They say that all good things must end

For the last three weeks, we've been exploring the most important of the "world" religions.  Each of these faiths could easily be the topic for an entire class, and I hope that you've found at least some topics that you're interested in learning more about on your own.

For this last blog, please identify a theme (or a couple of themes) connected to world religions that you would like to explore in greater depth.  What would you like to have explored as a topic if there had been a third required paper? 

Muhammad and his message

For Wednesday's class please read the selections from the Qur'an (pp. 282-311) in your Novak anthology.  What do you see here that helps explain how Islam becomes a world religion?

If you have time, please read read also select whatever sections of the Hadith interest you.  If you need to catch up on blog points, you may comment on additional Qur'an or Hadith passages for extra credit.  Please address each Qur'an or Hadith passage you talk about in a separate paragraph.

Gospel (extra credit)

Please skim through any of the gospels or any other New Testament book of your choice.  Cite here a verse or passage that helps explain the success of Christianity as a "world" religion.  If you are behind on blog entries, you may add comments on ideas from additional New Testament books.  Please address each book in a separate blog comment.

The narrow road: Jesus and his message

Please read through the selections on Christianity in the Novak anthology (pp. 225-264).  What do you see here that hints at the potential for Christianity to become a "world" religion?

Diaspora Judaism (extra readings)

I assume most of you will be working on papers and won't have any time for blog entries today (Thursday).  If you do get a chance, you might read through the various post-Tanakh Jewish writings on pp. 213-225 of the Novak anthology.  What do you see here that helps explain Judaisms ability to hold its own as a "world" religion?

Law, Prophets, Writings: The Hebrew Bible

Please read some of the selections from the Tanakh (Old Testament) in the Novak anthology (pp. 176-212).   In my opinion, Novak has done an excellent job in highlighting some of the most important passages in the three major sections of the Hebrew Bible, the Torah (law), Neviim (prophets), and Kituvim (writings). What do you see in these passages that helps explain why the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob eventually led, not to just one, but to three "world" religions? 

TheTao or not the Tao?

Please read the selections from Taoism in your Novak anthology (pp.145-174).  If you have time, you might also read the Zen Buddhist selections (pp. 95-102).

For some, Taoism points to the deepest of all wisdom.  To others, Taoism seems like a put-on: deep-sounding, but really meaningless.  Cite a couple of passages from the readings that support one of these views.