World Religions

Course Description

REL2300 – World Religions is a 3-credit-hour survey course that introduces students to the major religious traditions of the world, examining their historical development, sacred texts, central beliefs, ritual practices, ethical teachings, and cultural expressions. The course is taught from an academic, comparative, and non-confessional perspective — describing and analyzing religious traditions rather than advocating for any particular religious position.

Students develop the analytical vocabulary and conceptual frameworks of religious studies as an academic discipline, drawing on history, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, and textual analysis. The course typically covers the world's most populous and historically influential traditions — Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — along with selected attention to other significant traditions such as Sikhism, Jainism, Daoism, Confucianism, indigenous religions, and new religious movements.

REL2300 is a Florida common course offered at approximately 38 Florida institutions and satisfies general-education humanities requirements at most Florida public colleges and universities. It transfers as the equivalent course at all Florida public postsecondary institutions per SCNS articulation policy.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define key concepts in religious studies as an academic discipline, including religion, the sacred, myth, ritual, doctrine, ethics, and religious experience.
• Apply methods of religious studies — historical, comparative, phenomenological, sociological, and textual — to the analysis of religious traditions.
• Describe the historical development of Hinduism, including the Vedic tradition, Upanishads, the major schools, key concepts (dharma, karma, samsara, moksha), and contemporary practice.
• Describe the historical development of Buddhism, including the life and teachings of the Buddha, the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, the major schools (Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana), and contemporary practice.
• Describe the historical development of Judaism, including biblical history, rabbinic tradition, the Talmud, major movements (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist), and Jewish life and practice.
• Describe the historical development of Christianity, including the life of Jesus, early church history, major theological developments, denominational diversity (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant), and contemporary expressions.
• Describe the historical development of Islam, including the life of Muhammad, the Qur'an, the Five Pillars, the Sunni/Shia distinction, the development of Islamic law, and contemporary expressions.
• Compare and contrast themes across traditions, such as concepts of the divine, scripture and authority, salvation/liberation, ethics, ritual, and community.
• Analyze religious texts and practices in their historical and cultural contexts, avoiding both essentialist and reductionist approaches.
• Approach religious diversity with academic rigor and respectful engagement, distinguishing scholarly description from confessional advocacy or critique.

Optional Outcomes

• Examine additional traditions such as Sikhism, Jainism, Daoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Bahá'í, indigenous religions, and new religious movements.
• Analyze contemporary religious issues, including secularization, fundamentalism, religious nationalism, religion and gender, and interfaith dialogue.
• Examine the religious diversity of Florida and the United States, including immigration, congregational diversity, and religious pluralism.
• Engage with religion and contemporary issues such as religion and politics, religion and science, religion and the arts.
• Apply religious-studies analysis to religious sites and practices through site visits or guest speakers from religious communities.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Introduction to the Academic Study of Religion: Definitions of religion; the academic vs. confessional approach; methods (historical, comparative, phenomenological, sociological); insider/outsider perspectives; key terms (sacred, profane, myth, ritual, doctrine).
• Indigenous and Primal Religions (Brief Survey): Common features; oral traditions; relationship to land and ancestors; selected examples (Native American, African, Australian Aboriginal).
• Hinduism: Indus Valley and Vedic origins; Upanishads and the development of philosophical Hinduism; concepts (dharma, karma, samsara, moksha, atman, brahman); the major deities; the four paths (jnana, bhakti, karma, raja yoga); the caste system; contemporary Hinduism in India and the diaspora.
• Buddhism: The life of Siddhartha Gautama; the Four Noble Truths; the Eightfold Path; the Three Jewels; karma and rebirth; nirvana; the development of Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions; the spread of Buddhism across Asia; contemporary Buddhism (including in the West).
• Judaism: The patriarchs and the Exodus; the Hebrew Bible; the Davidic monarchy and the temples; the Babylonian Exile; rabbinic Judaism and the Talmud; Jewish life cycle and holidays; the Holocaust; modern movements (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist); Jewish identity and Israel.
• Christianity: The historical context of first-century Judea; the life and teachings of Jesus; the early church and Paul; the development of doctrine (Trinity, Christology); the Great Schism (1054); the Reformation; major denominational families (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant); contemporary global Christianity.
• Islam: Pre-Islamic Arabia; the life of Muhammad; the Qur'an and Hadith; the Five Pillars; the Sunni/Shia distinction; the development of Islamic law (sharia and the schools of jurisprudence); Sufism; Islam's spread and historical empires; contemporary Islam globally.
• Comparative Themes: Concepts of the divine (monotheism, polytheism, non-theistic traditions); scripture and authority; salvation/liberation; community and worship; ethics; pilgrimage; afterlife.

Optional Topics

• Sikhism: Guru Nanak; the ten Gurus; the Guru Granth Sahib; the Khalsa; contemporary Sikh communities.
• Jainism: Mahavira; ahimsa; the Jain ethical and ascetic tradition.
• East Asian Traditions: Daoism (Laozi, the Dao De Jing, religious Daoism); Confucianism (Confucius, the Analects, neo-Confucianism); Shinto.
• Bahá'í Faith: Bahá'u'lláh; teachings of unity; contemporary global community.
• New Religious Movements: 19th- and 20th-century origins; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Jehovah's Witnesses; Christian Science; Scientology; Wicca and contemporary paganism.
• Religion in Contemporary Society: Secularization theory; religious fundamentalism; religion and politics; interfaith dialogue; the rise of the "nones".
• Religion in Florida and the U.S.: Religious diversity in Florida; immigration and congregational diversity; the "Bible Belt" context; new religious communities.

Resources & Tools

• Common Textbooks: The World's Religions (Smith), A Concise Introduction to World Religions (Oxtoby/Amore/Hussain), Living Religions (Fisher), Religions of the World (Hopfe/Woodward/Hendricks), Invitation to World Religions (Brodd et al.)
• Open Educational Resources: World Religions by Lumen Learning, The Religions Next Door (free OER), Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (religion entries), Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• Primary Texts (selections): Bhagavad Gita, Dhammapada, Hebrew Bible/Torah, New Testament, Qur'an, Adi Granth (Sikh), Tao Te Ching, Analects
• Reference Resources: Pew Research Center Religion & Public Life surveys; ARDA (Association of Religion Data Archives); Hartford Institute for Religion Research
• Multimedia: PBS documentary series on world religions, Crash Course Religions (YouTube), BBC religion documentaries
• Professional Standards: American Academy of Religion (AAR) guidelines for religious-literacy education; AAR's distinction between teaching about religion and confessional instruction

Career Pathways

REL2300 develops cultural literacy and analytical skills valuable across a wide range of fields. While few students pursue religious studies as a primary career path, the course supports preparation for:

• International and Cross-Cultural Careers: Foreign service, international business, global health, international NGOs — all increasingly require religious literacy.
• Healthcare: Healthcare professionals serving diverse patient populations benefit from understanding religious practices around birth, illness, food, and death.
• Education: K–12 social studies, history, and humanities teachers; school administrators serving diverse communities.
• Counseling and Social Work: Practitioners serving religiously diverse populations; pastoral care and chaplaincy with additional training.
• Journalism and Communications: Religion reporting; communications roles with global organizations.
• Public Service: Government, nonprofits, and policy roles requiring engagement with diverse religious communities.
• Religious Vocations: Foundation course for those considering seminary, divinity school, or other religious leadership pathways (though REL2300 itself is non-confessional).

Florida's exceptional religious diversity — with substantial Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and other religious populations across its metropolitan areas — makes religious literacy particularly valuable for residents pursuing careers in education, healthcare, public service, and business in the state.

Special Information

General Education and Transfer

REL2300 is a Florida common course number that satisfies general-education humanities requirements at most Florida public colleges and universities. It transfers as the equivalent course at all Florida public postsecondary institutions per SCNS articulation policy and is part of the standard humanities options on the A.A. transfer pathway.

Academic Approach

REL2300 is taught from an academic, non-confessional perspective. The course neither advocates for nor critiques any particular religious tradition; rather, it describes, analyzes, and compares traditions using the methods of religious studies as an academic discipline. This approach is consistent with First Amendment principles for public-institution religious-studies coursework and with American Academy of Religion (AAR) guidelines.

Approach Variations

Florida institutions vary in their pedagogical approach:

• Tradition-by-tradition approach: Sequential coverage of each major tradition (most common).
• Thematic/comparative approach: Cross-traditional themes (e.g., scripture, ritual, ethics) examined comparatively.
• Geographic approach: Religions grouped by region (South Asian, East Asian, Abrahamic, indigenous).

All approaches typically address the major traditions identified in the required topics; the difference is one of organization.

Related Courses

Students interested in further religious studies coursework may continue with REL2121 (Religion in America), REL2102 (Religion in Asia), REL2210 (Hebrew Scriptures / Old Testament), REL2240 (New Testament), or specialty courses in particular traditions where the institution offers them.