Comparative Religion
Dr. Michael Sudduth
Los Medanos College, Spring 2007
Course Guide and Calendar
(1) January 22: Introduction to Class
(2) January 29: Hinduism
Readings: Obayashi, ch. 10; Coward, Ch. 4
Power Point presentations on Hinduism may be accessed at Cal State East, East Bay Blackboard. Click on "guest access to courses" and search for "World Religions." Click on World Religions link when it appears.
(3) February 5: Hinduism
Readings: Obayashi ch. 10, Coward ch. 4
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT #1: An in-class single paragraph (or more) about one of the three margas: way of ritual action, way of knowledge, way of devotion. Turned in Feb. 5.
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT #2: Select a single idea we have discussed in connection with Hinduism (e.g., view of the divine, reincarnation), and briefly discuss its importance to Hinduism.
Due February 12. Must be typed, double-spaced.
Due February 12. Must be typed, double-spaced.
(4) February 12: Hinduism Concluded, Intro to Buddhism
Obayashi, ch. 11, Coward, ch. 5
February 19: NO CLASS
(5) February 26: Buddhism and Chinese Religions
Ch. 13; Coward, ch. 6
Exam#1 on Hinduism
Power Point presentations on Buddhism available at Cal State East Bay. See link and instructions above.
I'd recommend that you view these on-line powerpoints due to technical difficulties surrounding the in-class power point presentations.
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT #3: one-page essay comparing Hinduism and Buddhism on Rebirth (Due March 5)
(6) March 5: FILM: Reincarnation of Peter Proud
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT #4: Film Questions (Due March 12)
(7) March 12: Discussion of Film and Lecture on Bardo
(8) March 19: Introduction to Ancient Mesopotamian Religion
Exam#2 on Buddhism
Obayashi Text, chapter 2
(9) March 26: Mesopotamian Religion
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT #5 (in Class) Epic of Gilgamesh
or
(10) April 2: No Class - Spring Break
(11) April 9: Epic of Gilgamesh
(12) April 16: Zoroastrianism
NEW Power Point Link for Class!!!
Click HERE and use the following
USERNAME: sudduthguest
PASSWORD: zoroaster
After clicking on class World Religions,
go to course documents.
(13) April 23: Judaism
Exam #3: Ancient Mesopotamian Religion and Zoroastrianism
Film, Jacob's Ladder
Written Assignment: TBA
(14) April 30: Film Discussion and Judaism
Readings:
(15) May 7: Judaism
Read Obayashi chapters on Judaism, Coward chapter on Judaism
Read also Genesis ch. 1-12, Exodus 1-3 (Tanach; Old Testament)
(16) May 14: Christianity and Islam
(17) May 21: Final Paper Due
