The course introduces three visions of God and explores reflections on God and religion by leading thinkers of the Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions. It offers a comparative analysis of different theological approaches to common themes and their religious and conceptual commitments. More concretely, the course will investigate and compare the main characteristics, the underlying metaphysical assumptions, the soteriological commitments, and the ethical implications of the theological systems advanced by Paul Tillich, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and NISHIDA Kitaro. In doing this, the course will identify common religious themes as well as structural difference, thus developing a methodology of comparative theology. The course applies a religious studies approach; its methodology is predominantly textual. Even though this course belongs to the area of religious studies, it is in the nature of its topic to challenge the students personally and existentially as well as academically and intellectually.
The course is not an introductory but an upper level course. This means that the course will not provide in-depth background knowledge of the religious traditions of Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism. It is thus suggested that the students exhibit some knowledge of at least one of these traditions or in philosophy of religion prior to the class.
COURSE PHILOSOPHY:It is the underlying philosophy of this course, which is based on the study of three theological and philosophical works, that learning is a dialogical process. While it is the task of the instructor to facilitate discussion, to guide the students through theological and philosophical literature, and to provide an intellectual background, the students are encouraged to actively participate in the investigation of the theological systems discussed in this class through the presentation to the class of one chapter, its underlying conceptual assumptions as well as its practical implications, through response papers and through active participation in class. In addition, students will investigate a particular issue of interest in theology or philosophy of religion in a research paper. Students will thus not only contribute to the course but also shape it through active participation in the classroom, questions, and their research projects.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:| Kitaro Nishida | Inquiry into the Good |
| Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | An Idealist View of Life |
| Paul Tillich | The Courage to Be |
The learning process in this class is based on the class discussion of theological texts. Therefore, it is pivotal that students attend class discussions and lectures. If a student misses a class session, it is the student's responsibility to collect all relevant information and material of this particular class session. In general, the students are encouraged to inform the instructor if they expect to miss a class session and to discuss with the instructor ways to make up for it. A total of more than three absences will reflect negatively on the final grade. Attendance will be taken in the first 5 minutes of the class.
Deadlines and presentations are binding. If a student would like an extension on a deadline, s/he is expected to contact the instructor prior to the respective day and time. In cases of unforeseen events such as emergencies official documentation is required.
Grading:
Since every individual reading assumes background information, every student will prepare the reading for one particular class section. This preparation will entail a close reading of the text in question as well as a basic familiarity with the background it presupposes. Every presenter should be prepared to answer following questions:
Since the course is based on the reading of theological and philosophical literature (which is sometimes quite difficult), it is necessary that the students process the reading in response papers. These 2-page papers are supposed to aid the students in understanding and examining the theological systems discussed in class. They should be informative, relevant, critical, and formally correct (the number of criteria fulfilled will determine the number of points to be given for each paper): 4 points maximum for each response paper: total 24 points: A: 23-24; A-: 21-22; B+: 19-20; B: 17-18; B-: 15-16; C+: 13-14; C: 11-12; C- 9-10; D+: 7-8; D: 5-6; D-: 3-4; F < 3.
| writing | spelling, grammar, punctuation, academic tone |
| form | a separate bibliography, citation in the body of the text, introduction, organization, conclusion |
| content | maintains readers interest, contains clear argument, contains thesis, thesis is well supported, critically discusses the text, applies themes rendered in class discussion. |
Students will research a special topic in the area of comparative theology. The research papers are not restricted to the thinkers or religious traditions discussed in class as long as they address relevant (to the class) theological and philosophical issues. Each paper will be 12 pages in length.
The schedule of the research paper is as follows:| writing | spelling, grammar, punctuation, academic tone, quotes are used as support while main argument is developed in the author's own language. |
| form | a separate bibliography, citation in the body of the text, introduction, organization, conclusion | content | maintains readers interest, clear argument, contains thesis, thesis is well supported, application of class discussion. |
After writing the first draft ask yourself the following questions: Does it have a thesis statement? Does it have a support structure? What points in the argument have to be strengthened? what areas have to be researched more?
04/20: Second draft: The revision of the first draft should render a clear overall structure of the argument and the decision as to what is important and relevant to the paper. The second draft is to work out the internal structure of the individual paragraphs, their internal coherency and strength. The third and final draft will incorporate any structural corrections. It will further correct all spelling, grammar, and formal insufficiencies and inconsistencies. Attach first draft.
05/15: Final paper (minimum of 12 pages - double spaced, 1 inch margins, letter size 11 points - of text). Attach first and second draft.
Grading: D: insufficient; C: informative and formally correct or internally consistent (paper holds what the introduction promises); B: informative, formally correct, and internally consistent; A: in addition, paper exhibits a critical engagement with the sources.