C Religions of the East

Catalog description

Term hours: 54 lecture. This course systematically introduces and analyzes the intellectual and religious histories of India, China, and Japan. Primary focus will be on the ways in which Eastern traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Zen conceive of the cosmos, meaningful human existence and life's ultimate goals. Jainism, Sikhism, and Shinto may also be covered. While the main emphasis will be on basic teachings, this course will also investigate religious practices, cultural settings, social impact, and the historical contexts in which these religions arose. Rituals and religious literature may be used to compare and contrast Asian and Occidental belief systems. A field trip may be required by the instructor. (UC/CSU, AA GE, CalGETC)