Courses in Religion taught by John Strong
155. Introduction to Asian Religions.
An introduction to the major religious traditions of Asia, in both their classical and modern forms, with a focus on Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. The course will explore their basic teachings, examine their historical and social contexts, and seek answers to questions such as: What is the nature of religious experience? What are the functions of myth and ritual? How do Eastern world views differ from Western ones?
208. Religions of East Asia: China. A study of the various religious traditions of China in their independence and interaction. The focus of the course is on the history, doctrines, and practices of the various schools of Mahayana Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Readings include basic texts and secondary sources. Open to first-year students.
209. Religions of East Asia: Japan. A study of the various religious traditions of Japan in their independence and interaction. The focus of the course is on the doctrines and practices of Shinto, folk religion and the Tendai, Shingon, Zen, Pure Land, and Nichiren schools of Buddhism. These are considered in the context of Japanese history and culture and set against their Korean and Chinese background. Open to first-year students.
222. Myths and Their Meaning. Specific examples of myths drawn from a variety of religious traditions (ancient Greece, the ancient Near East, India, and nonliterate societies) are examined in the light of classic and contemporary theories about myth. What role do myths play? What do they mean? How do they reflect and relate to other forms of religious expression? These questions are among those addressed from a variety of perspectives. Open to first-year students. Enrollment is limited to 50.
249. Religions of India: The Hindu Tradition. An examination, through the use of primary and secondary texts, of the various traditions of Hinduism, with some consideration of their relation to Jainism, and Indian Buddhism. Special attention is paid to the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad-Gita, as well as to the classical myths of Hinduism embodied in the Puranas. Open to first-year students.
250. The Buddhist Tradition. The course focuses on the Buddha\rquote s life and teachings; on early Buddhism in India and the rise of various Buddhist schools of thought; on the development of Mahayana philosophies and forms of expression in India, Tibet, China, and Japan; and on Theravada and Mahayana meditation traditions. Open to first-year students.
307. Seminar in Eastern Religious Thought. Each year the seminar concentrates on a different subject in Asian religious thought. May be taken more than once for credit on different topics. Permission of the instructor is required.