Course Overview

Navigating the Module

All information relating to this course is contained in the Course Information Module. To view content in this module:

  • Click Next at the bottom of the page to move sequentially through the module.
  • Click View All Module Pages at the bottom of the page to see a list of all the pages in the module. This allows you to go to a specific page.

Course Details

Title: RE109 Introduction to World Religions

Course Description: (Official course description) An introduction to the religion of humankind from the earliest records of spiritual life to the great religions of today. The course recognizes the possibilities of dialogue among the living traditions around the world and the resources within the local community.

Credit Hours: 3:0:3

Prerequisites Courses: None

Core Learning Outcomes

The intent of this course, RE109 World Religions, is to introduce to you the major historical religions of the world. At the conclusion of the course, learners will be able to:

  1. Discuss the importance of religion for people in various times and places.
  2. Analyze and apply a basic understanding of the major religions of the world, differentiating knowledgeably between diverse religious groups.
  3. Identify areas of the world where the major historical religions emerged and where they are practiced today.
  4. Demonstrate mastery of the terms, concepts and symbols associated with the many historical religions.
  5. Analyze the complex relationship between diverse religious worldviews and responsible citizenship.
  6. Synthesize knowledge from multiple disciplines and backgrounds to increase appreciation and understanding of the role of deeply held beliefs and value sets.

Course Assignments

Discussion Questions (40 points) - There will be discussion questions in Units 1- 8.  Each student will make an original post (300 words or more) to one question by 11:59 p.m. Thursday, CT (Central Time).  Students will substantively respond to two classmates (150 words for each response) each unit before Sunday 11:59 PM Central Time.

Individual Projects (20 points) - In Units 1-7, there is a project that is due to the Submission Link by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, CT (Central Time). Each project will condense and synthesize information about specific religions from reading, lecture and other sources, and record this information in table format.   There is a possibility of additional credit for those who wish to complete a WIP in Unit 8 (20 points), as well as for those who wish to compile the unit work into a single survey document (40 points).  This is the only ‘extra credit’ available in the course.

Unit Quiz (45 points) – In Units 1-8, there will be a quiz given over the assigned readings and course materials. It is to be completed by 11:59 PM on Sunday (CT) each unit. There is no cumulative final exam.

Core Assessment (400 points) - During the course of the term, each student will write four brief papers (100 points each).   One paper on a determined topic is required of all students in the first unit, as an introduction to our study.  The remaining three papers are on topics of student choice, according to instructions within the assignment information. Papers will be roughly 1000-1200 words, and must be submitted by Sunday 11:59 PM Central Time of the unit in which they are assigned to be considered for credit.  The only exception to this is papers addressing a topic of unit 8:  possible topics will be revealed in Unit 7, and will be due no later than Thursday of Unit 8.

Course Policies

In addition to the posted Park University policies, students must realize that in a course where we discuss varieties of religious belief, both sensitivity and respect are called for.  There may be things which you do not understand and with which you disagree.  Nevertheless, every society in human history has given rise to religious belief, and it behooves us to approach these beliefs with a mind open to what they can tell us and what we can learn.

Academic honesty is taken seriously in this course.  Any discovered plagiarism, whether accidental or deliberate, may result in a failing grade for the assignment.  Any discovered plagiarism in a subsequent work may result in a formal warning, and depending upon the severity of the breach, in dismissal from the class.

Please avail yourselves of the Park information on plagiarism, available on the website.  There are numerous additional websites available by googling, to help you understand plagiarism and to guard against this mistake.  If you have questions, please contact your instructor.

Work must be submitted within the instructional unit assigned, before Sunday 11:59 PM Central Time.  There is no credit for late work, and with the exception of an additional task in the Unit Individual Project, there is no extra credit available.  Note due dates and get your work in on time.  Occasional exceptions to this may be made by prior arrangement with the instructor, and entirely at the instructor’s discretion.

Writing quality is an assessment area in this course.  Spelling and grammar are very important in an online course, as the written word is the way we communicate with each other. What you put into an online course reflects on your level of professionalism, and your work will be assessed accordingly.

Required Knowledge and Technology

Technical Skills

      • Email (sending, receiving, uploading and downloading attachments)
      • Word processing (creating, saving, uploading and downloading documents)
      • Threaded discussions (posting, replying, uploading and downloading attachments)
      • Submitting assignments via LMS course tools

Technology

      • MS Word
      • MS PowerPoint
      • Adobe Acrobat

VIEW ALL MODULES