20809263East/West World View
Course Information
Description
This course examines world views and their underlying assumptions through the study of major world religions in their philosophical, historical, and sociological contexts. The course introduces relevant philosophical issues such as the relationship between science and religion, challenges raised from nonreligious and atheistic perspectives, and contemporary perspective in religious plurality. Religions studied include (but are not limited to) the following: Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Students will be able to identify key features and differences within each religion, analyze relevant texts, place religions within a larger theoretical and practical framework, and contrast features of each world view.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Categorize religions within the Eastern World View
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral or Written Product
    Criteria
    Describe key features within religions originating from India: Hinduism and Buddhism
    Describe key features within religions originating from China: Confucianism, Chinese Buddhism, and Daoism
    Identify claims and arguments how to reconcile science and religious claims
    Identify at least one difficulty or conceptual challenge for each religion
    Identify at least one contemporary issue related to each religion

  2. Categorize religions within the Western World View
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral or Written Product
    Criteria
    Describe key features within religions originating from Abrahamic traditions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
    Identify claims and arguments how to reconcile science and religious claims
    Identify at least one difficulty or conceptual challenge for each religion
    you identify at least one contemporary issue related to each religion

  3. Analyze key themes in religious texts
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral or Written Product
    Criteria
    Identify at least one central theme per chosen text
    Analysis interprets texts within a theoretical framework
    Analysis of arguments that arise from the texts
    Analysis is constructed with bias-free language
    Analysis adheres to standard conventions of punctuation, grammar, and usage for written documents

  4. Appraise concepts and assumptions in world views
    Assessment Strategies
    Exam
    Criteria
    Appraisal evaluates the concepts between the world views
    Appraisal identifies major assumptions of the world views
    Appraisal  identifies the major arguments used to support the world view
    Appraisal  evaluates the major arguments used to support the world view

  5. Compare theoretical and practical issues in world views
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral or Written Product
    Criteria
    Identify the theoretical foundations and practices of a chosen religion
    Describe the role of rituals in a chosen religion
    Comparison aligns rituals to theoretical foundations of a chosen religion
    Comparison accurately identifies the similarities and differences among theoretical and practical issues
    Comparison includes defensible inferences

  6. Recognize the diversity between and within world views
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral or Written Product
    Criteria
    Identify strands of diversity between world views
    Identify strands of diversity within a world views
    Identify key arguments or fundamental beliefs that support the diverse world views
    Identify the causes of stereotypes within world views
    Evaluate the stereotypes within world views

  7. Analyze a current situation or event in reference to a chosen religion
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral or Written Product, Reflection
    Criteria
    Choose a religion to analyze and/or observe
    Analysis includes at least one central belief expressed by an authority within the chosen religion
    Analysis explains the relationship between the religion and a larger theoretical framework
    Analysis explains the relationship between the religion and a larger practical framework
    Analysis identifies misconceptions of the religion that cause people to be confused or unsure of the situation
    Reflection includes preconceptions of the religion
    Reflection is supported with observations and/or facts

  8. Employ constructive thinking
    Assessment Strategies
    Ongoing Self-assessment
    Criteria
    You are responsive to feedback
    You strive for accuracy
    Your work is free of confusion and contradictions
    You consider opposing points of view impartially and rationally
    You provide justification for your chosen position
    You encourage respect for individual differences and sensitivities