David Panisnick
Professor: Religion and Philosophy
Bldg. 7- 623
845-9423
davepani@hcc.hawaii.edu

Course Description: Introduction to the world's living religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Confucianism,
Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Outline:

I. INTRODUCTION

    1. The Modern Academic Study of Religion.
    2. The Importance of Context and Interpretation.

II. JUDAISM

    1. Historical Origins.

        a. The Hebrew Bible
        b. In Search of Ancient Israel

    2. Cosmology.

        a. Yahweh: From Henotheism to Monotheism
        b. Salvation History and Damnation History

    3. Ethics.

        a. The Torah: 613 Laws

    4. Judaism Today.

        a. Orthodox, Conservative and Reform

    5. Focus Analysis: Creation Myths

III. CHRISTIANITY

    1. Historical Origins.

        a. The New Testament
        b. From Jesus to Paul to Constantine

    2. Cosmology.

        a. Religious Synthesis: Dualism and the Kingdom of God
        b. Anthropology of Sin

    3. Ethics.

        a. Jesus and the Fulfillment of the Jewish Law

    4. Christianity Today.

        a. Liberal vs. Conservative

    5. Focus Analysis: Sacrifice

IV. ISLAM

    1. Historical Origins.

        a. From Muhammed to Uthman
        b. The Koran

    2. Cosmology.

        a. Radical Monotheism: Allah
        b. The Five Doctrines

    3. Ethics.

        a. The Five Pillars
        b. Other Observances

    4. Islam Today.

        a. Sunni and Shi'ite

    5. Focus Analysis: Fundamentalism

V. HINDUISM

    1. Historical Origins.

        a. Dravidian Civilization and the Aryan Invasion
        b. Sacred Texts: Vedas and Epics

    2. Cosmology.

        a. Sacrifice and the Cosmic Cycle
        b. Brahman, Atman and Maya

    3. Ethics.

        a. Karma and the Caste System
        b. Stages and Duties of Life

    4. Hinduism Today.

    a. Yoga, Bhakti and Tantra

    5. Focus Analysis: Gods and Goddesses

VI. BUDDHISM

    1. Historical Origins.

        a. Siddhartha Gautama and the Indian Period
        b. The Pali Canon
        c. Geographical Expansion

    2. Cosmology.

        a. The Four Noble Truths
        b. Dependent Origination
        c. Sunyata

    3. Ethics.

        a. The Noble Eightfold Path
        b. The Bodhisattva and Compassion

    4. Buddhism Today.

        a. Theravada and Mahayana

    5. Focus Analysis: Meditation

VII. RELIGION IN CHINA: CONFUCIANISM AND TAOISM

    1. Historical Origins.

        a. Confucius and Mencius
        b. The Han Dynasty
        c. Texts: I Ching and Tao Te Ching

    2. Cosmology.

        a. The Tao: Yin and Yang
        b. Household gods and Ancestor Veneration

    3. Ethics.

        a. Confucian: Jen and Li
        b. Taoist: Wu Wei

    4. Chinese Religion Today.

    5. Analysis: Ritual

VIII. SHINTO

    1. Historical Origins.

        a. Primitive Shinto
        b. Chinese Influence
        c. Texts: Kojiki and Nihongi

    2. Cosmology.

        a. Creation and the World of the Kami

    3. Ethics.

        a. The Bushido Code
        b. From the Samurai to the Corporation

    4. Shinto Today.

        a. The New Religions and the New New Religions

    5. Focus Analysis: Purity Systems

IX. CONCLUSION
 

TEXT: Toropov & Buckles, The Complete Idiot's Guide to the World's Religions

GRADING: There will be three exams, each of equal worth and each covering approximately one-third of the course. Your final grade will be based on two of the three exam scores: the best of the first two exams and the last exam. You must take all three exams.