AHH34001 Theories of Religious Studies

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2024Year School/Graduate School School of Integrated Arts and Sciences Department of Integrated Arts and Sciences

Lecture Code AHH34001 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name Theories of Religious Studies - Comparative Religion

Subject Name
（Katakana） Theories of Religious Studies - Comparative Religion

Subject Name in
English Theories of Religious Studies - Comparative Religion

Instructor SUGIKI TSUNEHIKO

Instructor
(Katakana) スギキ　ツネヒコ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 2nd-Year,  First Semester,  1Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (1T) Tues5-8：IAS K103

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) 　

Lecture, question and answer, and discussion.

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 　 Language of Instruction E : English

Course Level 2 : Undergraduate Low-Intermediate

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 03 : Religion

Eligible Students Students from all departments

Keywords Theories of Religious studies, world religions, comparative religions

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students) As the world is globalizing, religions are more and more important topics of discussion. We are required to have more knowledge and understanding of religions in the world. This course is provided as an introduction to world religions and Religious Studies. Student learn these through lectures, presentation, and discussion.
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students) Integrated Arts and Sciences
（Knowledge and Understanding）
・Knowledge and understanding of the importance and characteristics of each discipline and basic theoretical framework.
・Knowledge and understanding of "Japanese and Japanese culture"  and "foreign languages and foreign culture" which are prerequisite abilities for communication with peoples in different culture and areas.
（Abilities and Skills）
・The abilities and skills to summarize one's own research in reports or academic papers, and to deliver presentations at a seminar or research meetings, and to answer questions.

Class Objectives
/Class Outline This course provides learning the basics of religions in the world (such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese traditional religions, Japanese religions, and some recent forms of religion in developed countries) and some major modern theories regarding religions developed in Religious Studies (particularly in the sociology of religion).

Class Schedule Lesson 1 (lecture): Guidance 1
(1) Description of course outline. (2) The aim and method of religious studies.
Lesson 2: Guidance 2
Self-introduction and preparation for presentation
Lesson 3 (lecture): Typologies of Religion
Typologies developed from the differing viewpoints of (1) modes of existence of god(s) or goddess(es), (2) elementary forms of religion, (3) how religions were founded, and (4) natures of ethical teachings in religions.
Lesson 4 (presentation and discussion): Judaism (Text Chaper 2)
Lesson 5 (presentation and discussion): Christianity (Text Chapter 4)
Lesson 6 (presentation and discussion): Islam (Text Chapter 5)
Lesson 7 (presentation and discussion): Hinduism (Text Chapter 6)
Lesson 8 (presentation and discussion): Buddhism (Text Chapter 7)
Lesson 9 (presentation and discussion): Chinese religions (Text Chapter 10)
Lesson 10 (presentation and discussion): Japanese religions (Text Chapter 11)
Lesson 11 (lecture): Secularization
(1) What is secularization? (2) Understanding the Cultural map.
Lesson 12 (lecture): Forms of religions in secular societies (1)
(1) Religous individualization (2) Religious privatization (3) Marketplace of religion.
Lesson 13 (lecture):  Forms of religions in secular societies (2)
(1) Public religions in modern societies

Lesson 14 (lecture): "Cultural religion" in North Europe (2) "Natural religion" in Japan
Lesson 15 (lecutre): Summary and conclusion

Students are required to submit a paper at the end of this course.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. I provide handouts in every class. I give a list of reference materials in class.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. 　

(More Details) Thomas A. Robinson and Hillary Rodrigues (ed.) World Religions, A Guide to the Essentials, (Chapters 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 11). Hendrickson, 2006. Copies of those chapters are provided in the class.

Learning techniques to be incorporated 　

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Lesson 1: Understand the outline, purpose, and structure of this course.
Lesson 2: Reading roughly the textbook.
Lesson 3: Learn various typologies (classifications) of religion developed from various viewpoints.
Lesson 4-10: Learn major religions in the world.
Lesson 11: Understand what the “secularization” is.
Lessons 12-15: Understand new forms and functions of religions in modern societies that undergo “secularization.”

Requirements You must be interested in religions. Your English level is expected to be above TOEFL PBT450, iBT45 or TOEIC 600.

Grading Method ① Class performance (presentation, discussion, and submission of short assignments) 60％ and ② the final paper 40％.

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message I expect your active performances in class.

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2024Year	School/Graduate School	School of Integrated Arts and Sciences Department of Integrated Arts and Sciences
Lecture Code	AHH34001	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	Theories of Religious Studies - Comparative Religion
Subject Name （Katakana）	Theories of Religious Studies - Comparative Religion
Subject Name in English	Theories of Religious Studies - Comparative Religion
Instructor	SUGIKI TSUNEHIKO
Instructor (Katakana)	スギキ　ツネヒコ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	2nd-Year, First Semester, 1Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(1T) Tues5-8：IAS K103
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)
Lecture, question and answer, and discussion.
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week		Language of Instruction	E : English
Course Level	2 : Undergraduate Low-Intermediate
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	03 : Religion
Eligible Students	Students from all departments
Keywords	Theories of Religious studies, world religions, comparative religions
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)	As the world is globalizing, religions are more and more important topics of discussion. We are required to have more knowledge and understanding of religions in the world. This course is provided as an introduction to world religions and Religious Studies. Student learn these through lectures, presentation, and discussion.
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)	Integrated Arts and Sciences （Knowledge and Understanding）・Knowledge and understanding of the importance and characteristics of each discipline and basic theoretical framework. ・Knowledge and understanding of "Japanese and Japanese culture" and "foreign languages and foreign culture" which are prerequisite abilities for communication with peoples in different culture and areas. （Abilities and Skills）・The abilities and skills to summarize one's own research in reports or academic papers, and to deliver presentations at a seminar or research meetings, and to answer questions.
Class Objectives /Class Outline	This course provides learning the basics of religions in the world (such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese traditional religions, Japanese religions, and some recent forms of religion in developed countries) and some major modern theories regarding religions developed in Religious Studies (particularly in the sociology of religion).
Class Schedule	Lesson 1 (lecture): Guidance 1 (1) Description of course outline. (2) The aim and method of religious studies. Lesson 2: Guidance 2 Self-introduction and preparation for presentation Lesson 3 (lecture): Typologies of Religion Typologies developed from the differing viewpoints of (1) modes of existence of god(s) or goddess(es), (2) elementary forms of religion, (3) how religions were founded, and (4) natures of ethical teachings in religions. Lesson 4 (presentation and discussion): Judaism (Text Chaper 2) Lesson 5 (presentation and discussion): Christianity (Text Chapter 4) Lesson 6 (presentation and discussion): Islam (Text Chapter 5) Lesson 7 (presentation and discussion): Hinduism (Text Chapter 6) Lesson 8 (presentation and discussion): Buddhism (Text Chapter 7) Lesson 9 (presentation and discussion): Chinese religions (Text Chapter 10) Lesson 10 (presentation and discussion): Japanese religions (Text Chapter 11) Lesson 11 (lecture): Secularization (1) What is secularization? (2) Understanding the Cultural map. Lesson 12 (lecture): Forms of religions in secular societies (1) (1) Religous individualization (2) Religious privatization (3) Marketplace of religion. Lesson 13 (lecture): Forms of religions in secular societies (2) (1) Public religions in modern societies Lesson 14 (lecture): "Cultural religion" in North Europe (2) "Natural religion" in Japan Lesson 15 (lecutre): Summary and conclusion Students are required to submit a paper at the end of this course.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	I provide handouts in every class. I give a list of reference materials in class.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.
(More Details)	Thomas A. Robinson and Hillary Rodrigues (ed.) World Religions, A Guide to the Essentials, (Chapters 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 11). Hendrickson, 2006. Copies of those chapters are provided in the class.
Learning techniques to be incorporated
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Lesson 1: Understand the outline, purpose, and structure of this course. Lesson 2: Reading roughly the textbook. Lesson 3: Learn various typologies (classifications) of religion developed from various viewpoints. Lesson 4-10: Learn major religions in the world. Lesson 11: Understand what the “secularization” is. Lessons 12-15: Understand new forms and functions of religions in modern societies that undergo “secularization.”
Requirements	You must be interested in religions. Your English level is expected to be above TOEFL PBT450, iBT45 or TOEIC 600.
Grading Method	① Class performance (presentation, discussion, and submission of short assignments) 60％ and ② the final paper 40％.
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	I expect your active performances in class.
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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