Humanities 40: Religions of the World
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Based on this past week’s readings, would you lean toward or identify with principles of Confucianism or Daoism (in all of their variation or schools of thought)?
For me, I identify with principles of Confucianism because I educated from Confucianism principles in China. Confucianism probably is the biggest influence in education of China through out the entire Chinese history. Influenced by Confucianism, in Chinese culture, an intellectual is not limited in study alone. He should be successful in being a human and in his bearing of himself. A key objective of an intellectual should be to make full use of his power, personality and intelligence to do well for the state, society and the world. This idea is so valuable that we cannot help asking why the products of today’s education system are far from sufficient! Why do not we pay attention to our forefather’s center values instead of wasting so much of our time and energy in word puzzles!
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Thanks for visiting our course website. Here you will find updated materials and events, including curious questions and comments (from the weekly readings).
Most readings will be drawn from one central text and a reader (see SYLLABUS), or online in the password-protected FLEXBOOK page.
*HUMANITIES 40: RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD
(SACRED TRADITIONS AND THE DYNAMICS OF BELIEF)
What is most meaningful in our everyday lives? What do we actually believe and practice on a daily basis? How have various religious systems evolved over time? In what ways do particular members of religious traditions express themselves through central beliefs and doctrine, the arts and material culture, laws and moral codes, rituals and festivals, storytelling and mythical forms, groups and institutions, informal and formal practices? How is religion embodied? These are some of the “big questions” that we will be addressing throughout this course. Through dynamic exercises, classic readings, and fun field projects and trips, we will explore notions of the “sacred” from an individual, social, cultural, folkloristic, and historical perspective. In particular, we will examine a diverse range of ancient and modern religious traditions such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Daoism, Yoruba worship, mysticism, New Age practices, neo-paganism, sects, cults, and new religious movements.
SECTION B1 (CCN: 42950): 1:15PM-2:30PM, MW, BCC 423, FOURTH FLOOR
*The above courses meet all of the general education requirements for Humanities. They need not be taken in any order, so if you’re interested in one or more of the topics, simply enroll in the courses. To perform successfully in any Humanities course, you should be concurrently enrolled in or have completed the equivalent of ENGLISH 1A, or a college composition course at another educational institution.
I look forward to working with all of you this semester.
Your instructor,
Dr. Dylan Eret
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Images:
1. Chinese New Year Parade, San Francisco, 2011.
2. Set against the Chicago skyline, the photo documents Coptic Christians participating in an annual ritual of baptism in the waters of Lake Michigan. Photo by Iwona Biedermann.
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