Essay Questions
Prompts for week 1 questions: Keep the question and number with each essay. All of the essay questions will be all under the same document but after each week include source page before going to the next week. The question is not included in the word count.
You may use any resources at your disposal. List your sources at the end of each essay.Not all the answers to these questions are directly addressed in your text. Appropriately cite any sources if you are quoting or closely borrowing from an author’s text (physical or electronic). Suggested length is 2 or more pages per question (450 to 800 words).
1. Why do you think people believe in God ? (This may pertain to people today or in the past). You might start by making a list of reasons for belief. The parameters of a definition for God in this first question can include the notion of a higher power, ultimate reality, universal source (force), supreme entity, or spirit(s). Why do people belong to organized religions?How about the whole issue of disbelief?What are the reasons for people not believing in “the divine” or some type of ultimate reality? Could some of the reasons (and reasoning) for belief be similar to those who opt for disbelief (atheists) or for skepticism (agnostics)? Under what circumstances would the reasons for faith or disbelief be different?
3. How might you define the terms religion, myth, and scripture? What are the definitions used by scholars? When you think of terms like sacred or holy, what type of things come to mind? Again, it might help to make a list. Do you think people are becoming more or less “religious” in today’s modern world. Why?.
Week 2
Truth of a Hopi HOW THE MOCKING BIRD GAVE THE PEOPLE MANY LANGUAGES
http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/hopi/toah/toah05.h…
Myths of ÍfèTHE BEGINNING
http://www.sacred-texts.com/afr/ife/ife3.htm
You might also consider looking at the following web articles and accompanying links for help with your essays: Follow links to articles and bibliographies
African Traditional Religion
http://www.studiesincomparativereligion.com/Public…
You may use any resources at your disposal. List
your sources at the end of each essay. Not
all the answers to these questions are directly addressed in your text.
Appropriately cite any sources if you are quoting or closely borrowing from an
author’s text (physical or
electronic). Suggested length is 2 or more pages per question (450 to 800 words).
1. Compare and contrast various aspects of Native American and African belief systems. How are their mythologies similar? What are some of the problems inherent in the study of indigenous religion?
for week 3 read: Chapter 4inInvitation to World Religions
Chapter 4 Selected Readings from the World’s Religious Traditions
In Sacred Readings:
Vedic Hymn to Vishnu http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv01154.ht…
Vedic Hymn to Agni http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv01026.ht…
Rig Veda Charm for Gamblinghttp://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/av/av04038.htm
Week 3
Prompts:
You may use any resources at your disposal. List your sources at the end of each essay. Most of the answers to these questions are directly addressed in your text. Suggested length is 2 or more pages per question (450 to 800 words).
1. Address some of the major themes and ideas that appear in the early Hindu Scriptures (Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmanas). How are the Vedas different from theUpanishads? What are some of the concepts addressed in the Laws of Manu, Mahabharata, Ramayanna, Bhagavad-Gita and Puranas? Why are each of these works considered to be important? (You don’t have to write about all of them.)
2.Generally outline several of the following basic notions in the Hindu world-view such as: karma, dharma, samsara, caste, moksha, atman, ahimsa, Brahman and maya. Provide an explanation of your own understanding of these concepts (some or all) and how they ideologically fit into the lives of Hindus.
3. Discuss some of the aspects of Hindu worship and devotion such as puja and the yogas. How was Hindu practice reformed during the 19th and 20th centuries? What are some of the practical differences between “folk Hinduism” (a literal belief in the many gods and goddesses) and those who espouse a more “monistic” or “henotheistic” approach to the “Brahman” or ultimate reality. Your book also addresses the notion of “personal” and “impersonal” understandings of the sacred. How does this apply?
