Producers: Governors State University

Focuses on the six dimensions of worldviews upon which the course is structured: experiential, mythical, ritual, doctrinal, ethical, and social. In this class, students are introduced to the experiential dimension in Christianity and become acquainted with such concepts as hierophany, axis mundi, and the “sacred and profane” in religious life.

Delves into the reasons, motivations, and instincts that have inspired the cultural expressions we now call “religion”. Students explore archaic religious systems, the eternal search for answers to profound life questions, and various religious styles.

Explores the difficulty in labeling what constitutes a religious experience. Students discover the ways in which extraordinary or parapsychological events are shaded by language, interpretation and culture. Also included is discussion on the relationship between religion and science, and a series of interviews with religious seekers that puts a human face on unique aspects of human experience.

Focuses on believers who have chosen to devote their lives to worship, prayer, or meditation. A study on monastic life provides the foundation for this lesson, which includes enlightening interviews on the topics of mysticism and meditation with a Coptic Orthodox monk and a Hindu swami.

Focuses on the experiential dimension of Hinduism. The class features interviews with Swami Prabuddhananda from the Vendanta Society of Northern California and Shankara Pundit of the Chicago Hare Krishna Center.

Explores the Buddhist view on the relationships between religious impulse, profound life questions, and the experiential dimension. The lesson explains such fundamental Buddhist concepts as “The Four Noble Truths”, “The Eight Fold Path”, egolessness, karma, dharma, and reincarnation. Featured is a Zen Buddhist from the San Francisco Zen Center and Tibetan Buddhists at the Dharmadatu Temple in Chicago.

Outlines the course goals and objectives, and focuses on the benefits of examining major beliefs and worldviews. Students gain the analytical skills needed to appreciate religious diversity and understand religious paths. The class emphasizes the difference between teaching religion and teaching about religion.