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.

Confucian Poetry (This will be done In class Wednesday)

Please read through some of these selections from Confucian poetry.  How do the poems here compare with the poetry in the Bible?  Do they serve a similar function?  How do they reinforce Confucian teaching?

Look also at the I Ching.  What would have made this work attractive?  How would it have reinforced Confucian teaching?

Confucius and his teachings

For Tuesday, please read through the selections from Confucian teaching (pp 111-144) in your Novak anthology.  Choose one or two selections from Confucius that you think would be particularly useful reminders in American society today, some things worth learning from Confucian teaching.  Explain why you think those ideas particularly important.

An Eight-fold Road: Buddha and his Message

Please read the story of the Buddha and the selections from Buddhist teachings in the Novak anthology (pp. 50-94).  Please note that I am more interested in the quality of your reading than the quantity.  I had much rather you read 20 pages carefully than the whole of the selection superficially.

Buddhism, like Christianity, is a missionary religion, a religion whose followers belief they have a responsibility to share their message with the rest of the world.  What do you find in the story of the Buddha or in his teachings that a Buddhist mind particularly find important to share with others?

Wise men and an elephant

Please read through either Huston Smith's chapter on Hinduism (pp. 12-81) or Prothero's chapter on Hinduism (pp. 131-168).  Summarize here one aspect of Hindu teaching that the chapter you read particularly emphasizes and that seems to you particularly helpful in understanding Hindu faith. 

Hindu law and literature

Please read the selections from Hindu sacred scripture in the Novak anthology (pp. 1-39).  Please also read any one or two chapters from the Code of Manu. (Choose your chapters at random: it will help class discussion if students have read different chapters). 

Hinduism is the one polytheistic religion that thrives in the modern world.  What do you see in the readings here that shows why Hinduism is a road people might still find attractive?  What do you see here that would suggest that the would tend to support Huston Smith's view that all the great world religions point to the same general truths?  What do you see here that would tend to support Prothero's view that the major religions are very different?

Welcome!

In understanding history (and life in general) few subjects are more important than religion.  And yet, in general, the American educational system has little place for the discussion of religion and religious ideas--a serious defect.

In this class, we'll explore the world's seven most important religious traditions, thinking about important issues that, far too often, are shoved into the background.  We'll be reading selections from some of the most important works ever written, and you'll have the chance to share your ideas on these works both in class and on this blog.  

To get started, here's a test of the History 492 blog system. If you don't already have one, please create for yourself a "Blogger" account by following the instructions at http://www.blogger.com/. Be sure to create a blogger profile which includes your e-mail address. Otherwise, I can't reply directly to your post.

To make sure your e-mail address is accessible to me, please log on to your blogger account. Click "edit profile" (toward the top on the right). Then click the box that says to make your e-mail address accessible.

When you have created your blogger account and your profile, click the "comments" link below, and answer one (1) of the following questions:

1. What is religion?  Why is it important?
2. What religious figure do you find the most interesting and why?
3. Which religious text do you find the most interesting and why?
4. Why do you think religion is much less studied in school than it used to be?