Welcome to the course website for Winter 2014

Course Information

Instructor:                 Niko Kwiatkowski

Email:                       nicholas.kwiatkowski@mhcc.edu

Room:                       AC 1608

Office Location:         AC 2682

Office Hours:             W & F   11:00-11:30 am

Required Text:          Experiencing the World's Religions by Molloy

Course Overview

This course is designed to give students an overview of the world’s major religions.  We will begin by discussing themes common amongst various indigenous spiritualities, followed by studies of four major Eastern faiths: Daoism, Confucianism, Hinduism and Buddhism, and then move on to the three major Western monotheisms: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  Each of these faiths will be regarded in its historical as well as contemporary context, as religions are living entities that play major roles in global events and contribute towards the character of everyday life in many cultures.  Independent learning will be emphasized, as will critical thinking skills and class participation.  Lectures will resemble a seminar format.  

Course Objectives

1.  Identify the distinctions and similarities of each religion

2.  Compare and contrast the different religious viewpoints across selected, specific issues

3.  Recognize the founders of the religions, the circumstances that crystallized each religion, and the historical developments of each religion

4.  Identify the primary traditions and rituals of different religious practices.