Religion Course: World Religions
Religion and spirituality. Learn about systems of faith and worship.
COVID-19 update: arrangement of our courses
We are now delivering courses online and in-person. Please check the delivery format of each class before enrolling.
Please note that course materials (excluding prescribed texts) are shared electronically within 48 hours of course commencement. Printing is not available.
Join us for a crash course on religion. What is religion and why is it important? Is it about God? What is God and does God exist? How should we study religion? Learn about how to grapple with such questions and learn about some of the major religions of the world as well. From scientific, philosophical, historical and sociological perspectives, this course introduces these themes and covers several ‘Western’ and ‘Eastern’ religious traditions.
Aims
Learn to confidently describe and discuss key concepts in religion. This course aims to introduce diverse ideas about religion and religious ideas.
Outcomes
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- explain what religion is
- describe God and other gods
- debate on the existence of God and other gods, and miraculous occurrences
- recall information on multiple aspects of major religious traditions
- relate religious ideas and ideas about religion to contemporary issues
- apply these concepts to your personal lives.
Content
Session 1: Religion and God/s
- Definitions of religion
- Definitions of God/s
- Arguments about God’s existence
- Judging miraculous claims
- Studying religion
Session 2: Zoroastrianism and Judaism
- Zoroastrianism
- Early 'Judaism'
- Second Temple and later Judaism/s
Session 3: Christianity
- The Biblical Jesus
- The mainstream Historical Jesus and debates over historicity
- Early, Medieval, and Contemporary Christianities
Session 4: Islam
- Muhammad and early Islam
- The growth of Islam
- Contemporary issues such as terrorism, nationalism, immigration, and Trump
Session 5: Chinese Religion
- Chinese Folk Religion
- Confucianism
- Daoism
Session 6: Indian Religion
- 'Hinduism'
- Jainism
- Buddhism
- Sikhism
- The diversity of Indian and global divine models
Intended audience
Anyone with a general interest in religion and concepts of the divine.
Prerequisites
None
Delivery style
All-day workshop
Features
- Expert trainers
- Central locations
- Course materials – yours to keep
- CCE Statement of Completion
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...When | Time | Where | Session Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Sat 22 May 2021 | 10am - 1pm (UTC+10:00) | Online via Zoom - Online via Zoom | |
Sat 29 May 2021 | 10am - 1pm (UTC+10:00) | Online via Zoom - Online via Zoom |
If there isn't a class to suit you, please join the waiting list.
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