GEK1045

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GEK1045

• Introduction to World Religions
• Dr Thomas Dubois
• A/P John Whalen-Bridge
• Dr Stephen L. Keck
• TA Dr Yang Der-Ruey

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Course Requirements

• Syllabus IVLE web page have most of the info
• Weekly readings from Anthology of World
  Scriptures (available in co-op)
• Three brief (approx 40 minutes) mid-term
  examinations final examination (2 hours all
  are closed book).
• We will explore beliefs and practices in weekly
  lectures.

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Lectures will be fun
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Religious Studies at NUS

• The new minor program beginsNOW.
• Next semester XD2101 Approaches to the Study
  of Religion
• You must also take 4 electives you may already
  have taken some. Much of this info is on the
  weball of it will eventually be on IVLE.

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I administer the program, so let me know if you
have questions.
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Religious Studies as a Discipline

• Inside vs Outside accounts
• Theology vs Religious Studies
• Seminary vs University
• Why study outsider perspective?
• How to do it?

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Religious Studies involves

• Scriptures, Practices, and Beliefs
• Our textbook begins with scriptures, and we work
  outward from them
• Religious Studies as a discipline begins with
  texts and translation and then takes on the more
  difficult tasks of describing practices and
  comparing beliefs.

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Scripture is

• the writing accepted by and used in a religious
  community as especially sacred and
  authoritative.
• It can be interpreted from within or from
  without.
• Good manners necessary when interpreting from
  without, but everyone needs to know how to
  communicate beyond his or her own group.

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Next week

• No class because of Hari Raya. Instead, library
  tour on January 19th at 930 am in Central
  Library. Ill email you about the exact
  location.
• Then on 28 January well discuss Hinduism. A/P
  Tagore from Philosophy will be our guest lecturer
  that week. Please read the selections carefully.
• Thank you.