REL 2601 - Introduction to World Religions
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 02, CRN 42602,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Richard Schumacher
Email: raschumacher@ysu.edu
Course Description
In this course we explore the:
•Beliefs and practices of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Jainism, Sikhism, Indigenous Religions, Alternative Paths and The Modern Approach
•Rituals and celebrations specific to each tradition,
•Art, architecture, and music as expressions of religious faith,
•Mystical and spiritual experiences within different religious contexts,
•How religions shape individuals and cultures worldwide.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Experiencing the World's Religion, Eighth Edition | Michael Molloy | 9781260813746 |
Additional readings may be required for students seeking contract Honors credit through the Sokolov Honors College.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Weekly Readings and Writing Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Syllabus | Course Introduction | |
| 8/31 | Chapter 1 | Understanding Religion | Personal Reflection 1 |
| 9/7 | Chapter 2 | Indigenous Religions | Reading Summay 1 Personal Reflection 2 |
| 9/14 | Chapter 3 | Hinduism | Reading Summary 2 Personal Reflection 3 |
| 9/21 | Chapter 4 | Buddhism | Reading Summary 3 Unit Test 1 on Friday Sept 25th |
| 9/28 | Chapter 5 | Jainism & Sikhism | Reading Summary 4 Personal Reflection 4 |
| 10/5 | Chapter 6 | Daoism & Confucianism | Reading Summary 5 |
| 10/12 | Chapter 7 | Shinto | Reading Summary 6 Personal Reflection 5 |
| 10/19 | Chapter 8 | Judaism | Unit Test 2 on Friday October 23rd Personal Reflection 6 |
| 10/26 | Chapter 9 | Christianity | Reading Summary 7 Personal Reflection 7 |
| 11/2 | Chapter 10 | Islam | Reading Summary Personal Reflection 8 |
| 11/9 | Chapter 11 | Alternative Paths | Reading Summary 10 Personal Reflection 9 |
| 11/16 | Chapter 12 | The Modern Search | |
| 11/23 | None | Final Thoughts, Next Steps | Personal Reflection 10 |
| 11/30 | None | Independant Study & Exam Prep | Unit Test 3 on Friday December 4th |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.