COURSE TEMPLATE
World Religions and Spirituality
Dr. Lewis Keizer

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Section I
MODULE ONE:
1.	Briefly describe the major theories of the origins of religion.

2.	Describe the characteristics of Neanderthal, Cro-Magnon, and Neolithic religion.
3.	Describe the characteristics of all religions (basic religions) in terms of rites of passage, ancestor veneration, etc.
4.	Describe the characteristics of religions originating in India.
5.	Describe the characteristics of religions originating in China and the Far East.
6.	Describe the characteristics of religions originating in the Middle East.
7.	In what ways do modern world religions preserve the characteristics and forms of prehistoric and ancient religions?

Test Yourself: 
	Match:
1.	Belief that spirits are in all things.
2.	Another term for “life-cycles.”
3.	Belief in afterlife.
4.	Feeding spirits in afterlife.
5.	Dealings of humans with gods, and gods with gods.
6.	Ceremonies.
7.	Prediction of future.
8.	“Sympathetic” imitation of desired outcome to produce it.

A.	Divination
B.	Myth
C.	Rites of Passage
D.	Animism
E.	Ancestor Worship
F.	Sacrifice
G.	Rituals
H.	Magic

MODULE TWO:
1.	Identify the characteristics of tribal and shamanic religion.
2.	Compare the psychological and sociological institutions of primitive religions to those of modern world religions.
3.	Distinguish the geographical and cultural elements of Asian and American primitive religions from those of Africa.
4.	Characterize the impact of non-native religions on indigenous religion.
5.	Describe the synthesis of ancient and modern religious institutions in surviving indigenous religion.

MODULE THREE:
1.	Describe the theory of pre-historic Indo-Aryan influence.
2.	Describe the main themes of the Four Vedas: 
1.	The Brahmanas 
2.	The Upanishads 
3.	The Law (Code) of Manu 
4.	The Ramayana and the Mahabharata Epics 
3.	Identify and distinguish major Hindu religious movements, their schools, and their saints, with special emphasis upon Jainism.

Section I Questions:
1.	Why does the author of our textbook use the term “basic” religions rather than “primitive” religions?  I prefer the term “tribal” to the older term “primitive.” Why do scholars no longer use the term “primitive?”
2.	Name some taboos in modern life.  How do they differ from those in tribal or indigenous societies?
3.	Critique the assumption that we can understand prehistoric religion by studying religions of contemporary indigenous and tribal people.  What might be some of the pitfalls of such an assumption?  The strengths?

Section II
MODULE FOUR:
1.	Recount the legendary life and development of Gautama Buddha.
2.	Explain the main teachings of Buddhism such as the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
3.	Characterize the historical development and major saints and founders of the main Buddhist schools and movements, such as Thervada, Mahayana, Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana), and Zen Buddhism.
4.	Identify and characterize the meaning of the Buddhist Holy Days.

MODULE FIVE:
1.	Recount the life and summarize the main teachings of Guru Nanak and the Guru lineage.
2.	Distinguish and characterize the three traditional schools of Sikhism.
3.	Identify and characterize the meaning of the main Sikh Holy Days, and to describe the main elements of Sikh religious life.

MODULE SIX:
1.	Identify and describe the institutions, practices, and traditional holidays of Chinese religion.
2.	Describe the history and legends associated with the lives of Lao Tzu and Confucius.
3.	Compare and contrast the philosophical tenets of Taoism and Confucianism by identifying and distinguishing selections from the Confucian Analects and the Tao Te Ching.

Section II Questions:
1.	Identify and discuss two issues that classic Confucian and Taoist teachings raise for contemporary spirituality.

MODULE SEVEN:
1.	Describe the history and development of traditional Japanese religion.
2.	Characterize the traditional forms of state, sectarian, and domestic Shinto.
3.	Identify and characterize the traditional Japanese holidays and their roots in both Shinto and Buddhism.
4.	Describe the New Shinto that has emerged since World War II.

MODULE EIGHT:
1.	Describe the life, legends, and teachings of Zoroastrian traditions and Scripture, including the nature of God, the problems of evil and human nature, the actions of destiny, and social ethics.
2.	Identify, compare, and contrast the teaching of the Gathas and the Avesta.
3.	Describe the history of Zoroastrianism from ancient to modern times.
4.	Characterize Zoroastrian religious practice, sacred calendar, the fire priesthood, forms of prayer, and rites of passage.

MODULE NINE:
1.	Describe the broad outlines of ancient, medieval, and modern Jewish history and sacred literature
a. Ancient Jewish History and Literature
b. Medieval Jewish History and Literature
c. Modern Jewish History and Literature
2.	Characterize and appreciate the following Jewish institutions:
a. the synagogue
b. the Kabbalistic traditions of Hasidic rabbis	
c. Jewish Holy Days
d. Jewish life-cycle observances
Section III Questions:
1.	What are the social and political issues faced by modern Shinto?
2.	Find modern Zoroastrian communities on the internet. Who are the people, and how does their religion inform their lives?
3.	On the internet, find ways that American Jewish communities are trying to keep their youth from religious lapse and total cultural assimilation.

MODULE TEN:
1.	Describe the legends and traditional teachings of Christianity, such as the life of Jesus Christ and his teachings as recorded in the New Testament.
2.	Outline and characterize the development of Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christianity in the context of world history.
3.	Describe the following Christian institutions, theological developments, and events:
a.  the issue of Arianism
b. the Nicene Creed
c. the establishment of Byzantine Christianity
d. the development of monasticism
e. the influence of Augustine of Hippo
f.  the crusades
g. the Protestant Reformation
h. the Counter-Reformation
i.  the development of American religion
j.  the ecumenical movement
k.  contemporary issues in Christian renewal and reform.

MODULE ELEVEN:
1.	Describe the life and legends of Muhammad, including events like: 
a. the Hijrah
b. Mir’aj
c. traditions about Medina and Mecca.
2.	Describe and characterize:
a. the Five Pillars
b. the Caliphate
c. Islamic sects
d. other Islamic institutions.
3.	Identify and distinguish passages from the Koran (Qu’ran) from the poetry of Rumi and the Sufi mystics.
4.	Characterize the Islamic Holy Days and their meanings.
5.	Demonstrate an understanding of the causes of age-old animosities between Islam and the West.

MODULE TWELVE:
1.	Describe the founders and foundations of Baha’i faith and demonstrate familiarity with Baha’i Scriptures.
2.	Characterize Baha’i faith and practice and distinguish it from Islam.
3.	Draw parallels between the emergence of Baha’i and other forms of emerging religion and spirituality.
4.	Distinguish two other emerging new religious movements from their mother world religions.

Section IV Questions
1.	Discuss Freud’s view that religion is the political “opiate of the people” in view of the recent influence of religious fundamentalism in world events and international relations.
2.	How can religious tradition be relevant in the human future?