Religious Dimensions

Description

Courses in this learning domain offer students the opportunity to explore the explicitly religious dimensions of life and culture. These dimensions are found in the culturally embedded narratives, beliefs and practices of particular religions, as well as in encounters with realities perceived to be ultimate or sacred. Through myth, symbol, ritual and doctrine, these religions not only provide order and meaning, they also carry capacities to challenge and transform individuals and societies. Intellectual and social maturity requires understanding the unique contributions, both positive and negative, of the religious traditions of the world to culture and consciousness. It also requires coming to terms with questions of ultimacy. This learning domain offers courses with comparative, thematic or ethical focus, as well as courses in specific traditions.

Meeting Liberal Studies Program Goals

Of the major emphases of the Liberal Studies Program, courses in the Religious Dimensions learning domain will encourage critical reflection regarding the religious traditions of the world, a consciousness of the way that visions of reality, values and spiritualities have been shaped in and by such traditions, creative responses to these traditions, and a sympathetic sense of the global diversity of traditions. The study of religion is an interdisciplinary endeavor, and courses in Religious Dimensions will undoubtedly reflect the cross-fertilization of religious studies with many other disciplines in the humanities, arts, and social sciences.

Student Requirements

Students will take two courses, in any order, in this learning domain. One course will be selected from the category of Patterns and Problems. Another course will be selected from the category Traditions in Context.

Criteria for Inclusion

A. Courses included in the category Patterns and Problems must meet both of the following two criteria:

1. Understand distinctively religious life and practice, either through a critical comparison of two or more religious traditions, or through an analytic or normative treatment of explicitly religious themes or issues; and
   
   
2. Identify explicitly religious modes of thinking, reflecting, acting and feeling, in their personal significance and/or communal dimensions
   
   

Possible examples include: exploration of religious ethics from a comparative perspectives on death; comparative study of religious myth and symbol; Buddhist-Christian dialogue; debates about the existence of God; business ethics; Vincentian spirituality; women and religion. This list is meant to be illustrative and not exhaustive.

B. Courses in the category Traditions in Context examine the origins and historical development of particular religious traditions, and the impact that religions, cultures, and societies have had upon each other. All courses in this category must explore one or more religious traditions’ evolving self-understanding, and discern the distinctive features by which outside interpreters recognize those traditions. In addition, courses must meet at least one of the following two criteria:

1. study the interactions of specific religions and cultures in specific historic settings; and/or
   
   
2. investigate the role of religious movements as forces of personal and social change.

Possible examples include: the Islamic tradition; religious literature of ancient Israel; Chinese popular religion; African independent churches; Catholic liberation movements in Latin America; socially engaged Buddhism in Asia; the historical Jesus; Hinduism and Indian politics. This list is meant to be illustrative and not exhaustive.