WR-238: Hinduism

This course is INACTIVE
School
Liberal Arts
Division
Social Sciences
Department
Religious Studies
Academic Level
Undergraduate
Course Subject
World Religions
Course Number
238
Course Title
Hinduism
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
WR-233, grade "C" or better
Catalog Course Description

Introduces and explores the history, and core beliefs, practices, and experiences of Hinduism. Emphasizes the range of diverse ideas, values, and practices within Hinduism.

Goals, Topics, and Objectives

Core Course Topics
  1. Origins and developments in ancient Hinduism
    • Explain that there is no single founder or set of religious beliefs characterizing "Hinduism"
    • Summarize Aryan polytheistic religion. Topics to be discussed include, but are not limited to:
      • Polytheistic gods and goddesses of importance to the Aryans
      • Rituals (i.e. Soma rituals and/or fire rituals)
      • Structure of the caste system
      • Stages of life
      • Importance of the priesthood (Brahmins)
      • Main concern in the original Vedas revolved around ritual and the priesthood
  2. Vedanta and the Upanishads
    • Define the term "Vedanta"
    • Define the term "Upanishads"
    • Discuss the major shifts in religious emphasis represented by the Upanishads
    • Compare and summarize the major concepts found in the Upanishads (Brahman, Atman, Maya, Samsara, Karma, and Moksha)
    • Analyze ways in which these ideas, as a whole, express the conviction that release from rebirth is possible through an accurate understanding the underlying nature of the universe
    • Additional topics discussed by the instructor may include, but are not limited to:
      • Sanatana Dharma
      • Bhagavad Gita
      • Epics such as the Mahabharata or Ramayana
      • Shankara and Advaita Vedanta
  3. Yoga
    • Discuss the term "yoga"
    • Explain why yoga traditionally has held, and continues to hold, great importance in Hinduism
    • Compare and contrast various types of yogas, including but not limited to:
      • Jnana yoga
      • Karma yoga
      • Bhakti yoga
    • Describe the relationship of meditation (dhyana) to yoga
  4. Bhakti, Vaishnavism, and Shaivism
    • Summarize basic elements of the Bhakti movement of medieval India, with particular emphasis on its relationship to Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, and Smartism
    • Analyze characteristics associated with the gods Shiva and Vishnu
    • Explain the term "shakti"
    • Discuss the antiquity of goddess worship in India
    • Compare the nonsectarian nature of Smartism to Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism
    • Additional topics that instructors may choose to discuss include, but are not limited to:
      • Prasad
      • Puja
      • Linga and yoni
      • "The Great Night of Shiva" (Maha Shivaratri)
      • Vaishnava pilgrimmage sites
      • Hindu deities as expressed in art
  5. Hindu Influence, Impact, and Expansion
    • Explain that Hinduism continues to be one of the world's largest and most influential religions. An instructor may choose to discuss, but is not limited to, the following:
      • Discuss how Max Mueller helped to found the academic discipline of religious studies, and analyze the influence of his writings regarding the Aryan ideal in Nazism
      • Discuss the life and perspectives of Helena Blavatsky, showing her impact upon the stated objectives and basic philosophical views of the Theosophical Society, and ways that her thoughts served to shape educational models such as the Steiner and Waldorf schools
      • Summarize Gandhi's life, influences on his ethical outlook from Hinduism and Christianity, and the impacts of his ideas concerning non-violent resistance upon Martin Luther King, Jr., and others
      • Discuss Hindutva, its religious ideology, and its attitudes and actions regarding Muslims
      • Analyze the spread of Hinduism to the United States and its cultural impacts there. Discussion may include, but is not limited to: the influence of Swami Vivekananda; aims and activities of the International Society for Krishna Conciousness (ISKCON or Hare Krishna); the expansion of Hinduism due to the activities of individuals such as Ram Dass, George Harrison, and Allen Ginsberg

Assessment and Requirements

Assessment of Academic Achievement

Each instructor will identify and implement appropriate methods to assess the achievement of the learning objectives of the course. These methods can include, but are not necessarily limited to multiple-choice, matching, and essay examinations, as well as out-of-class papers, Internet assignments, audio and/or video conferences, and projects.

Texts

Texts will be selected by the instructor.

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
Portfolio Review
Effective Term
Fall 2022