Course Information

Number: PHIL 5255

Name: World Religious Perspectives

Instructor: Shared Course

Section: IS-001

Credits: 3

Learning Resources:

The World's Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions (revised) by Huston Smith

The World's Religions
Author: Huston Smith

The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog (Paperback) by James W. Sire

The Universe Next Door
Author: James W. Sire

 MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6^th Edition by Joseph Gibaldi  

(Can be purchased at Amazon.com. Required for all courses in the M.Min. program.)                  

Holy Bible (please note what translation you use on your assignments)                                  

BibleGateway.com  (www.biblegateway.com) is a free service for reading and researching Scripture online--all in the language or translation of your choice (which includes the Bible in 50 different versions as well as in 35 different languages).  It provides advanced tools you can use to search the Bible by keywords or verse, as well as other tools to enhance your study of the Bible.

Additional Resources:
Course assignments can be completed using Web-based resources linked from the Resources page.

Strategies for Success:
How to take this Course
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Course Activities:

See the Syllabus

Work on Assignments

Attend Lectures

Classrooms

Take Tests

Schedule

Course Description:

A historical and comparative survey of the principal beliefs and practices of the world's major religions. Major religions are considered: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shinto and Taoism.

Course Goals and Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, students will:

1. Understand the importance of religious belief, expression, and worship to human beings.
2. Be exposed to the major tenets and practices of the world’s major religions.
3. Be exposed to the major truth claims of each major world religion.
4. Understand the geographic impact on religious practice in the worlds various regions.
5. Compare and contrast ancient vs. modern religious practices.
6. Evaluate the absolute and relative claims of the world's major religions.
7. Evaluate the nature and character of God in light of each major world religion.

• Quote the following Scripture passages 

Ø      Colossians 2:6-8

Ø      1 Corinthians 1:18-21

Ø      Galatians 5:1

Ø      Ephesians 1:17-18