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.

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 be conducted on the Internet using a 10-week lesson program aligned with Fuller's academic calendar. Each week, students and the instructor will interact with the material and each other through journaling, threaded discussions, presentations, and web-based research. Lectures for each lesson will be available online.

REQUIRED READING (*Core textbooks):

*Ludwig, T. The Sacred Paths. 4th ed. Prentice Hall, 2006 (selected pp.). ISBN: 9780131539037. Pub. price $107.20. E-textbook version $42.90.

*Kärkkäinen, V.-M. An Introduction to the Theology of Religions. InterVarsity Press, 2003 (selected pp.) ISBN: 083082572X. Pub. price $29.00.

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

Original texts: Reading of your choice (50 pp. min.), from, e.g., Hindu Vedas or Upanishads, Buddhist Dhammapada or Heart Sutra (Prajna Paramita) or the Muslim Quran (all available online).

Selected Articles TBA (all available through Fuller Online Database).

Choose one:

Braswell, G.W., Jr. Islam: Its Prophet, Peoples, Politics and Power. Broadman & Holman, 1996. 352 pp. ISBN: 9780805411690. Pub. price. $24.99. OR

Esposito, John L. Islam: The Straight Path. 4th ed. Oxford University Press, USA, 2010 (pp. 85-295). ISBN: 9780195396003. Pub. price $45.95. OR

Maguire, J. Essential Buddhism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs and Practices. Pocket Books, 2001. 288 pp. ISBN: 9780671041885. Pub. price $15.95. OR

Hawley, J.S., and Vashuda Narayanan, ed. The Life of Hinduism. 337 pp. University of California Press, 2006. ISBN: 9780520249141. Pub. price $25.95.

Choose one on an interfaith topic (students may also suggest a title of their own choice to be approved by instructor). NOTE: Choice of interfaith topic should be in conjunction with the choice of book above (i.e. if you chose Esposito on Islam, you should choose Islam as a subject from the list below. One of your assignments will incorporate both texts):

Buddhist-Christian Studies journal: find at least five articles of your choice.

Christian Witness to Hindus: Report of the Consultation on World Evangelization; Mini-Consultation on Reaching Hindus, Pattaya, Thailand, 16-27 June 1980 (http://www.lausanne.org); AND Sheth, Noel. "Hindu Avatara and Christian Incarnation," Philosophy of East & West 52/1 (2002): 98-125.

Gross, R.M., and T.C. Muck. Buddhists Talk about Jesus, Christians Talk about the Buddha. Continuum, 2003. 156 pp. ISBN: 9780826411969. Pub. price $24.95.

Hindu-Christian Studies journal: find at least five articles of your choice.

Kulandran, Subapathy. Grace in Christianity and Hinduism. Lutterworth Press, 2004. 280 pp. ISBN: 9780227172360. Pub. price $52.50.

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

Leirvik, O. Images of Jesus Christ in Islam. Uppsala: Swedish Institute of Missionary Research, 1999. 292 pp. ISBN: 9781441181602. Pub. price $34.95.

Nazir Ali, Michael. Frontiers in Muslim-Christian Encounter. 1st rpt. Regnum Books, 1991. 192 pp. ISBN: 9781597529143. Pub. price $22.00.

Volf, Miroslav. Allah: A Christian Response. HarperOne, 2011. 336 pp. ISBN 9780061927072.

1. Weekly threaded discussions (20%) and journaling (10%)

2. Required reading of 1,200 pages and critical reading responses (20%)

3. Reading from original sources (50 pp.) and a 2-page reflective paper (10%)

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

5. Final research paper of 8-10 pages on a topic of your choice to be approved by instructors (30%).