Question: 1. What are the characteristics of religion? What distinguishes religion from quasi-religious movements such as Marxism, Nazism, Nationalism, etc.?
2. What is reductionism in the study of religion?
3. According to the Pew Research Center more than 20% of American adults identify as SBNR. What are the shared beliefs of the SBNR?
4. What is religious pluralism/multiculturalism according to Diana Eck? Is it syncretism? Relativism? Tolerance? How is it related to immigration? Address the issue by reference to the case of Bhagat Singh Thind and the Bill of Rights.
1. What are the goals of life in Hinduism as addressed by Huston Smith? How does it relate to stages of life?
2. What are the four Varnas? How can you relate it to the idea of the good as presented in the idea of Dharma in Hinduism?
3. What are Atman and Brahman? Explain the relation between the two and what they imply in Hindu thought.
4. What are the sacred texts of Hinduism? What is central in the Vedas? How was that changed by the Upanishad?
5. What are the perceptions and beliefs of Hinduism towards the earth's living system? Refer to elements and forces of nature and other points in "Hinduism and deep ecology" article as well as any points you have gathered from Huston Smith.
6. What are the three jewels/refuges?
7. What was the experience of Gautama's awakening? Explain the four passing sights. How was he a rebel saint?
8. What are the four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold path?
9. What are the different forms of Buddhism? Point to some differences between some variances in Buddhism.
10. How are the concepts of Dharma and Karma understood in Hinduism and Buddhism?
11. How does Buddhist belief system view nature? How does engaged Buddhism address the concerns of deep ecology?