History 112 - Intro to World Religions
Fall
2017
02
4.00
John Higgins
TU TH 10:00AM 11:15AM
UMass Amherst
41741
Focus on major world religions and their history, teachings, and role today in Islam, Judaism, and Christianity; the interrelations of religion and culture in the modern world. (Gen.Ed. I, G)
Open to students in Global Perspectives RAP in Gorman Hall. HISTORY 112-02
See http://www.umass.edu/rap/global-perspectives-rap
Students will explore the similarities and differences in cultural backgrounds and how these experiences may influence an individual's transition to college life. Specifically, in this course we will:
(1) Learn how scholars in the past have thought and spoken about religion and religious issues
(2) Learn how to think openly and objectively about cultural and religious differences
(3) Learn how to talk about religion in a scholarly way as students and scholars in a modern university
(4) Develop an understanding of several religious traditions from different geographical areas, and see how they have developed over time
(5) Write analytically about important issues in religious studies
Our activities in the course will include the academic study of religion and personal experience of religious activity, including Sacred Texts, Sacred Acts and Sacred Objects. Therefore, we will have a variety of activities such as:
(1) Reading from the sacred books of several religious traditions, and from theories of religion by scholars of the past
(2) Discussions of religion in the news (especially important in an election year!)
(3) Direct observation of religious rituals from different traditions
(4) Field trips to local museums to discover the sacred in art
This course is meant to help you to learn to read critically, to write critically, and to become critical observers as members of a community of university students.
See http://www.umass.edu/rap/global-perspectives-rap
Students will explore the similarities and differences in cultural backgrounds and how these experiences may influence an individual's transition to college life. Specifically, in this course we will:
(1) Learn how scholars in the past have thought and spoken about religion and religious issues
(2) Learn how to think openly and objectively about cultural and religious differences
(3) Learn how to talk about religion in a scholarly way as students and scholars in a modern university
(4) Develop an understanding of several religious traditions from different geographical areas, and see how they have developed over time
(5) Write analytically about important issues in religious studies
Our activities in the course will include the academic study of religion and personal experience of religious activity, including Sacred Texts, Sacred Acts and Sacred Objects. Therefore, we will have a variety of activities such as:
(1) Reading from the sacred books of several religious traditions, and from theories of religion by scholars of the past
(2) Discussions of religion in the news (especially important in an election year!)
(3) Direct observation of religious rituals from different traditions
(4) Field trips to local museums to discover the sacred in art
This course is meant to help you to learn to read critically, to write critically, and to become critical observers as members of a community of university students.