ESSAY ASSIGNMENT
This essay is your opportunity to synthesize the materials and concepts that we learned this semester in our whirlwind tour of the history of seven of the world's religions that have the largest number of adherents or followers Judaism, Christianity and 'slain today: Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism,
Your overall task is to demonstrate what you have learned about how to study religion from an academic are discussing. I will be looking for the following things in essay.
1. Effective communication. Because history and religious studies are basically humanistic, written, disciplines, it is important for us to be able to communicate effectively in writing. Make sure to write clearly and to proof read your essay before you send it to me. Each paragraph should address one idea and should include a topic sentence. You must use complete sentences, each with a subject and a verb. Spelling and grammar are important for this assignment.
2. Evidence. Effective writing in the humanities requires careful use of evidence and examples. Make sure that you explain fully the significance of the examples you use for your explanation or argument. You are the one who must make the connections for the readers. You should have at least one piece of evidence to support and illustrate each point that you are making.
3. Awareness of diversity. This class is a cultural diversity class and one of the challenges that we faced was to use our "historical imagination" and humanistic empathy to understand the perspectives of others, even if we don't happen to agree with them. In your essay you should show awareness that other people may differ in their understanding of religious concepts.
4. Awareness of historical context. In the study of religion, we must be aware that ideas and practices are part of human experience and thought and as such are shaped by cultural context. This includes awareness of different periods of history and the challenges to human existence that are faced in those periods. We also need to be aware of geographical, political, and social circumstances when trying to understand and analyze world religions.
5. Appropriate use of vocabulary. Like every discipline, religious studies have its own vocabulary which is utilized in the study of religion. Moreover, each religion has its own terms and concepts that we have used this semester. In your essay, make sure to use the appropriate terms and vocabulary when discussing each religion.
Essay Topics: Choose ONE of the following topics.
A. One of the basic questions addressed in your textbook is: "Why are there religions?" The book offers three different basic foundations or approaches to the study of religion as this study developed in the time of the Enlightenment: the materialist, functional, and belief perspectives. Explain briefly what each one of these perspectives entails and explain which perspective you found most helpful in your own study of world religions this semester.
B. An essential component of all the world religions we studied this semester is ritual. Give a brief explanation of what ritual is. Select a ritual (personal or communal) from each of the religions studied this semester and explains how it encapsulates for you the essence of that religion.
C. Although not all the religions we studied this semester can be considered "theistic" religions, they did all reflect some kind of concept of the divine, of "God". Compare the concept of God or "godness" in each of the religions studied in this class. Are there any cultural and historical factors that you can identify as possibly helping to shape these different perspectives? Explain.
D. Your textbook identifies seven dimensions of religion. Discuss the presence of these dimensions in each of the religions we studied this semester. Did you notice that one or another of the dimensions predominated in any of the religions? That is, was one religion more ritualistic than another, was one more focused on ethical and philosophical issues, and so on? Identify what you consider to be the main feature of each of these religions and explain why you think the religion developed historically in that direction.
E. One of the greatest challenges for each religion studied this semester is the encounter between tradition and modernity. Discuss the nature of this challenge and ways in which each religion has responded to the challenge. Feel free to draw on the films we watched in class for examples in your discussion.
F. The study of religions is also a humanistic discipline and gives us insight into the nature of humanity with our shared concerns, goals, fears, and hopes. What insights into humanity did you gain from the study of world religions? Give an example from each of the religions studied.
G. Throughout history, people have used the humanities to express and explain their core religious values and beliefs (philosophy, literature, art, etc.). The use of -film in the academic study of religion in this class is a recognition of the role of the arts in this study. How did the films help you learn about the characteristics of each religion studied this term? Did they raise important questions? Give you significant insights? Offer an example from each film.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also Include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.