SYBA Philosophy Applied Comp Paper III IV Sem III_1 Syllabus Mumbai University by munotes
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Course Title: Comparative Religions
Semester III Credits: 02
Code: UACR3 01 Marks: 100
Lectures: 60
The objectives of the paper on s tudy of major world Religions are:
a. To arrive at an informed understanding of the diversity and complexity of World
Religions
b. To develop religious sensitivity necessary to understand the contemporary world
c. Through this understanding to lay the foundations for inter -faith dialogue,
necessary for peace and harmony in the society.
Unit - 1
Zoroastrianism (15 lectures)
Beginnings of the Prophetic and monotheistic tradition. Foundation, rise and spread with
reference to geography and cultural milieu. Fundamental belief system —Ahura Mazda and
Angra Mainyu in opposition, Spiritual and Material World, Man, Evil , Eschatology.
Practices— Ritual purity, Prayer, Worship , Rituals, Rites of Passage, Unique disposal of the
dead and Ecology. Festivals and their significance. Calendar. Canon. Zoroastrianism in confluence and divergence with other World Religions.
Unit - 2 (15 lectures)
Judaism
The Abrahamic tradition. Foundation, rise and spread with reference to geography and
cultural milieu. Significance of the Covenants with Abraham and Moses. Fundamental belief
system -- God, Man, Creation, Evil, Eschatology. Practices --Prayer, Worship, Rituals, Rites of
Passage, Observance of the Sabbath and Kosher. Festivals and their significance. Calendar.
Canon, Judaism in confluence and divergence with other World Religions.
Unit - 3 (15 lectures)
Christianity
Continuing the Abrahamic tradition —the new covenant . Foundation, rise and spread with
reference to geography and cultural milieu. Life and teachings of Jesus Christ, the apostolic
tradition . The d evelopme nt of Christian Theology – The c oncepts of Trinity, Original Sin,
Crucifixion and Redemption. Evil, Eschatology. Practices --Prayer, Worship, Rituals,
Sacraments, Festivals and their significance. Calenda r. Canon, Christianity in confluence and
divergence with other World Religions.
Unit- 4 (15 lectures)
Islam
The place of Abraham in Islam. Socio -political conditions in Pre -Islamic Arabia and the age
of jahiliy ya. Prophethood and the continuing tradition with other Abrahamic faiths. . The life
of the Prophet. Foundation, rise and spread with reference to geography and cultural milieu.
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Fundamental belief system —Tauhid, Rasul, Kutub, Qiyamat. Practices— the five pillars of
Islam, transactions: nikah, talaq, virasat, Mystical tradition -Sufis m. Festivals and their
significance. The two Jihads. Calendar. Canon. Islam in confluence and divergence with
other World Religions.
References and reading list
Breuilly, Elizabeth, Joan O’Brien and Martin Palmer. Religions of the World: The Illustrated
Guide to Origins, Beliefs, Traditions & Festivals. Checkmark Books. 2005
Burke, T. Patrick. The Major Religions . Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers. 1996
Eastman Roger . The Ways of Religion . Oxford 1993
Hinnells, John Red. A New Dictionary of Religions . Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers.
1997
Hinnells, John Red. A New Handbook of Living Religions . Cambridge, MA: Blackwell
Publishers. 1997
Hopfe, Lewis M. Religions of the World .(6th Ed). New York: Macmillan College Publishing.
1994 Markham, Ian S (ed.). A World Religions Reader . Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers.
1996
Masih, Y. A Comparative Study of Religions. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. 2010
Matthews, Warren. World Religions . St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company.1991
Muhiyaddin, M. A. A Comparat ive Study of the Religions of Today. Vantage Press. 1984.
Paden E., William. Religious Worlds: The Comparative Study of Religion . Beacon
Press. 1994
Radhakrishnan, S. Eastern Religions and Western Thought. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
1990
Schade, Jo hannes P. (ch. ed). Encyclopedia of World Religions . Concord Publishing.2006
Smith, Huston. Forgotten Truth: The Common Vision of the World’s Reli gions. Harper -One.
2009
Smith, Huston. The World’s Religions (ed. 2) HarperCollins.2009
Tiwari, K.N. Comparat ive Religio n. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. 1983
Zaehner, R.C.(ed.) The Concise Encyclopedia of Living Faiths . Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
1959
A Lion Handbook- The World Religio ns- Lion Publishing, 1992 .
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Course Title: Comparative Religions Semester IV Credits: 03
Code: UACR4 01 Marks: 100
Lectures: 60
The objectives of the paper on s tudy of major world Religions are:
a. To arrive at an informed understanding of the diversity and complexity of World
Religions
b. To develop religious sensitivity necessary to understand the contemporary world
c. Through this understanding to lay the foundations for inter -faith dialogue,
necessary for peace and harmony in the society.
Unit - 1
Hinduism
Debates on constructing the category “Hinduism”, Pre -Vedic r eligions, origin and antiquity
of the Vedas; Vedic Texts (Shruti and Smriti), an introduction to later Vedic scriptures
(Brahmanas and Aranyakas). , The emergence and development of the Upanishads,
fundamental concepts of Classical Hinduism: Brahman -atman, karma, mokhsa, and samsara;
Epic literature: Mahabharata and Ramayana; the place of the Bhagwad Gita, the early and
late Puranas. Classical Hindu Society; the Dharma Shastras -corpus, classification an d
content; varna -asharma dharma and the four goals of l ife (purusharthas); the three paths to
salvation. Philosophical worldviews (darshanas) Bhakti Tradition. Religious Expressions
(Puja, Vrata, Tirtha). Festivals and their significance. Calendar. Hinduism in confluence and
divergence with other World Religions.
Unit - 2
Buddhism
Shramanna tradition/ Nastik Darshana Genesis of Early Buddhism: Socio- historical roots,
cultural milieu of the rise of early Buddhism and ideological setting; Buddhism as a protest
movement? Spread of Buddhism and causes for its decline in India. 20th century.
Fundamental Buddhist Thoughts: The Four Noble Truths; The Eight Fold Path (Astamârga),
Dependent Origination; philosophy of Non- self (anattâ/anâtman). Concept of ni rvâna;
Karma/kamma and rebirth and its divergence with the Jaina an d Brahmanical notions of
karma. Festivals and their significance. Canon. Buddhism in confluence and divergence with
other World Religions.
Unit - 3
Jainism
Shramanna tradition/ Nastik Dars hana. Genesis of Jainism: Socio -historical roots, cultural
milieu of the rise of early Jainism and ideological setting; Jainism as a protest movement?
The world, Karma and rebirth, the soul. The triratnas, mahavrattas and anuvrattas. Special
place of ahimsa. Fast, worship, pilgrimage.Festivals and their significance. Canon. Jainism
in confluence and divergence with other World Religions
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Unit 4
Sikhism
Sikhism as a syncretic religion. Socio cultural roots. Foundation and spread. Nanak and the
Guru tradition . The practice. Simran, Seva, The formation of the Khalsa , Sangat, Langar
Dasvandh. 5 Ks, concept of haumia, liberation, three core values: naam japna, kirt karna, wand chakkna. The ascetic path. Festivals and their significance . Canon. Sikhism in
confluence and divergence with other World Religions
References and reading list
Breuilly, Elizabeth, Joan O’Brien and Martin Palmer. Religions of the World: The Illustrated
Guide to Origins, Beliefs, Traditions & Festivals. Checkmark Books. 2005
Burke, T. Patrick. The Major Religions . Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers. 1996
Eastman Roger. The Ways of Religion . Oxford 1993
Hinnells, John Red. A New Dictionary of Religions . Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers.
1997
Hinnel ls, John Red. A New Handbook of Living Religions . Cambridge, MA: Blackwell
Publishers. 1997
Hopfe, Lewis M. Religions of the World .(6th Ed). New York: Macmillan College Publishing.
1994
Markham, Ian S (ed.). A World Religions Reader . Cambridge, MA: Blackwe ll Publishers.
1996
Masih, Y. A Comparative Study of Religions. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. 2010
Matthews, Warren. World Religions . St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company.1991
Muhiyaddin, M. A. A Comparative Study of the Religions of Today. Vantage Press. 1984.
Paden E., William. Religious Worlds: The Comparative Study of Religion . Beacon
Press. 1994
Radhakrishnan, S. Eastern Religions and Western Thought. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
1990
Schade, Johannes P. (ch. ed). Encyclopedia of World Religions . Concord Publishing.2006
Smith, Huston. Forgotten Truth: The Common Vision of the World’s Reli gions. Harper -One.
2009
Smith, Huston. The World’s Religions (ed. 2) HarperCollins.2009
Page 5
Tiwari, K.N. Comparative Religio n. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. 1983
Zaeh ner, R.C.(ed.) The Concise Encyclopedia of Living Faiths . Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
1959
A Lion Handbook- The World Religio ns- Lion Publishing, 1992 .