DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this course is twofold. First it will provide an overview of the world's major religions--Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and Sikhism (time permitting)--focusing on their emergence and history, core beliefs and practices, religious texts and interpretations, as well as contemporary influence and expressions. Second, this course introduces various approaches on how Christianity relates to other religions and religious pluralisms, technically known as the "theology of religions." We will critically discuss Catholic and Protestant proposals and responses and attempt an outline of an Evangelical approach and briefly touch on the nature of interfaith dialogue. Explorations in comparative theology will also be attempted.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: By completing this course, the student will (1) gain a workable knowledge of selected world religions focusing on origins, core beliefs, and practices; (2) develop skills in learning how to empathetically understand the religious and spiritual attitudes, thoughts, beliefs, decisions, and practices of the Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and Sikhs in their own contexts; (3) become sensitive and discerning both concerning similarities and differences among religious beliefs and identities as well as various interreligious approaches and proposals; (4) learn some basics about how to relate to other religions and representatives of religions as well as facilitate dialogue from a Christian perspective.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet twice a week for two-hour sessions of lectures and discussions, and in addition at least one visit to a religious site (outside class time).

REQUIRED READING:

Core Readings for all students:

Knitter, P. F. Introducing Theologies of Religions. Orbis, 2007. 246 pp. ISBN: 1570754195. Pub.price $25.00.

Ludwig, T. The Sacred Paths. 4th ed. Prentice Hall, 2006 (selected pp.). ISBN: 978-0131539037. Pub.price $107.20. E-textbook version $42.90.

Original texts: Reading of short portions of sacred texts of religions in key documents such as the Hindu Vedas or Upanishads; Buddhist Dhammapada or Heart Sutra (Prajna Paramita); or the Muslim Qur'an (the listing and readings are all available online on the course website, http://www.mareque.org).

Course Reader with selected essays and articles (on course website, http://www.mareque.org).

Focus on a selected religious tradition: Choose one:

Braswell, G. W., Jr. Islam: Its Prophet, Peoples, Politics and Power. Broadman & Holman, 1996. 352 pp. ISBN: 978-0805411690. Pub.price $24.99.

Esposito, John L. Islam: The Straight Path. 4th ed. Oxford University Press, 2010 ( pp. 85-295). ISBN: 978-0195396003. Pub.price $45.95.

Hawley, J. S., and Vashuda Narayanan, eds. The Life of Hinduism. 337 pp. University of California Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0520249141. Pub.price $25.95.

Maguire, J. Essential Buddhism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs and Practices. Pocket Books, 2001. 288 pp. ISBN: 978-0671041885. Pub.price $15.95.

Comparative Theology and Interfaith Dialogue: Choose One from EITHER (a) or (b) or (c):

a.  General Works:

Ayoub, Mahmoud. A Muslim View of Christianity: Essays on Dialogue. Orbis, 2007. 264 pp. ISBN: 978-1570756900. $28.00.

Beaumont, M. Christology in Dialogue with Muslims: A Critical Analysis of Christian Presentations of Christ for Muslims from the Ninth and Twentieth Centuries. Wipf & Stock, 2011. 260 pp. ISBN: 978-1610975933. $29.00.

Bennett, C. Understanding Christian-Muslim Relations: Past and Present. Continuum, 2008. 272 pp. ISBN: 978-0826487834. $34.95.

Clooney, F. Hindu God, Christian God: How Reason Helps Break Down the Boundaries between Religions. Oxford University Press, 2010. 220 pp. ISBN: 978-0199738724. $24.95.

Cragg, K. The Call of the Minaret. Rev. 3rd ed. Oneworld, 2000. 384 pp. ISBN: 978-1851682102. $34.95.

Cragg, K. Muhammad in the Qur'an: The Task and the Text. London: Melisende, 2001. 224 pp. ISBN: 978-1901764130.

Coward, Harold, ed. Hindu-Christian Dialogue: Perspectives and Encounters. Orbis, 1990. 281 pp. ISBN: 978-8120811584.

Haddad, Y. Y., and W. Z. Haddad, eds. Christian-Muslim Encounters. University of Florida Press, 1995. 520 pp. ISBN: 978-0813013596. $29.95.

Hick, John, and Edmund Meltzer, eds. Three Faiths--One God: A Jewish, Christian, Muslim Encounter. State University of New York Press, 1989. 240 pp. ISBN: 978-0791400432.

Ives, C., ed. Divine Emptiness and Historical Fullness. A Buddhist-Jewish-Christian Conversation with Asao Mabe. Trinity Press, 1995. 272 pp. ISBN: 978-1563381225.

Kulandran, Subapathy. Grace in Christianity and Hinduism. Lutterworth Press, 2004. 280 pp. ISBN: 978-0227172360. Pub.price $52.50.

Leukel-Schmidt, P. Buddhism and Christianity in Dialogue. SCM, 2005. 262 pp. ISBN: 978-0334040088 $32.99.

Nazir Ali, Michael. Frontiers in Muslim-Christian Encounter. 1st repr. Regnum Books, 1991. 192 pp. ISBN: 978-1597529143. Pub.price $22.00.

Renard, John. Islam and Christianity: Theological Themes in Comparative Perspective. University of California Press, 2011. 344 pp. $60.00.

Schimmel, A. M., and Abdoldjavad Falaturi, eds. We Believe in One God. London: Burns & Oates, 1980. 200 pp. ISBN: 978-0860120780.

Volf, Miroslav. Allah: A Christian Response. HarperOne, 2011. 336 pp. ISBN: 978-0061927072.

Waldenfeld, H. Absolute Nothingness: Foundations for a Buddhist-Christian Dialogue. Trans. J. W. Heisig. Paulist Press, 1980. 214 pp. ISBN: 978-0809123162.

Ward, P. Concepts of God. Images of the Divine in Five Religious Traditions. Oxford: One, 1998. 208 pp. ISBN: 978-1851680641. $14.95.

Ward, P. Religion and Community. Oxford University Press, 2000. 376 pp. ISBN: 978-0198752592. Pub.price $40.00.

Winkler, L. E. Contemporary Muslim and Christian Responses to Religious Plurality Wolfhart Pannenberg in Dialogue with Abdulaziz Sachedina. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2010. 390 pp. ISBN: 978-1243586285. $69.00.

Zebiri, Kare. Muslims and Christians Face to Face. Oxford: One World, 1997. 268 pp. ISBN: 978-1851681334. $55.95.

b.  Jesus in comparative perspectives

Baker, G. A., ed. Jesus in the World's Faiths: Leading Thinkers from Five Religions Reflect on His Meaning. Orbis, 2005. 198 pp. ISBN: 978-1570755736. $20.00.

Baker, G. A., and Gregg, S. E., eds. Jesus beyond Christianity: The Classic Texts. Oxford University Press, 2010. 256 pp. ISBN: 978-0199553457. $29.95.

Gross, R. M., and Muck, T. C. Buddhists Talk about Jesus, Christians Talk about the Buddha. Continuum, 2003. 156 pp. ISBN: 978-0826411969. Pub.price $24.95.

Imbach, J. Three Faces of Jesus: How Jews, Christians and Muslims See Him. 2nd ed. Templegate, 1993. 151 pp. ISBN: 978-0872431942. $12.95.

Khalidi, T. The Muslim Jesus: Sayings and Stories in Islamic Literature. Harvard University Press, 2000. 256 pp. ISBN: 978-0674011151. $22.00.

Lapide, P. Israelis, Jews, and Jesus. Trans. Peter Heinegg. Doubleday, 1979. 156 pp. ISBN: 0385134339. $28.

Lefebure, L. D. The Buddha & The Christ: Explorations in Buddhist and Christian Dialogue. Orbis, 1993. 239 pp. ISBN: 978-0883449240. $29.00.

Leirvik, O. Images of Jesus Christ in Islam. 2nd ed. Continuum, 2010. 304 pp. ISBN: 978-1441181602. $34.95.

Parrinder, G. Jesus in the Qur'an. The Sheldon Press and Oneworld Publication, 1995. 190 pp. ISBN: 978-1851680948. $39.95.

Robinson, N. Christ in Islam and Christianity. State University of New York Press, 1991. 235 pp. ISBN: 978-0791405581.

c.  Revelation and Scripture in comparative perspectives:

Coward, H., ed. Experiencing Scripture in World Religions. Orbis, 2000.

Coward, H. Sacred Word and Sacred Text: Scripture in World Religions. Orbis, 1988. 222 pp. ISBN: 978-0883446058.

David F. Ford, and C. C. Pecknold, eds. The Promise of Scriptural Reasoning. Blackwell, 2006. 232 pp. ISBN: 978-1405146302. $34.95.

Ipgrave, Michael, ed. Scriptures in Dialogue: Christians and Muslims Studying the Bible and the Qur'an Together. London: Church House Publishing, 2004. 154 pp. ISBN: 978-0898694659.

Levering, M., ed. Rethinking Scripture: Essays from a Comparative Perspective. State University of New York Press, 1989. 288 pp. ISBN: 978-0887066146. $31.95.

Smith, Wilfred Cantwell. What Is Scripture? A Comparative Approach. Augsburg, 2000. 392 pp. ISBN: 978-0800626082. $26.00.

Ward, K. Religion & Revelation: A Theology of Revelation in the World's Religions. Oxford University Press, 1994. 360 pp. ISBN: 978-0198263753. $60.00.

Wimbush, Vincent, ed. Theorizing Scriptures: New Critical Orientations to a Cultural Phenomenon. Rutgers University Press, 2008. 324 pp. ISBN: 978-0813542041. $32.95.

1. Required reading of 1,200 pages and critical reading responses, 14-16 pp. (40%)

2. Reading from original sources and reflective paper, 4 pp. (20%)

3. Visit to a religious site and reflective report, 2-3 pp. (10%)

4. Final research paper on a topic of your choice to be approved by the instructor, 8-9 pp. (30%)