Course Description
The history, beliefs, and practices of major traditions of China and Japan, particularly Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Special attention will be paid to the evolution of diverse forms within each tradition, and to the interactions of the different traditions.
Athena Title
Intro to East Asian Religions
Prerequisite
Junior or senior standing or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered every even-numbered year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- By the end of this course, students will be able to consider the hermeneutic issues involved in understanding religion across cultures, engage with literary texts, and analyze differing viewpoints or arguments.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to introduce basic elements of major religious traditions of East Asia and develop and express ideas - written and orally - supported by knowledge gained from class lectures, readings, and other assignments.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to organize and synthesize evidence to demonstrate the diverse factors that affect human life by observing the influence of historic, geographic, and economic factors on the nature and evolution of Asian beliefs and practices.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to communicate how religious traditions evolve using supporting evidence including reference to historical, intellectual, cultural, and existential phenomena.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to reflect on their own cultural heritage and personal experiences while participating in meaningful comparison and contrast of Asian traditions, building awareness, appreciation, and knowledge of cultures beyond their own.
Topical Outline
- 1. The Academic Study of Religion
- 2. Issues in the Study of Asian Religions
- 3. Confucius
- 4. Mo-tzu's Criticism of Confucius
- 5. Mencius
- 6. Hsün-tzu
- 7. Confucianism
