Spring 2013/Pasadena

Fuller Live! with Menlo Park and Houston

MR546

Rodriguez

MR546: MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS. Augusto Rodriguez.

DESCRIPTION: This course examines the origin and development of those religions, which undergird East, South, and Southeast Asian worldviews and societies namely, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, Confucianism and Taoism, Japanese Religions and Shinto. This course will provide an overview of the world’s major religions including their emergence, core beliefs and practices, and their understanding of the human predicament and salvation. Emphasis will be given on comparison and contrast with Christianity in order to develop strategies to be able to bear witness to Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: After completing this course students will: (1) be able to describe major eastern world religions; (2) be able to identify their main beliefs and rituals; (3) have a better appreciation of their Christian faith; (4) develop a personal strategy for evangelistic purposes

COURSE FORMAT: This course meets on five Saturdays during the quarter for six hours each Saturday. It will consist of lectures and media presentations on topics describing each religion. Students are expected to read the required selections from the textbooks.

REQUIRED READING: If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the faculty.

Anderson, Norman. Las Religiones del Mundo. Editorial Mundo Hispano, Octava Edición, 2009. ISBN: 978-0311057672, Pub.price $15.50 [151 pp. assigned].

Braswell, George. Guía Holman de Religiones del Mundo. Broadman & Holman, 2005. ISBN: 978-0805432763. Pub.price $12.99 [121 pp. assigned].

Corduan, Winfried. Guía de las Religiones del Mundo. Publicaciones Andamio, 2008. ISBN: 978-8496551343, Pub.price $17.99 [65 pp. assigned].

Green, Michael and McGrath, Alister. Cómo llegar a ellos? Defendamos y Comuniquemos la Fe Cristiana a los no CreyentesEditorial CLIE, 2003. ISBN: 978-8482673301, Pub.price $14.99 [145 pp. assigned].

Terhart, Franjo and Schulze, Janina. Religiones del Mundo: Origen, Historia, Prácticas, Creencias, y Cosmovisión. Parragon Books, 2007. ISBN: 978-1405490436, Pub.price $19.99 [170 pp. assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Braswell, George. What you need to Know about Islam and Muslims. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2000. ISBN: 9780805418293, Pub.price $10.99.

Lingenfelter, Sherwood G. and Mayers, Marvin. Ministering Cross-culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships. Baker Book House, 1986. ISBN: 978-0801026478, Pub.price $14.99.

McDermott, Gerald. Can Evangelicals Learn from World Religions? Jesus, Revelation and Religious Traditions. InterVarsity Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0830822744, Pub.price $19.00.

Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. Islam: Religion, History, and Civilization. Harper San Francisco, 2003. ISBN: 978-0060507145, Pub.price $13.99.

Ring, Nancy, Introduction to the Study of Religion. Oribs Books, 2002. ISBN: 978-1570751837, Pub.price $32.00.

Robinson, Thomas and Hillary Rodrigues, Hillary. World Religions: A Guide to the Essentials. Hendrikson Publishers, 2006. ISBN: 978-1565633179, Pub.price $34.95.

ASSIGNMENTS:

  1. Attendance and participation (10% of grade)

  2. Two 1000-word (3-4 pages) essays on personal reflection and analysis of two religions of your choice (20% each; in total 40% of the total grade)

  3. FINAL paper (12-15 pages) (50% of grade)

PREREQUISITES: Spanish. Auditors are welcome but are required to come prepared to participate in class.

RELATION TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Missions (MIN 8). Meets the requirement for World Religions (WREL) in cultural literacy or the requirement in Globalization (GLBL) in MA programs.

FINAL EXAM: No.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.