1. Course Syllabus
AAGI14Q7J7
Religions of the World
Course Start Date: 08/27/2012
Course End Date: 10/28/2012
Please print a copy of this syllabus for handy reference.
Whenever there is a question about what assignments are due, please remember this syllabus is
considered the ruling document.
Copyright
Copyright ©2009 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.
University of Phoenix© is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
Microsoft©, Windows©, and Windows NT© are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other
countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of
these marks is not intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation.
Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix© editorial standards and practices.

2. Facilitator Information
Michael Scott Svoboda
mssvoboda@email.phoenix.edu (University of Phoenix)
thefightinirish@yahoo.com (Personal)
714-931-0969 (PST - Pacific Standard Time)
Facilitator Availability
I am available from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Central Time on most days, but I attempt to reserve Sunday for my
family. During the week, I am online most of the time during that 9 a.m.-9 p.m. time frame.
On Saturdays, I tend to be online in the morning only. If these times are not convenient for you, please let
me know. I will be happy to accommodate your schedule, if possible. I provide you with these times to
make it easier to communicate with me, and not to limit our contact.
I want you to know that, should you need to contact me outside these time frames, you should not
hesitate to do so.
For emergencies, when you are not able to gain access to messages on the Online Learning System
(OLS), please send a message to my personal email address. In the event a third party needs to contact
me, please direct them to my contact information listed under "facilitator information." No third party
should use your login credentials to gain access to the classroom.
Where to Go to Class
Main: This is the main forum for the class and is where discussion is conducted. It has read-and-write
access for everyone.
Chat-Room: This is a read-and-write access forum. It is designed as a place to discuss issues not related
to the course content. This is the forum to which we will send our bios.
Course-Materials: This is a read-only forum, which means you can read messages here but cannot send
any. This is where I will post the course syllabus and materials.
Individual Forum: You will see one forum with your name on it. This is a private forum, shared only by
you and me, the facilitator. Your classmates will not have access to this forum. This is where you will post
your individual assignments, and where I will post your feedback. You can also ask questions here.
However, if you have general questions about instructions of assignments, please post those in the Main
forum, since other students may benefit by that exchange as well.
Policies
For class policies, please see the Policies link on the left side of the Materials page for the course on
eCampus. Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all
policies contained within that link. University policies are subject to change so please be sure to read
them at the beginning of each class as it may have changed since your last class. Policies may be slightly
different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities it
is important you read the policies governing your current class modality.
Technical Support

3. Technical Support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 1-877-832-4867, or use the e-mail
support form.
Answers to the most common issues are found in the Knowledge Base by clicking Help, found at the top
of every student Web site.
Feedback
Each week, I will provide grades or scores and comments on your assignments. I will send feedback to
your Individual forum.
Grading Formula
Points Grade
95+ A
90-94 A-
87-89 B+
84-86 B
80-83 B-
77-79 C+
74-76 C
70-73 C-
67-69 D+
64-66 D
60-63 D-
<59 F
Course Description
See eCampus.
Course Topics & Objectives
See eCampus.
Course Materials
See eCampus.
Point Values for Course Assignments
ASSIGNMENTS Points

4. Individual (100%)
Checkpoint: Effects of Religion 30
Assignment: Vocabulary Quiz (Week 1) 70
Exercise: Indigenous Culture Website Reviews 20
Discussion Questions 15
Participation (Week 2) 15
Checkpoint: Hinduism Terms Map 30
Assignment: Hinduism Paper (Week 3) 100
Checkpoint: Final Project Preparation 30
Discussion Questions 15
Participation (Week 4) 15
Checkpoint: Eastern Religion Elements Matrix 30
Assignment: Judaism Presentation (Week 5) 100
Checkpoint: Five Pillars of Islam 30
Discussion Questions 15
Participation (Week 6) 15
Checkpoint: Monotheistic Religions Matrix 30
Assignment: Jesus and Muhammad Essay (Week 7) 100
Checkpoint: Rough Draft World Religions Report 30
Discussion Questions 15
Participation (Week 8) 15
Checkpoint: Capstone 30
Final Project: World Religion Report (Week 9) 250
Total 1000

5. Week One
The Religious Response
Recognize ways in which organized religion influences people’s lives.
Define common terms related to the study of religion.
Weekly Reminders
Summary of Week 1 Deliverables
Course Assignments
1. Course Preparation
Read the course description and objectives.
Read the instructor’s biography and post your own.
2. Readings
Read Appendix A & B.
Read Ch. 1 of Living Religions.
3. CheckPoint: Effects of Religion
Post a response to this prompt: Religion may affect people in many different ways.
List at least two effects that organized religion has had on society and provide examples
from past or present world events that illustrate your examples.
4. Assignment: Vocabulary Quiz
Complete Vocabulary Quiz found in Appendix C.
Assignment Location Due
Checkpoint: Effects of
Please place in the Assignments Link Thursday
Religion
Assignment: Vocabulary
Please place in the Assignments Link Sunday
Quiz

6. Week Two
Indigenous Sacred Ways
Describe the importance of relationships to indigenous religions.
Identify examples of roles and observances held sacred by indigenous peoples.
Weekly Reminders
Discussion Questions
Discussion question responses will not count towards the class participation requirement and will be
evaluated separately.
Only posts in the Main classroom forum will count towards your class participation score.
Summary of Week 2 Deliverables
Course Assignments
1. Readings
Read Ch. 2 & 3 of Living Religions.
2. Exercise: Indigenous Culture Web Site Reviews
Review your classmates’ responses to the first Discussion Question for this week.
Choose two Web sites that interest you from your classmates’ responses.
Complete Appendix D using the two Web sites you found for your Discussion Question
response and the two additional Web sites borrowed from your classmates’ responses.
3. Discussion Questions
Find two Web sites dealing with indigenous cultures or religions. Discuss how modern
civilization has affected the spiritual lives of the indigenous peoples you explored. Are
any indigenous religions still active today? If so, how have the practices changed over
time? NOTE: Post the two Web site URLs in the thread along with your answers to the
questions.
Based upon your reading and research, what can we learn from indigenous cultures to
help our own culture?
Assignment Location Due
Checkpoint: Indigenous Culture Website Please place in the Assignments
Friday
Reviews Link
Main Forum Discussion #1
Discussion Question #1 Tuesday
Thread
Main Forum Discussion #2
Discussion Question #2 Thursday
Thread
Four of seven
Participation Main Forum Discussion Threads
days

7. Week Three
Hinduism
Describe the Hindu philosophical systems and forms of worship.
Explain the origins of Hinduism.
Weekly Reminders
Summary of Week 3 Deliverables
Course Assignments
Readings
1. Review Ch. 3 of Living Religions.
2. CheckPoint: Hindu Terms Map
Post your answers to Appendix E.
3. Assignment: Hinduism Paper
Write a minimum 850 word essay which should include the following:
A brief history
Dharma
Are they polytheistic or monotheistic possibly both in their belief system?
Karma
Caste Systems
Reincarnation
.
Format your paper according to APA standards (cite all work).
Post your paper as an attachment
Assignment Location Due
Checkpoint: Hinduism Terms
Please place in the Assignments Link Thursday
Map
Assignment: Hinduism Essay Please place in the Assignments Link Sunday

8. Week Four
Buddhism
Explain the origins of Buddhism.
Describe Buddhism’s theological foundations and spiritual practices.
Weekly Reminders
Discussion Questions
Discussion question responses will not count towards the class participation requirement and will be
evaluated separately.
Only posts in the Main classroom forum will count towards your class participation score.
Summary of Week 4 Deliverables
Course Assignments
1. Readings
Read Ch. 5, 6, & 8 of Living Religions.
2. CheckPoint: Final Project Preparation
Review the material found in Appendices A & F.
Complete Appendix B.
3. Discussion Questions
How did the childhood experiences of Siddhartha Guatama (Buddha) lead to his
questioning of the spiritual practices of his time?
How do Buddhist practices reflect foundational differences of the Hindu faith?
Assignment Location Due
Checkpoint: Final Project Preparation Please place in the Assignments
Friday
(appendix B) Link
Main Forum Discussion #1
Discussion Question #1 Tuesday
Thread
Main Forum Discussion #2
Discussion Question #2 Thursday
Thread
Main Forum Discussion Four of seven
Participation
Threads days

9. Week Five
Daoism, Confucianism, and Judaism
Compare and contrast the theological foundations and spiritual practices of Daoism,
Confucianism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
Explain the origins of Judaism
Describe Judaism’s theological foundations and spiritual practices.
Weekly Reminders
.
Summary of Week 5 Deliverables
Course Assignments
1. CheckPoint: Eastern Religion Elements Matrix
Complete Appendix G.
2. Assignment: Judaism Presentation
®
Create a PowerPoint Presentation geared toward teaching a younger person, age 9 to 14
year old, about Judaism.
Important: Your presentation must contain at least 10 slides (not including title slide and
reference slide), a minimum of one slide for each topic. The presentation must also include
speaker’s notes (see sample presentation in the chatroom folder) that describe what you
would say if you were actually presenting this to an audience.
Your presentation must cover each of the following topics (a minimum of one slide per topic):
Relationship with God/Torah
History of Key Sacred Texts
Ten Commandments
Jerusalem
The Nation of Israel
Different Sects of Judaism
The Holocaust
Sacred Practices
Holidays
Judaism today
Assignment Location Due
Checkpoint: Eastern Religion Elements Please place in the Assignments
Thursday
Matrix (appendix G) Link
Assignment: Judaism Presentation Please place in the Assignments
Sunday
(PowerPoint) Link

10. Week Six
Christianity and Islam
Explain the origins of Christianity.
Explain the origins of Islam
Weekly Reminders
Discussion Questions
Discussion question responses will not count towards the class participation requirement and will be
evaluated separately.
Only posts in the Main classroom forum will count towards your class participation score.
Summary of Week 6 Deliverables
Course Assignments
1. Readings
Read Ch. 9 & 10 of Living Religions.
2. CheckPoint: Five Pillars of Islam
Submit a 350- to 700-word response answering the following questions:
o What are the central beliefs of Islam, and how are they reflected in the "Five
Pillars” (McInerney, 2003)?
o Which of the Five Pillars do you feel would be easiest to fulfill, and which would be
the most challenging (McInerney, 2003)?
3. Discussion Questions
Based upon the reading (chapter 9) and other sources, what were the key events of
Christianity (which would mean after the resurrection of Jesus Christ) – from its
infancy to present time? Have they been positive, or negative for its growth?
What events and figures have shaped the development of Islam in the United States?
Assignment Location Due
Checkpoint: Five Pillars of
Please place in the Assignments Link Friday
Islam
Discussion Question #1 Main Forum Discussion #1 Thread Tuesday

11. Discussion Question #2 Main Forum Discussion #2 Thread Thursday
Four of seven
Participation Main Forum Discussion Threads
days

12. Week Seven
Monotheistic Religions
Compare and contrast the theological foundations and spiritual practices of Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam
Weekly Reminders
Summary of Week 7 Deliverables
Course Assignments
1. CheckPoint: Monotheistic Religions Elements Matrix
Complete Appendix H.
2. Assignment: Jesus & Mohammed Paper
Submit a minimum 1,350-word paper in which you compare and contrast the lives of
Jesus and Mohammed in relation to each respective religion. Complete the following
steps in your paper:
Trace the lives of Jesus and Mohammed historically.
Compare what impact the death of each person had on his respective religion.
Describe the ways each individual was or is worshipped.
Explain how their messages are being carried out in the world today.
Format your paper according to APA standards (cite your work).
Post your paper as an attachment
Assignment Location Due
Checkpoint: Monotheistic Religions Please place in the Assignments
Thursday
Elements Matrix (appendix H) Link
Please place in the Assignments
Assignment: Jesus and Muhammad Essay Sunday
Link

13. Week Eight
New Religious Movements & Religion in the 21st Century
Compare and contrast new religious movements with well established religions.
Estimate the impact of religious pluralism and the interfaith movement on the future of organized
religion.
Weekly Reminders
Discussion Questions
Discussion question responses will not count towards the class participation requirement and will be
evaluated separately.
Only posts in the Main classroom forum will count towards your class participation score.
Summary of Week 8 Deliverables
Course Assignments
1. Readings
Read Ch. 12 & 13 of Living Religions.
2. CheckPoint: Rough Draft/detailed outline for World Religions Report
Post Your Rough Draft/detailed outline of your World Religions Report.
You should have at the very least a very detailed outline of what you are going to
present in your final paper. List the religion you are going to be researching, place of
visitation; name of person to interview and comparison religion.
Send in as an attachment
3. Discussion Questions
How are newer religions different from older ones? How are they similar?
What effect do you think religious pluralism and the interfaith movement will have on
the future of organized religion? Explain your answer.
Assignment Location Due
Checkpoint: Rough Draft World Religions Please place in the Assignments
Friday
Report Link
Main Forum Discussion #1
Discussion Question #1 Tuesday
Thread
Main Forum Discussion #2
Discussion Question #2 Thursday
Thread
Main Forum Discussion Four of seven
Participation
Threads days

14. Week Nine
Making Connections
Communicate with people of different religions about their beliefs and practices.
Weekly Reminders
Summary of Week 9 Deliverables
Course Assignments
1. Capstone CheckPoint
Post your response to the following questions:
In what ways has learning about world religions influenced the way you think about
religion?
Why is it important to learn about other peoples' beliefs and attitudes?
How will you utilize this information in the future?
2. Final Project: World Religions Report
Resources: Appendices A, B, & F
Select a religion that is not your own and then visit a place of worship and interview a
person of that faith.
Write a minimum 2,500 word informative (research) paper about the religion.
Compare your selected religion with at least one other religion you are familiar with through
this class.
You are to use at least one other outside resource that is peer-reviewed (not Wikipedia
or Google) .
Include the following elements:
Introduction of the religion detailing its history, religious beliefs and style of worship
Name, location and review of the site.
Interview summary
Comparing and contrasting with another religion
Conclusion
References
Format your paper according to APA standards.
Post your paper as an attachment.
Assignment Location Due
Checkpoint: Capstone
Please place in the Assignments Link Thursday
Statement

15. Final Project: World Religions
Please place in the Assignments Link Sunday
Report