Comparative Religion: East and West

Comparative Religion: East and West is designed as a semester-long academic or philosophical course. It compares major religious and philosophical systems from both Eastern and Western traditions, exploring their beliefs, practices, worldviews, and spiritual goals.


Course Title: Comparative Religion: East and West


Course Description:

This course examines the central themes, doctrines, practices, and philosophies of major world religions from Eastern and Western traditions. Students will engage in comparative analysis of the foundational texts, metaphysical ideas, ethical systems, ritual practices, and conceptions of the divine, self, and salvation across cultures. The course aims to foster intercultural understanding, critical thinking, and spiritual literacy.


Course Objectives:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Identify core teachings and historical development of major Eastern and Western religions.
  • Compare cosmologies, ethics, rituals, and goals of different religious traditions.
  • Analyze philosophical and theological similarities and differences.
  • Understand how religion shapes and reflects culture, politics, and identity.
  • Engage in respectful and informed interfaith dialogue.


Weekly Breakdown:

Module 1: Introduction

  • Definitions of religion and spirituality
  • Methods in comparative religion
  • The East-West cultural paradigm

Module 2: Indigenous and Pre-Axial Religions

  • Animism, shamanism, and myth
  • Ancient Near Eastern religion vs. early Chinese ancestral rites

Module 3: Hinduism (East)

  • Vedas, Upanishads, karma, dharma, moksha
  • Gods and goddesses, yogic paths

Module 4: Ancient Greek Religion and Philosophy (West)

  • Polytheism, mystery religions
  • Plato, Aristotle, and rational theology

Module 5: Buddhism vs. Christianity

  • Historical Buddha vs. Jesus
  • Suffering and salvation: Nirvana vs. Heaven
  • Monastic traditions, ethics, and the role of grace

Module 6: Confucianism and Daoism (East)

  • Confucian ethics, social harmony
  • Daoist metaphysics, wu wei, naturalism

Module 7: Judaism and Islam (West)

  • Monotheism and prophecy
  • Law, covenant, and submission to God
  • Rituals and scripture

Module 8: Mysticism and the Inner Path

  • Sufism, Kabbalah, Zen, and Advaita Vedanta
  • Direct experience of the divine

Module 9: Religion and Philosophy

  • Dualism vs. non-dualism
  • Faith vs. reason
  • Ethics and metaphysics

Module 10: Ritual, Symbol, and Sacred Time

  • Sacraments, puja, prayer, pilgrimage
  • Sacred calendars and cosmology

Module 11: Religion and Society

  • Role of religion in politics and ethics
  • Religious pluralism and interfaith dialogue

Module 12: Modernity, Science, and Secularism

  • Religion’s adaptation to modern science and globalization
  • Rise of secular humanism, new spiritualities

Module 13: The Future of Religion

  • Syncretism, global faith movements
  • Post-religious spirituality

Module 14: Final Presentations & Reflection

  • Student presentations comparing two traditions
  • Reflective synthesis on what “truth” means across religions


Assessment:

  • Weekly reading responses
  • Midterm comparative essay
  • Final project and presentation
  • Participation in discussion


Core Texts:

  • The World's Religions by Huston Smith
  • God Is Not One by Stephen Prothero
  • Selections from the Bhagavad Gita, Bible, Quran, Tao Te Ching, Analects, Dhammapada