PHIL1360

Meets MN Transfer Curriculum Goal Areas 6 and 8 - Humanities and Global Perspective. Using a comparative framework, this course attempts to understand the nature of religion by looking at the historical and ideological formation of some of the world's most influential religious traditions. It explores ideas of ultimate meaning in different cultures and different times, and follows the development of these ideas in the long search for purpose in human existence. The primary goal is to comprehend better the varieties of religious experience in the world, with a particular emphasis on understanding the unfamiliar empathetically and the familiar objectively.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Explain the histories, philosophies, and practices of major religious traditions.
• Interpret religious values, images, symbols, and texts critically.
• Articulate the formative role religion plays in culture.
• Summarize beliefs and theologies outside the student?s own belief system.
• Describe how religion has shaped and been shaped by civilizations, past and present.
• Identify the scope and variety of artistic and literary expressions in religion traditions.
• Formulate an informed personal reaction to artistic and literary works in various religions.