World Religions and Spiritual Traditions

This course provides a comparative introduction to the world’s major religious and spiritual traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and various Indigenous Peoples’ religions. Students explore each tradition’s historical development, core beliefs, ethical teachings, and ritual practices, as well as broader themes such as secularization, globalization, and religious pluralism. Emphasis is placed on developing an informed and appreciative understanding of the diversity of global religiosity and spirituality in both historical and contemporary contexts.