An Elective Program Sequence (Online)
Religion: a personalized set or institutional system of beliefs and practices pertaining to the supernatural.
Supernatural: an order of existence beyond human experience and observation.
Even though there are distinct sects associated with many of the worlds religions, in general, religious perspectives can be grouped together based on commonalties into umbrella religious systems. This results in a few broad religious categories such as Shamanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, to name a few.
Here is a list of some of the religions of the world studied at UCC in the World Religion three term online sequence:
- Egyptian, Japanese – Shinto, Hinduism
- Buddhism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism
- Christianity, Islam, Humanism
The religions to be studied will be described and discussed from numerous perspectives.
- Structural Analysis-
- the outward manifestations of a religion, its: symbols, founders, geography, scriptures.
- Conceptual Analysis–
- The core beliefs of a religion, about reality, the cosmos, nature, society, the self, death and the afterlife.
- Functional Analysis–
- The function a religion plays in a person’s life.
- Rituals–
- Rituals, religions have unique holidays and ceremonies, based on unique calendars.
- Time Factoring–
- How is time broken down into daily, weekly, yearly, and life cycles?
- Historical Analysis–
- The historical setting, in which the religion developed, and how the religion changed over time.
There are ten lectures about 25 minutes each with an outline for each. The outlines are intended as “handouts” for your use to read as you listen to the lectures. The lectures are imbedded in the online instructional material where they are most appropriate
World Religion at UCC is one of several Humanities electives. Appropriate companion courses would be Philosophy, World Literature, World History, English and Writing.
This course is taught using the Angel learning management system 
For more information, contact
John Stelzer
Phone: (541)440-4706
Email: John.Stelzer@umpqua.edu
Umpqua Community College is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Umpqua Community College, PO Box 967, Roseburg Oregon 97470 Phone: (541)440-4600.
This page last updated 9-27-07.