Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon successful completion students will be able to:
1. Articulate an understanding of the world’s religions to interact appropriately with practitioners of those
religions.
2. Participate in a pluralistic society and global economy with an understanding of the variety of
religious beliefs.
3. Engage in critical thinking in order to recognize and reflect on the impact of religion in different cultures and on global events.
4. Examine the history and development of the world’s religions, including their myths and doctrines, personal and social ethics, as well as their interactions with
each other and how they are modified as they spread to surrounding cultures.

The course may include lectures", audio-visual presentations, student presentations, large and small group discussions, guest lecturers," field trips and/or service learning activities.

Assessment strategies will include some of the following:
• Essays in the form of in-class exams, short papers or term papers
• Student presentations on research, including site visits to religious settings
• Short-answer or multiple choice exams
• Group and individual projects, written or multi-media
• Participation in classroom discussion and activities, including field trips
• Portfolios and/or journals
• Service Learning projects
• Attendance

The course will focus on exploring the basics of the following topics and issues as an introduction to each of the major world religions (Hinduism", Buddhism, Chinese religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam):
• The genesis and historical development of the religion, including its geographical reach.
• The major doctrines and myths of the religion, including major teachers and sacred texts.
• The rituals and traditions of the religion.
• The social and personal ethical tenets of the religion.
• The interactions between the various religions historically and today.

Competencies and skills

Students will do some or all of the following:
• Gain and express general knowledge of each of the major world religions.
• Develop skills in comprehending religious beliefs and practices.
• Acquire language and perspective to discuss religious practices and beliefs with practitioners of that religion.
• Acquire language and perspective to engage in dialogue about the role of religion in political and cultural settings.
• Recognize their own attitudes toward individual religions and religion in general.