Introduction to Religious Studies

Intro to World Religions

COURSE READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Note: Some of these readings are excerpts from larger sources.  They are Copyright Protected.  You are free to use them for educational and illustrative purposes directly related to our course.  Any distribution of the readings for any other purposes without the written permission of the author is prohibited and constitutes an infringement of copyright law.

Syllabus: Phil 101  Fall 2010  (Posted Aug 5)

Syllabus: Phil 105  FALL 2010  (posted AUG 5)

Phil 101 Fall Exam No. 1 Preview  (posted Aug 23)

Phil 105 Fall Exam No. 1 Preview  (posted Aug 23)

Example of an Above-Average Essay  .PDF FILE  < *.PDF File = Adobe Acrobat Reader file >

Course Material Links

Phil 105: Lecture No. 1  "What is Religion and what is Spirituality?"

Phil 101: Lecture No. 1  "What is Reality?"    With Plato's Allegory of the Cave

PHIL 105 and 101: 7 Deadly Sins --ROMAN CATHOLICISM AND MORALITY  from  "the idiots guide to roman catholicism" .pdf file

Phil 101 and 105:  "Do We Need God in order to be GOOD?"   Morality and Religion         Dr. Gayhart lecture notes

Phil 101 and 105: "What is Culture?"   Original notes by Dr. Susan Larson and additions by Dr. Gayhart

Phil 101: Lecture No. 2   "Are Humans Complex Machines?"

Phil 101: Lecture No. 2  B.F. Skinner "Walden II Utopia" Reading  --Copyright  .PDF File

Phil 105: Dr. Gayhart Lecture Notes on Judaism

Phil 105: Dr. Gayhart Lecture Notes on Islam

Phil 105: Christianity-- "Jesus as Seen by Other Religions"   excerpt from "Historical Jesus for Dummies" -- Copyright .PDF File

Phil 101 and 105: "Evolution--Genesis Chapter 1  and Reply from Creationists--ThEism"

Phil 101 and 105:  "What Evolution Is" by Ernst Meyer excerpt Copyright  .PDF File

Phil 101 and 105: "What is Evolution?" Selections from web sources Compiled by Dr. Gayhart

Phil 101 and 105: "Magic and the Occult " Lecture packet Compiled by Dr. Gayhart

Phil 101 and 105 Magic and the Occult   ---TERMS TO KNOW ----   by Dr. Gayhart

Phil 101 and 105: Michael Schermer excerpt from "Why People Believe Weird Things" --How Science differs from Metaphysics (copyright)  .PDF File

Phil 101 and 105: Schermer excerpt from "Why People Believe Weird Things"-- Near Death Experiences (copyright) .pdf File

Phil 105 : "The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism"    Dr. Wahpola--Copyright  .PDF File

Phil 105 and 101: "Bowling for Columbine" -- Questions to ask regarding violence in America

Phil 105 and 101: pro/con Media Violence Articles by D Lavers and M Cutlers-Copyright .PDF File

Phil 105 Hinduism: Deepak Chopra excerpts on Near Death Experiences; Ghosts; Reincarnation and Hinduism --Copyright

Phil 105: Hinduism   Guru Sri Ramana on God and on Reincarnation -Copyright  .PDF File