Topic outline

  • General

    PHL 122 Eastern Religions course banner

  • Introduction to Eastern Religions

    • Please complete this once you have thoroughly reviewed the syllabus, and have asked the instructor any questions you might have. This will serve as verification that you have not only read the syllabus, but that you understand all of the expectations and responsibilities associated with the course. 

    • This Libguide has been created for us by the NMC librarians. Just click on PHIL121 and you will be teleported to the wonderful world of Western Religion. There you will find links to resources, ideas for places to hunt for current events, suggestions for how to evaluate the credibility of your news source, and much more!

    • From the Purdue Online Writing Lab - this is a valuable resource if you are unfamiliar with Chicago NB (notes and bibliography) style citation.

  • Unit 1 Comparative Religion & Religious Response 8/24/19-9/7/19

    • Please see the document for links to two short readings. Please read each article, and review the very short embedded videos. These readings will inform your consideration of the Joseph Campbell & George Lucas video (link located under the watch section for this week).

    • This page displays two lecture videos for this week. Watch the videos in the order they are listed on this page. When you're finished, watch The Mythology of Star Wars video below.

    • Now that you have added your own introduction, please use this link to view the introductions of your classmates.

    • Please open this article and read this interview with Eboo Patel, founder of the Interfaith Youth Core, and speaker on Religious Pluralism.

    • This is an optional reading if you need more background on Nonduality as it relates to the required "Buddha at the Gas Pump" video this week. This reading is from SAND: Science and Nonduality for those interested in the concept. This is mentioned by Dr. Dana Sawyer in the "Buddha at the Gas Pump". Once again, totally optional information, but available should you be interested.

    • This is an introduction to the Cognitive Science of Religion as explained by one of it's founders, Dr. Thomas Lawson. Please watch up to minute 11:47 of this interview. It may be helpful to keep in mind that he was giving this interview as part of a conference on the Cognitive Science of Religion.

    • Please read the brief text description of Dr. Dana Sawyer and perennial philosophy, then watch at least the first hour of this video on the practical application of perennial philosophy. This will give you a better sense of perennialism and religion, particularly relative to the work of Aldous Huxley and Houston Smith.

  • Unit 2 - Hinduism 9/8/19-9/21/19

    Hinduism

    • This page displays a playlist of videos (lectures and 3rd party videos). Watch each of the videos in the order they are listed on this page. 

    • This page displays a playlist of videos (lectures and 3rd party videos). Watch each of the videos in the order they are listed on this page. 

  • Unit 3 - Zoroastrians 9/22/19-10/5/19

    Unit 3 - Zoroastrians

    • Please read the contents of this webpage.

    • Please read the content of this webpage.

    • This page displays a playlist of videos. Watch each of the videos in the order they are listed on this page.

    • Please read the contents of this webpage.

    • Please read the contents of this webpage.

    • Please read this Huffington Post article about a recently opened (within the last three years) Zoroastrian temple in New York.

  • Unit 4 - Buddhism 10/6/19-10/19/19

    Unit 4 - Buddhism

    • Please read this article on Birth and Reincarnation - it will aid in your understanding of what is "reborn" if there is no "self" (anatman)

    • This page displays a playlist of videos. Watch each of the videos in the order they are listed on this page.

    • This page displays a playlist of videos. Watch each of the videos in the order they are listed on this page.

  • Unit 5 - Chinese Religions 10/20/19-11/2/19

    Unit 4 -  Chinese Religions

    • This page displays a playlist of videos. Watch each of the videos in the order they are listed on this page.

    • Here's a basic overview of Confucianism. You may find it helpful to print this to include in your notes for the course.

    • This page displays a playlist of videos. Watch each of the videos in the order they are listed on this page.

  • Unit 6 - NRMS 11/3/19-11/16/19

    2018 Parliament of the World's Religions -- Toronto, Canada

    2018 Parliament of the World's Religions -- Toronto, Canada

    • Spend 10-15min reviewing the content on the official Raëlian website.

    • Please watch the NRM lecture on VoiceThread. I've added it to voice thread to offer you an example of how this can be done for your group projects at the end of the semester.

    • Please follow this link to view the UFO lecture

    • Please follow this link to view the Raëlism video 

    • Please follow the link to view a retrospective piece from CNN on Heaven's Gate. *Note - this clip includes some of the original CNN and ABC news footage*

    • Please take a look at the tenets on the website of the Satanic Temple, and spend 5-10 min looking around the site. I think it's interesting to consider the question: If we removed the term "Satan" from the verbiage, would you be able to tell that the tenets and work of this group is "Satanic"?

    • Spend some time reviewing the 13 Principles of Belief, as offered by "Pagan Path".

    • Please follow the ink to the Neo-Paganism/Wicca lecture

    • Please follow the link to the video from Circle Sanctuary showing an example of a pagan celebration

  • Unit 7 - Religion in the Public Sphere 11/17/19-12/14/19

  • Finals Week