Introduction to Religion
Course Content from McGraw-Hill
Course Number: REL101
Download Course Syllabus
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This Introduction to Religion course provides students with a comprehensive overview of cultural religious phenomena in a global world. Commonalities and differences among religious traditions and contexts are analyzed, and various religious traditions and points of view are compared and contrasted. Philosophical formulations, sacred writings, religious experiences, ethics, rituals, and art are also discussed.
- Self Paced
- Humanities
- Content by McGraw-Hill
Course Objectives
After completing this Introduction to Religion course, you will be able to:
- Analyze the sources, characteristics, and patterns across religions, and explain the approaches and reasons for studying world religions.
- Analyze the influences that shaped the history of Judaism such as the Hebrew Bible, other cultures, and historical events and examine Jewish beliefs and practices that have influenced Jewish culture and the world.
- Evaluate the birth and spread of Christianity; and its influence on the arts and world cultures; and evaluate the influences and challenges of the modern world and international cultures on Christianity.
- Evaluate the beginning and spread of Islam, its basic principles, beliefs, and practices and its contributions and influences on the world, and evaluate the challenges faced by Islam in modern times.
- Examine the origins and development of Hinduism; its basic principles; contribution and influences on the world; and evaluate the challenges faced by Hinduism in modern times.
- Examine the origins and development of Buddhism; its basic principles; contribution to and influences on the world; and evaluate the challenges faced by Buddhism in modern times.
- Contrast the growth and development of Jainism and Sikhism and their influence on the arts; and examine the worldview of these two religions.
- Contrast the growth and development of Taoism and Confucianism and their influence on the arts; and examine the challenges faced by these two religions in modern times.
- Examine the origins and development of Shinto; its belief system; contribution on the world, and evaluate the factors that have contributed to the existence of Shinto to the present day.
- Evaluate the discoveries, study, practices, and contributions of Oral Religions; and examine the significance of artistic expression and the growth of Oral Religions in modern times.
- Evaluate the significance of archeological data to the study of Traditional American Religions; and the influence of sacred stories, beliefs, oral traditions, practices, and interactions with other cultures on Native American Spiritualities.
- Analyze the influence of environmental factors on the sacred stories and beliefs of the African people; and explain their concept of humanity according to the ancient African viewpoint.
- Analyze the influence of environmental factors on the sacred stories and beliefs of the people of Oceania; and explain their concept of humanity according to the traditional religions of Oceania.
- Analyze the growth, principles, practices, and characteristics of New Religions; and evaluate the status of the New Religious Movements in the modern world.
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Chapter |
Chapter |
Lesson(s) |
Objectives |
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1 |
Understanding Religion |
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2 |
Indigenous Religions |
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3 |
Hinduism |
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4 |
Buddhism |
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5 |
Jainism and Sikhism |
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6 |
Taoism and Confucianism |
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7 |
Shinto |
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8 |
Judaism |
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9 |
Christianity |
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10 |
Islam |
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11 |
Alternative Paths |
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12 |
The Modern Search |
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13 |
Review |
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There are no prerequisites to take Introduction to Religion
The required eTextbook for this course is included with your course purchase at no additional cost. More information on StraighterLine eTextbooks
Prefer the hard copy? Simply purchase from your favorite textbook retailer; you will still get the eTextbook for free.
StraighterLine provides a percentage score and letter grade for each course. A passing percentage is 70% or higher.
If you have chosen a Partner College to award credit for this course, your final grade will be based upon that college's grading scale. Only passing scores will be considered by Partner Colleges for an award of credit.
There are a total of 1000 points in the course:
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Topic |
Assessment |
Points Available |
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3 |
Graded Exam #1 |
125 |
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6 |
Graded Exam #2 |
125 |
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Cumulative Graded Midterm Exam |
200 |
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8 |
Graded Exam #3 |
125 |
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11 |
Graded Exam #4 |
125 |
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Cumulative Graded Final Exam |
300 |
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Total |
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1000 |
Final Proctored Exam
The final exam is developed to assess the knowledge you learned taking this course. All students are required to take an online proctored final exam in order complete the course and be eligible for transfer credit.
Course is really easy to follow so long you complete your readings.
Introduction to Religion was a brief overview of some of the religions practiced around the world from ancient times to present day.
Introduction to Religion was a brief overview of some of the religions practiced around the world from ancient times to present day.
I felt this course was informative, the book was written well and the powerpoints that come from straighterline really clarify the material.
I felt this course was informative, the book was written well and the powerpoints that come from straighterline really clarify the material.
Learning about the different religions of the world was very interesting for me, as I was born and grow up in one religious faith, it gave me an insight as to how other people incorporate traditions in to religion.
This was a course I needed, not one that I was doing "just because". It was very informative and I could do it at my own pace. I loved it because I didn't have to write any senseless papers! I did learn a lot about many religions and was able to see how they are all related.
This was a course I needed, not one that I was doing "just because". It was very informative and I could do it at my own pace. I loved it because I didn't have to write any senseless papers! I did learn a lot about many religions and was able to see how they are all related.
Learning about the different religions of the world was very interesting for me, as I was born and grow up in one religious faith, it gave me an insight as to how other people incorporate traditions in to religion.
Alot of reading , MUST study and have to pay attention.
The course text was very biased and at times rather inaccurate.
The course text was very biased and at times rather inaccurate.
Comprehensive and interesting. All of the religions I have ever heard of plus a bunch that I havent are covered.
Comprehensive and interesting. All of the religions I have ever heard of plus a bunch that I havent are covered.
Course is really easy to follow so long you complete your readings.
Alot of reading , MUST study and have to pay attention.
Overall the course the course was very good. However there were a significant amount of spelling errors or inconsistencies which caused confusion. Additionally the examination did not evaluate the main ideas brought out in the lesson, rather they mostly focused on minor details in the book.
Overall the course the course was very good. However there were a significant amount of spelling errors or inconsistencies which caused confusion. Additionally the examination did not evaluate the main ideas brought out in the lesson, rather they mostly focused on minor details in the book.
I love that you can do it at your own pace, but assistance is there if you need it.
Learning about the origin, development and current practices of major religions.
Learning about the origin, development and current practices of major religions.
Great course. Thorough and interesting. Recommended.
Great course. Thorough and interesting. Recommended.
This course was pretty straight forward. If you really work at it, one will notice how easy it can be.
This course was pretty straight forward. If you really work at it, one will notice how easy it can be.
I love that you can do it at your own pace, but assistance is there if you need it.
N/a
it was okay
it was okay
Very interesting course!! MUST HAVE BOOK. Testing is open book and all information comes from the book.
Very interesting course!! MUST HAVE BOOK. Testing is open book and all information comes from the book.
N/a
Focused too much on trivia rather than broad concepts.
Focused too much on trivia rather than broad concepts.
I am disciplined enough to have read the whole book and taken all the reviews and quizzes. Loved the proctoring. It was so easy to schedule things to my needs.
I enjoyed it. It was well rounded and non biased.
Well rounded material, a great introductory course into the world's religions.
Great course for busy people - I was able to work on this late at night, after my family was asleep. The proctored exams are easy to take and very convenient as well.
Excellent content
It was sufficient
I really liked all the modules, it really helped give extra knowledge and understanding beyond the book