THE LYCEUM
Studies in History, Faith, and Civilization
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Enter The LyceumPHIL 210
World Religions
📄 Course Syllabus
Download the complete Spring 2026 syllabus for detailed course policies, schedule, and requirements.
Download Syllabus (PDF)📅 Schedule
Section: TBD, Spring 2026
Prerequisites: None
Format: Online/Canvas
📚 Credits
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: None
IAI Number: H5 904N
👨🏫 Instructor
Professor: Steven Austin
Email: [email protected]
Office: S226
Phone: 875-7211, x6392
Course Description
This course provides a comparative exploration of the world's major religious traditions. We will examine the beliefs, practices, rituals, and worldviews of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and other significant traditions including indigenous and East Asian religions.
Through careful study of sacred texts, historical development, and contemporary expressions, students will develop the tools to understand religion as a fundamental dimension of human culture. We approach each tradition with scholarly objectivity and respectful curiosity, seeking to understand believers on their own terms.
In an increasingly interconnected world, religious literacy is essential. This course equips students to engage thoughtfully with diverse faith traditions and to understand how religion shapes—and is shaped by—history, politics, art, and daily life.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, a student should be able to:
1
Religious Literacy
Identify and explain the core beliefs, practices, and historical development of the world's major religious traditions.
2
Comparative Analysis
Compare and contrast different religious traditions, identifying both distinctive features and shared themes across traditions.
3
Sacred Texts
Analyze selections from sacred scriptures within their historical and cultural contexts, demonstrating sensitivity to diverse interpretive approaches.
4
Cultural Context
Explain how religious traditions interact with and are shaped by cultural, political, and social forces throughout history.
5
Empathetic Understanding
Demonstrate the ability to understand religious traditions from the perspective of practitioners while maintaining scholarly objectivity.
6
Contemporary Relevance
Apply knowledge of religious traditions to understand contemporary global issues, interfaith dialogue, and religious diversity in modern society.
DharmaBot
AI Learning Companion
"To teach is to learn twice." — Joseph Joubert
Deepen your understanding of religious concepts by teaching them to DharmaBot, a curious AI student who knows nothing about world religions. As you explain mindfulness, the Eightfold Path, or other concepts, DharmaBot asks thoughtful questions that help you articulate your knowledge more clearly—and discover what you still need to learn.
Teach DharmaBotTraditions Studied
🕉️ Hinduism
- Vedic Origins and the Upanishads
- Brahman, Atman, and Moksha
- The Bhagavad Gita
- Yoga and Devotional Practice
- Contemporary Hinduism
☸️ Buddhism
- Life of the Buddha
- Four Noble Truths
- The Eightfold Path
- Theravada and Mahayana
- Zen and Tibetan Buddhism
✡️ Judaism
- Covenant and Torah
- Prophetic Tradition
- Rabbinic Judaism
- Jewish Practice and Holy Days
- Modern Jewish Movements
✝️ Christianity
- Life and Teachings of Jesus
- Early Church and Creeds
- Eastern and Western Christianity
- Protestant Reformation
- Global Christianity Today
☪️ Islam
- Prophet Muhammad and Revelation
- Qur'an and Hadith
- Five Pillars of Islam
- Sunni and Shi'a Traditions
- Sufism and Islamic Mysticism
🌏 Other Traditions
- Confucianism and Daoism
- Shinto
- Sikhism
- Indigenous Religions
- New Religious Movements
Resources & Deeper Inquiry
Required Materials
📖 Required Textbook
- World Religions: A Voyage of Discovery
- Author: Jeffrey Brodd
- Publisher: Saint Mary's Press
- Edition: 5th Edition (or as specified in syllabus)
📄 Additional Resources
- Selections from sacred texts (provided on Canvas)
- Documentary films on religious traditions
- Virtual tours of sacred sites
🖥️ Technology Requirements
- Access to Canvas Learning Management System
- Word processing software (Microsoft Word recommended)
- Reliable internet connection for online course activities
Grading & Assessment
Your final grade is determined by the total points you earn across all graded activities.
Grading Scale
A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 70-79
D: 60-69
F: 0-59
Note: Grading breakdown is subject to change. See syllabus for specific point values and assignment details.
Course Policies
📧 Attendance & Participation
Regular participation is essential for success in this course. For online sections, this means consistent engagement with course materials and timely completion of discussion posts. Understanding religion requires dialogue and active engagement with diverse perspectives.
⏰ Late Work
Assignments are due at the specified date and time. Late submissions will be accepted up to 48 hours after the deadline with a 10% penalty per day. Extensions may be granted for documented emergencies with advance notice when possible.
🎓 Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action including possible failure of the course. When in doubt about proper citation, ask.
🙏 Respectful Engagement
This course requires discussing beliefs that some students hold sacred and others do not share. All traditions will be treated with scholarly respect. Students are expected to engage thoughtfully with traditions different from their own, neither dismissing nor proselytizing. Our goal is understanding, not agreement.
♿ Accessibility
Students with disabilities who need accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Services and inform the instructor as soon as possible to arrange appropriate support.
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