09 Apr RELI448N:Choose one (1) of the following psychological views on the origin of religion:
RELI448N Comparative Religions
Week 1 Discussion
The Study of Religion
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapter 1
Lesson
Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook/lesson)
Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post, respond to only one of the following options:
Option 1
Choose one (1) of the following psychological views on the origin of religion:
Freud
James
Jung
Then, address the following:
Briefly describe your chosen theory as believed by the theorist.
Defend your choice by discussing why this theory is the best explanation as to the origin of religions.
Option 2
Choose two (2) of the ten reasons to study religion listed in your text and address the following:
Explain each reason.
Describe why each of your chosen reasons is important to your personal worldview.
Apply at least one of your chosen reasons to your profession and its standards of care.
Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Respond to a peer who chose an option different from the one you chose. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification.
RELI448N Comparative Religions
Week 2 Discussion
Hinduism
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapter 3
Lesson
Link (online PDF): The Upanishads (Links to an external site.) (Skim the first few chapters or locate a specific section in the table of contents. You are not responsible to read the entire text.)
Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook/lesson)
Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post, respond to only one of the following options:
Option 1
Choose and describe one of the five (Brahman, Atman, Maya, Karma, Samsara, Moksha) key concepts from the Upanishads.
Explain how this concept relates to any of the other four or to other expressions of Indian spirituality?
Use a quote from the Upanishads to support your thoughts
Why did you choose this concept and how does it relate to your own understanding or beliefs?
Option 2
Choose and describe one of the four yoga. Include the following:
Describe, with examples, how this is a path to the Divine and leads a person to realization.
Why did you choose this path to discuss?
Determine how your understanding of your chosen yoga might relate to your professional standards of care.
Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Respond to a peer who chose an option different from the one you chose. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification.
RELI448N Comparative Religions
Week 3 Discussion
Buddhism
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapter 4
Lesson
Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook/lesson)
Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post, respond to only one of the following options:
Option 1
For this option, address the following:
Define Theravada and Mahayana forms of Buddhism.
Describe the Arhat and the Bodhisattva and explain how each achieves the goal of nirvana.
Examine how each ideal relates to one or more of the following key concepts/teachings: Four Noble Truths, Three marks of reality, Noble Eightfold Path.
Explain which of these ideals you believe best expresses healthcare ideals.
Option 2
For this option, address the following:
Explain the Buddhist understanding of dukkha.
Why do many scholars feel that “suffering” may be a misleading translation of the word dukkha? What might be a better translation?
What did the Buddha offer as a way to overcome dukkha and how does it explain his understanding?
In what ways does the Buddhist notion of dukkha challenge or affirm Western medical practice?
Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Respond to a peer who chose an option different from the one you chose. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification.
RELI448N Comparative Religions
Week 4 Discussion
Chinese Religion
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapter 6
Lesson
Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook/lesson)
Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post, respond to only one of the following options:
Option 1
For this option, address the following:
Define each of the following Confucian principles: ren, yi, li, zhi, and xin.
Choose one of these principles and explain how it contributes to social harmony.
Illustrate with an example of how this principle compares to your own beliefs and/or religious background.
Have you witnessed your chosen principle in action in your work? How does it relate to what you are called to do as a healthcare professional?
Option 2
For this option, address the following:
Explain the Daoist ideal of wuwei.
Describe how this ideal contributes to harmony with heaven?
Compare the Daoist idea of wuwei to Confucius’ approach to how one should live in the world?
Explain how one of these approaches (wuwei/Confucius) might apply in your profession.
Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Respond to a peer who chose an option different from the one you chose. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification.
RELI448N Comparative Religions
Week 5 Discussion
Judaism
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapter 8
Lesson
Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook/lesson)
Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post, respond to only one of the following options:
Option 1
For this option, address the following:
Choose two (2) of the following terms: Orthodox Judaism, Hassidic Judaism, Reform Judaism, and Conservative Judaism.
Briefly explain these two terms.
Describe where and how they originally developed and identify their similarities and differences.
Explain one contemporary issue that challenges each of your chosen religious traditions.
Option 2
The destruction of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem marks a major shift in the history and character of Judaism. For this option, address the following:
Describe the Jewish concept of Messiah and what Jews expected of their Messiah. How is Messiah understood before and after the second temple destruction?
What characterized Jewish practice before the destruction of the 2nd Temple?
What characterizes Jewish practice after the Temple’s destruction?
Explain one contemporary issue that challenges Judaism today.
Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Respond to a peer who chose an option different from the one you chose. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification.
RELI448N Comparative Religions
Week 6 Discussion
What Makes Christianity Unique?
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapter 9
Lesson
Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook/lesson)
Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post, respond to only one of the following options:
Option 1
For this option, address the following:
Identify 3 major beliefs about Jesus’ identity that remain as core Christian beliefs today. Provide a 2-6 sentence overview of the meaning of each.
Choose one of these themes to explain more fully including its Biblical reference and whether it affirms or challenges Christian unity today. Give a reason for your thoughts.
Explain how your choice relates to your personal world/faith view or affects professional practice.
Option 2
For this option, address the following:
Identify and examine three issues, scientific or moral, facing Christianity in 21st century America.
Choose one specific Christian denomination (e.g., Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist, etc.) and describe how it is responding to one of these challenges (adapting/resisting). Give specific examples.
Discuss how one of your issues affirms or challenges your professional practice.
Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Respond to a peer who chose an option different from the one you chose. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification.
RELI448N Comparative Religions
Week 7 Discussion
Islamic Belief and Practice
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapter 10
Lesson
Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook/lesson)
Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post, respond to only one of the following options:
Option 1
For this option, address the following:
List and briefly describe each of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Select one of the pillars to examine in more detail, including how Muslims express this pillar.
How do Sufis differ from other Muslims? Do they express this same pillar differently or in the same way as other Muslims?
Explain why you chose this pillar and how your chosen pillar relates to your own life and worldview.
Option 2
For this option, address the following:
Explain briefly both Sunni and Shia forms of Islam.
Choose one of these two forms and explain its core beliefs in greater detail, including the following: history, countries where this form is practiced, and any sub-sects within this branch.
List the differences between these two forms of Islam.
Identify and examine one way in which the conflicts between these two forms of Islam continue to influence Islam itself; and also, one way the conflicts affect the politics of the whole world.
Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Respond to a peer who chose an option different from the one you chose. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification.
RELI448N Comparative Religions
Week 8 Discussion
Health Care in Spirituality
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapter 12
Lesson
1 video (noted in options)
Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook/lesson)
Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post, respond to one of the following options:
Option 1
Watch the following video:
Link (video): Spirituality, Suffering, and Illness: Conversations for Healing (Links to an external site.) (32:31)
For the initial post, address the following:
How would you define spirituality after viewing this film? What is its role in dealing with health care issues?
Discuss the Trinity Model by describing the relationship among the 3 primary concepts: suffering, belief and spirituality.
In what ways does the film suggest that a healthcare professional can facilitate the “softening of suffering”? How does this relate to your own worldview?
Discuss one key learning you gleaned from this film and how you can apply it in your professional practice.
Option 2
Watch the following video:
Link (video): Spiritual Assessment in Healthcare (Links to an external site.) (32:17)
For the initial post, address the following points:
What is spiritual assessment as defined in this video? Why is it important for health care professionals to understand how to use it?
Do you agree or disagree with the film’s premise that a health care professional’s personal spirituality (or lack) affects his/her ability to assess spirituality in another? Explain your reasoning.
Choose one of the spiritual assessment questions reviewed in the film and answer it personally, based on your own beliefs and experience.
Discuss one key learning you gleaned from this focus on spiritual assessment. Demonstrate how you would apply it in your professional practice.
Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification. Note: This week you can focus on peers who chose the same option as you or also engage with those who chose the other option – your choice!
