What you'll learn
Learn philosophical concepts of world religions with our philosophy short courses online & in Sydney.
This Philosophy course will give you an understanding of the major World Religions from a philosophical perspective. You will examine the fundamental ideas of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. This course is unique in that it focuses on the similarities between the major religions not just the differences, as well as the misconceptions society has developed throughout history about each of them. The aim of this philosophy course is to give students a comprehensive and rational account of the major world religions and compare their respective answers to the fundamental questions of human existence.
There will be an examination of the works of major figures such as Buddha, Brahman, Mohammed, Moses, and Jesus Christ and comparisons will be drawn between the major world religions in how they think about the nature of the spiritual realm, the human mind in relation to the body, God and the universal consciousness, life after death, heaven, hell and nirvana, karma and reincarnation, of free will and fate, of human suffering and spiritual awakening and illumination.
Please note this philosophy course is taught online via Zoom.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this philosophy course, you should be able to:
- Consider and evaluate the views of the most influential religious philosophical ideas in relation to the nature of the spiritual realm, the human mind & God and the universal consciousness
- Use and apply key philosophical concepts, especially in the areas of life after death, heaven, hell and nirvana, karma and reincarnation, free will and fate, of human suffering and spiritual awakening and illumination
- Think about the importance of religious philosophy in assessing answers to the fundamental questions of human existence.
Course content
What will be covered in this philosophy course?
Week 1: Judaism - Jehovah God and the Old Testament
- Key ideas in orthodox Judaism
- The nature of God in orthodox Judaism
- Adam & Eve and creation in orthodox Judaism
- Ethics in orthodox Judaism
- Reformist Judaism
Week 2: Christianity - The foundations of early christian philosophy
- The council of Nicaea and the holy trinity
- Introduction to Gnostics and the Patristic Fathers
- The concept of christ as the logos
- Christ as divine and eternal
- The creation of humanity
Week 3: Christianity - Philosophical analysis of the basic ideas
- Revised Christianity after 325AD
- The idea of the trinity
- The dogmatic doctrine of heaven & hell
- The doctrine of salvation
Week 4: Islam - The Philosophical teachings of Islam
- The holy Quran
- The Hadith & the other holy scriptures
- The prophet Muhammad
- The five pillars
- The key metaphysical ideas of Islam
Week 5: Hinduism - The Brahman, karma and the cycle of reincarnation
- The key doctrines of Hinduism
- Reincarnation in Hinduism
- The supreme being, creates the universe
- Human beings, self, soul, mind and the body
Week 6: Buddhism - Free will, human suffering, compassion and nirvana
- The main schools of Buddhism
- The key role of suffering in Buddhism
- Reincarnation in relation to karma
- The ten laws and the five precepts of morality
- Comparison of ethical teachings of Buddha & Jesus
- The self and consciousness in Buddhism
Week 7: Buddhism - Part II & course conclusion
- The seven realms of the phenomenal universe
- Views on Karmic consequences
- The nature of Nirvana
- The similarities in the metaphysical schemas of Buddhism and early Christianity.
- General conclusion to the course
Intended audience
Who is this philosophy of world religions course for?
This course is for anyone interested in using critical thinking and logical analysis to understand the figures and ideas of the major world religions.
Course testimonials
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Susan said: The tutor gave fantastic notes we could read in advance and then he summarised that in the lecture. He was really open to questions and I found the length and density of the course perfect.
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Oscar said: The sheer passion that the tutor brought to the classroom absolutely infected the rest of us. Encouraging all of us to be more forthcoming with answers and conversation.
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Anne said: We had such an excellent tutor and the lecture notes he prepared are comprehensive and extremely helpful
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Bron said: Interesting topic and very well presented.
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Michelle said: The tutors knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject matter is very impressive. He delivers his classes in an engaging manner and I feel I have learnt a great deal. The take-home notes he provides are very comprehensive.
Course tutors
Andrew Theophanous
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<p>Learn philosophical concepts of world religions with our <a href="https://www.sydneycommunitycollege.edu.au/courses/philosophy-psychology/philosophy">philosophy short courses</a> online & in
...<p>Learn philosophical concepts of world religions with our <a href="https://www.sydneycommunitycollege.edu.au/courses/philosophy-psychology/philosophy">philosophy short courses</a> online & in
...If there isn't a class to suit you, please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Philosophy Course: The Philosophy of World Religions
If there isn't a class to suit you, please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Philosophy Course: The Philosophy of World Religions