christian Theologies: A Research Guide to Authors, Movements, Sources. Delhi: ISPCK, 2002-2004.

Gwynne, P. World Religions in Practice: A Comparative Introduction. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 2009.

Oxtoby, Willard G. and Roy C. Amore et al eds. A Concise Introduction to World Religions. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Rommen, Edward. Christianity and the Religions. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 1995.

Rosen, Steven. Essential Hinduism. London: Praeger, 2006.

Young, William A. The World’s Religions: Worldviews and Contemporary Issues. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2009.

Journals:

Buddhist-Christian Studies

International Bulletin of Missionary Research

Journal of Asian Studies

Journal of Contemporary Religion

Journal of Ecumenical Studies

Journal of Religion

Oceania