Code
Undergraduate: DM3067W (Unit offered alternatively as: AR3067W)
Postgraduate: DM9067W (Unit offered alternatively as AR9067W)
Postgraduate: DM9067W (Unit offered alternatively as AR9067W)
Level
Undergraduate and Postgraduate
Discipline
Missiology (DM)
Field
Theology: Mission and Ministry (D)
Prerequisites
Nil
Location
Whitley College view location >
Faculty
Ian Dicks view profile >
Class Time
Three hours per week, including site visits to temples, shrines and places of worship.
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Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:
Undergraduate
- describe historical developments of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Confucianism/Daoism and selected Indigenous Religions;
- describe the key figures of each religion and their significance for religious adherents;
- analyse the central beliefs and practices of each religion;
- assess the place and importance of the sacred texts for each religion;
- compare ‘popular’ beliefs and practices of adherents with ‘formal’ beliefs and practices in each religion; and
- discuss potential bridges and barriers for conversation, Christian witness and dialogue.
Postgraduate
- describe historical development of the Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Confucianism/Daoism, and selected Indigenous Religions;
- describe the key figures of each religion and evaluate their significance for religious adherents;
- analyse the central beliefs and practices of each religion;
- assess the place and importance of the sacred texts for each religion;
- compare ‘popular’ beliefs and practices of adherents with ‘formal’ beliefs and practices in each religion;
- investigate possible barriers and obstacles for conversation, Christian witness and dialogue; and
- compare beliefs and practices in each religion that are also prevalent in Judea/Christian Scriptures and tradition.
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Assessment
Undergraduate
- Four summaries/overviews on each religion (each 500 words) (40%)
- Review of selected reading (1,000 words) (20%)
- Essay on a selected religion (2,000 words) (40%)
Postgraduate
- Four summaries/overviews of selected religions (total 2,500 words) (30%)
- Review of selected reading (1,250 words) (20%)
- Essay (4,000 words) (40%)
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Recommended reading
- Denny, Frederick M. An Introduction to Islam. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2010.
- Dowley, Tim. Introduction to World Religions, ed. C. Partridge, 4th ed. Oxford: Lion, 2014.
- Farhadian, Charles, E. Introducing World Religions: A Christian Engagement. Grand Rapids, Baker Book House, 2015.
- Gardener, D. K. Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.
- Keown, Damien. Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.
- Knott, Tim. Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.
- Mbiti, John. Introduction to African Religion. London: Heinemann, 1975.
- Nesbitt, Eleanor, Sikhism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.
- Smith, Huston. The World’s Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions. New York: Harper Collins. 1991.
Set texts recommended for purchase:
- Hinnells, John R., ed. The Penguin Handbook of the World’s Living Religions. London: Penguin, 2010.
- Morris, Brian. Religion and Anthropology: A Critical Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
- Prothero, Stephen. God is Not One. New York: Harper Collins, 2010.