WR-232: Western Religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

School
Liberal Arts
Division
Humanities
Department
Religious Studies
Academic Level
Undergraduate
Course Subject
World Religions
Course Number
232
Course Title
Western Religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Credit Hours
3.00
Instructor Contact Hours Per Semester
47.00 (for 15-week classes)
Student Contact Hours Per Semester
47.00 (for 15-week classes)
Grading Method
A-E
Pre-requisites
Eligible to take ENG courses at HFC.
Catalog Course Description

Explores the differences and commonalities among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Discusses how to help sensitize others to the diverse ways that Western religious traditions pursue the basic questions of ultimate reality. Also examines how to define religion, explore its function and purpose, and identify the origins of Western religious motifs still very much in evidence in the twentieth century.

Goals, Topics, and Objectives

Core Course Topics
  1. What is monotheism?
  2. The covenant in the Hebrew scriptures
  3. Assyrian and Babylonian invasions; exile and return
  4. The book of Job and ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’
  5. The yearnings and expectations of the ‘end of days’ before, during and after Jesus
  6. Biblical and Rabbinical Judaism; the shaping of Mishnah and Talmud
  7. The religion of Jesus transformed into the religion about Jesus; The New Testament
  8. Paul and early Christian factions
  9. Creeds, Trinity, and original sin
  10. The Great Schism and the Protestant Reformation
  11. The Arab world before Muhammad
  12. Muhammad, the Qur’an and Hadith
  13. The succession; Shiah and Sunna factions
  14. The succession; Shiah and Sunna factions
  15. Extremism and fundamentalism in religions
Core Course Learning Objectives (Separated)
  1. Describe an understanding of time and chronology in theological study.
  2. Analyze and interpret historical and theological events.
  3. Identify the relationships between the monotheistic religions.
  4. Describe an understanding of historical continuity and change.*
  5. Explain the major events, personalities, and places in religious history covered in this course.

Assessment and Requirements

Assessment of Academic Achievement

Each instructor will identify and implement appropriate methods to assess the achievement of the learning objectives for the course.  Such methods could include objective style tests, essays, research papers, journals, projects, etc.

Outcomes

General Education Categories
  • Humanities and Fine Arts
MTA Categories
  • Category 5: Humanities and Fine Arts
Satisfies Wellness Requirement
No

Credit for Prior College-Level Learning

Options for Credit for Prior College-Level Learning
Other
Other Details

Determined by department

Effective Term
Fall 2022