Comparative Religions is an introductory course designed to begin the student’s inquiry into to the academic study of religion and the major faith systems of the world through a comparative approach. As you study the religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, you will learn about their foundations, what they believe, and how they express their beliefs.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course you will be able to:

1. discuss the beliefs and practices of the five major world's religions;
2. understand the impact religious beliefs have had in history;
3. comprehend how understanding religion can help you understand significant events in the world;
4. compare the seven components of a religious worldview in the five religions;
5. discuss how religious beliefs are practiced and experienced; and,
6. analyze religious beliefs and practices as they are reflected in film.

Course Lectures

You will find PowerPoint presentations with lectures posted on Blackboard.

Huston Smith's The Illustrated World's Religions

Films will play an integral part of this course and are therefore considered as texts. You will learn to view film in much the same was as you read a text, however, you will be doing so through the lens of religious studies. There are a limited number of the films available in the library, however, it is suggested that you subscribe to one of the online rental companies, such as Netflix.com, cafedvd.com, or Blockbuster.com for the duration of the course. These three have all of the films you are required to view, therefore, there can be no acceptable excuse for you not being able to view a film. Your textbook is inexpensive, so the additional amount that it will cost you to subscribe to one of these should not pose an economic hardship. All of them offer two weeks free.

You will need a computer with reliable Internet access to take this course. Because there are no class meetings, Blackboard is an indispensable part of the course and you will find the following posted:
• Power Point Presentations with lectures
• Selected sections of the sacred texts of the various religions
• A discussion board for you to discuss the various religions with others taking the course and with your Instructor. Also use it to post any questions you have.
• Information about the films you will view
• "Important Terms" that you are to define/describe as they are defined/described in the PowerPoint Presentations, the textbook, or the film.
• A "Helpful Chart" to help you study for tests and to use to take the exam. You do not submit the chart to the instructor; it’s for your benefit.
• Film analysis sheets – these are also to help you study for the tests and exam and you do not submit them to the Instructor.

Course Expectations and Requirements

1. We will correspond through email. If you prefer a different email address than that posted on Blackboard, you will need to change the one listed.
2. Because this is a web-based class, we will not have any class meetings.
3. Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result in a 0. You are encouraged to study with other students, to discuss what you are learning, and to view and discuss films together. You are not to share information about the tests or to collaborate on a test. The test are NOT open book; you may not use anything other than a mouse or a finger pad on a laptop to take the tests.
4. You will need to complete your work according to the schedule in this syllabus. It doesn’t matter if a test is open beyond what the schedule says – sometimes that is done on purpose. You MUST use the dates in this syllabus. If you fail to meet a deadline for a test, you will have to email me and I will arrange for you to have a make-up test…students don’t like my make-up tests!
5. Before emailing me with a question, you need to be sure the answer is not in this syllabus or posted as an announcement on Blackboard.
6. It is expected that since you are taking a distance learning course you are an intelligent, mature, self-motivated student. All of the material necessary to succeed is being provided; what you learn is entirely up to you.
7. Please remember that this is a 3 hr. credit course. You can expect to spend as much time on this course as if you were taking it in a classroom.
8. You will find a Helpful Chart under Course Documents on Blackboard. You need to save it in landscape. What you put in your chart can be handwritten or typed using a small font in order to get more information into the squares. You may use only 2 front pieces of paper. You are allowed to use this Chart to take your exam. It is not intended to take the place of studying as you will not have time to look for answers to all of the questions; it is to serve as a reminder and to help you if you are stuck on a question. It will be most helpful if you fill it out as you study each religion.

Course Grade
You grade will consist of a test on the course introduction, a test for each of the five world religions, and a final exam. Your tests and final exam are posted on Blackboard. They will consist of multiple choice and true false questions.

Should you have to take a make-up test (Heaven forbid!), it will be an essay test. The tests are not open book. The questions will appear one at a time and you will not be allowed to re-visit any of the questions. You are also limited to the amount of time you have to take each test and you may only open a test once. The tests and the exam have equal weight in determining your final grade.

For each section of the course, there is an assignment to define Important Terms and email them to the Instructor. Failure to complete one of these assignments will result in a 5 point penalty to be taken off of your final grade.

The grading scale for the course is: A = 90-100; B+ = 88-89; B = 80 – 87; C+ = 78-79; C = 70-77; D+ = 68-69; D = 60-67; F = 0-59. Should you have a computer problem during a test, do not panic. Send me an email and we’ll see what we need to do to fix the problem. You will be saving each of your answers as you go along so that should help.

Availability of the Instructor
I am always available by email, which I check several times a day. If you do not receive a response to an email with two days, then you can assume I did not receive it and you should send it again.