REL220.001
Survey of Asian Religions

Courtyard of a Chinese temple
in Singapore.

Professor
Dr. Steven Ramey
sramey@bama.ua.edu

Spring 2007
Office: 202 Manly Hall
Office Phone: 348-4218
Course number: 14810
Course: TR 9:30-10:45
Location: Garland 203

About Online Readings

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Description

In this course we will examine Asian religious traditions in specific regional contexts. We will investigate Islam, Hinduism, and Sikhism in the context of India; Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism in Singapore; and Buddhism and Shinto in Japan. Through this regional approach, we will survey the texts, practices, and ideals of each tradition in the context of the complexity of contemporary life that includes the interactions, both positive and negative, between the different religious communities.

Syllabus

Spring 2009 Syllabus (PDF) TBA

Spring 2009 Reading Schedule (PDF) TBA

Terms for Religions (PDF)

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Books (required)

Adler, Joseph
Chinese Religious Traditions
Prentice Hall,
ISBN 0130911631

Knott, Kim
Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction
Oxford Press
ISBN 0192853872

Lopez, Donald, ed
Religions of Asia in Practice
Princeton Press
ISBN 0691090610

Mehta, Gita
A River Sutra
Vintage Press
ISBN 0679752471

Readings

"Japanese Religion," Harper Collins (PDF)

"New Religions in Japan," Harper Collins (PDF)

"Islam," Harper Collins Dictionary (PDF)

Tea Ceremony (PDF)