REL 130 - Intro Religions of the East

1. Evaluate the concept “religion” as it is understood in the West and East.
   1. Recognize multiple ways of defining religion.
   2. Differentiate between monotheism, polytheism, and nontheistic religious traditions.
   3. Classify religious traditions based upon history; core concepts, e.g., purity, enlightenment, sacred spaces and times, fideism, etc.; and/or practices.
   4. Categorize religions based how they normalize their practices, i.e., through orthodoxy, orthopraxy, etc.
   5. Evaluate the contributions - both negative and positive - of religion to society.
   6. Discuss challenges to religious thinking such as through the lens of feminist thinking or science, and how Asian challenges may differ from Western challenges.
2. Analyze the historical context for the arising of Hinduism.
   1. Explain the historical development of the pre-Vedic tradition, such as the discoveries of the Indus Valley Civilization at Harappa. 
   2. Discuss polytheism in relation to the natural world and to notions of the divine.
   3. Outline key concepts in Indian thought such as Karma, dharma, avatar, reincarnation, moksha, Raja yoga, caste, Atman and Brahman.
   4. Apply Vedic thought to pre-modern and modern Hindu understandings of the world.
3. Examine contemporary Hindu beliefs and practices.
   1. Differentiate the differences between pre-Vedic, Vedic, and modern forms of Hindusim.
   2. Define the different forms of yoga, such as bhakti, karma, jnana, hatha, and raja.
   3. Describe the philosophy of Vedanta and the transition from Brahmanical Hinduism to Bhakti Hinduism.
   4. Discuss ways in which Hindu thought has been transmitted beyond India.
   5. Outline the ways in which Hinduism has influenced Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Islam.
4. Evaluate early Buddhism and identify key philosophical concepts found in all Buddhist schools.
   1. Discuss foundational Buddhist ethical teachings such as the five precepts and the monastic code.
   2. Compare and contrast concepts found in Hinduism and Buddhism such as karma and dharma.  
   3. Summarize the story of the Buddha.
   4. Describe the central teachings of Buddhism such as the four Noble Truths, Eight-Fold Path, six paramitas, six realms of existence, emptiness, and the Bodhisattva Vow.
   5. Analyze the themes and concepts in the Heart Sutra.
5. Compare and contrast Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism
   1. Discuss and analyze differences between Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Tibetan forms of Buddhism.
   2. Examine how culture has influenced Buddhism as it has been transmitted from India, through China, Japan, and the West.
   3. Summarize the transmission of Japanese Zen Buddhism to the West.
   4. Analyze and evaluate Zen enigmatic stories (Koans).
   5. Analyze the differences between Western and ethnic practitioners of Buddhism.
6. Examine the historical context for the arising of Confucianism and Daoism.
   1. Define central concepts to early Chinese religion such as, Yin/Yang, ancestor veneration, chi, divination, and Dao.
   2. Compare the Heaven-Human-Earth triad in Chinese thought to Western ideas of Heaven.
   3. Explain ancient Chinese models of governance.
7. Examine the major themes and concepts in Confucianism and Daoism.
   1. Define the major concepts found in the Analects of Confucius, such as Ren (benevolence), Shu (reciprocity), Li (ritual), Zhong (loyalty).
   2. Describe the model of concentric circles, and the humans’ place in the cosmos as understood in Confucianism.
   3. Identify the “Five Relationships” in Confucianism.
   4. Outline major concepts of Daoism including wu-wei, non-being, etc.
   5. Examine selected quotes from the Dao De Ching.
   6. Outline the differences between philosophical Daoism and religious Daoism.
   7. Discuss contemporary forms of Daoist practice such as acupuncture, tai chi, and chi gong. 
8. Compare and contrast Confucianism with Daoism
   1. Compare the life of Confucius and Lao Tzu.
   2. Discuss ways in which these two traditions balance rather than oppose each other.
   3. Explain  ways in which Confucianism and Daoism are influencing China’s response to national and international issues such as pollution.
9. Examine the major themes in Shintoism.
   1. Explain the natural world as a foundation for “Shinto”.
   2. Examine the term “Shinto” and how it came to be.
   3. Analyze aspects of Confucianism and Buddhism that have been integrated into Shintoism.
   4. Describe the concept of Kami.
   5. Summarize the place of shrines and festivals in Japanese life.
   6. Discuss the role of purification as a feature of Shinto.
   7. Summarize the main aspects of contemporary Shinto.
10. Investigate ways in which Asia religions can address problems of the 21st Century.
    1. Discuss globalization and secularization and their influence on modern thinking.
    2. Analyze the impact of the Inter-religious Dialogue movement and analyze ways in which it has fostered communication and cooperation among different religions.
    3. Define inclusive, exclusive, and pluralistic ways of thinking.
    4. Evaluate the Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, Daoist, and Shinto contributions to modern social and ecological illnesses.
    5. Evaluate the relevance of key concepts from Asian religions to modern society.
    6. Discuss ways in which Asian religions have fallen short of their ideals, such as revelations of sexual misconduct and condoning of violence.