THSR200 - Introducing Asian Religions

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

THCT100 What Christians Believe or PHIL107 Philosophy of World Religions

Teaching organisation

Unit rationale, description and aim

This unit will introduce students to the foundations of the South and East Asian religions. At least four of these will be examined against the contextual realities within which they developed: at least two from South Asia (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism) and two from East Asia (Daoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Mahayana Buddhism). The origins and development, central teachings and beliefs, devotional practices and rituals, institutions and cultural expressions of these religions will be considered. The aim of this unit is to enable students to acquire the foundational knowledge and develop the understanding and skills needed for them to engage with persons, institutions or activities associated with these Asian Religions.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Describe the varieties of living religious experience in these regions of Asia (GA1; GA5);

LO2 - Articulate critically the essential beliefs, practices, philosophies and institutions of each religion studied (GA1; GA5);

LO3Reflect critically on how the worldviews of various religious traditions impact on their thought and practice (GA4, GA5).

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity 

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

Content

Topics will include: 

• Foundation, origins, development and history of the various religions under study; 
• Teachings, beliefs, doctrines and worldviews; 
• Ethical precepts, social issues, and community life; 
• Sacred time, sacred space, sacred practice, sacred rituals, sacred texts, and sacred persons; 
• Major schools, branches, philosophies and denominations; 
• South and East Asian religions in the Diaspora and contemporary expressions in Australia; 

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit involves 150 hours of focused learning, or the equivalent of 10 hours per week for 15 weeks. The total includes formally structured learning activities such as lectures, tutorials and online learning. The remaining hours typically involve reading, research, and the preparation of tasks for assessment.

The unit can be offered in attendance mode or through multi-mode teaching. Students learn through formally structured and sequenced learning activities that support the achievement of the learning outcomes. Students are asked to critically reflect, analyse, and integrate new information with existing knowledge, draw meaningful new connections, and then apply what they have learned. Collaborative and peer learning is also emphasised.

The required activities enable students to acquire and assimilate knowledge of the Asian religions and identify the importance of the beliefs and practices to the life of believers, particularly through the presence and articulation of the lecturer and tutors. Students will be guided to look beyond their own faith tradition to develop the thinking and academic skills needed for theological study.

THSR 200 emphasises students as active, adult learners. Students are recognised as adult learners who engage best when what they are learning is relevant to them and gives them the opportunity to be responsible for their own learning. In many ways, the student is the one who drives the learning forward, and their active participation in this unit is essential. Learning is designed to be an engaging and supportive experience, which helps students to develop critical thinking and reflection skills.

Assessment strategy and rationale

In order to pass this unit, students are required to attempt all assessment tasks and achieve an overall grade of Pass (50% or higher).  

The assessment tasks for this unit are designed for students to demonstrate their achievement of each learning outcome.

Task 1 asks students to demonstrate their ability to write brief reflections on the key themes of Asian religions. This task is designed to give the opportunity for students to think through what they have learned and articulate them in writing. It displays achievement of Learning Outcome 1. This task allows students a low risk piece of assessment to test their learning strategies.

Task 2 asks students to demonstrate critical thinking by analysing and comparing key beliefs and practices of Asian religions, as well as describe the worldviews and philosophies peculiar to each of the religions. It allows them to display achievement of both Learning Outcomes 1 and 2.  

Task 3 invites students to demonstrate ability to apply key learnings to specific contexts by reporting on a visit to the place of worship of an Asian religion where they interview and interact with the leaders and believers of that tradition. It allows them to display achievement of Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Brodd, J. World Religions: A Voyage of Discovery. Minneapolis: St. Mary’s Press, 2009. 

Esposito, J., et al. World Religions Today. New York: Oxford, 2011. 

Fisher, M.P. Living Religions. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2013. 

Hawkins, B. An Introduction to Asian Religions. London: Longman, 2003. 

Markham, I. S. and C. Lohr. A World Religions Reader. 3rd ed. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. 

Molloy, M. Experiencing the World's Religions. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009.  

Nigosian, S. World Religions: A Historical Approach. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007. 

Prothero, S. God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World. New York: HarperOne, 2011.