World Religions

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     This Southern Nazarene University course deals with the beliefs and practices of the religions (other than Christianity) of our world. It is similar to those courses sometimes titled Comparative Religions. This course will give students an understanding of religions such as Animism (including Wiccan), Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and others.

     During the semester, we will utilize not only written materials and lectures by the professor, but also videos and appearances by guest speakers from those religions. Fortunately, for the purposes of this course, we have some great resources in the Oklahoma City area:

• Bahá'i Faith, 321 E. Campbell Street, Edmond OK 73034 (just west of the University of Central Oklahoma's clock tower) (405) 348-9992
• Buddhist temples in Oklahoma City
  • Giac Quang Temple, 516 SE 17 (Vietnamese), (405) 636-1845
  • Rissho Kosei Kai Dharma Center, 2745 NW 40th (405) 943-5030 or 949-1921
  • Vien Giac Buddhist Temple, 5101 NE 36th (405) 424-0264 (Vietnamese)
  • Wat Chairatanaram, 710 SE 50th, (405) 634-2144
  • Wat Sangharatanaram of Oklahoma, 2200 SE 55 (Thai Theravada) (405) 677-4306
  • Wat Lao Buddaharam Temple, 7600 N Kelly Ave. (Laotian) (405) 632-7842
• Hindu Temple, 7200 N Coltrane (405) 478-0787 Newspaper story
• Islamic mosques
  • Islamic Center of Oklahoma City, 3201 NW 48th St. (405) 948-6188
  • Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, 3815 North St. Clair Avenue (405) 946-2116
  • Masjid Al-Salam, 525 N University Drive, Edmond (405) 341-1077
  • Masjid Mu'min, 1322 NE 23, (405) 424-0352
• Jewish synagogues in Oklahoma City
  • Emanuel Synagogue (conservative), 900 NW 47 (405) 528-2113
  • Temple B'nai Israel (reformed), 4901 N Pennsylvania (405) 843-2755
  • Kehilat Rosh Pinah (messianic), 3106 N Utah Avenue (405) 941-2889
• Sikh Gurdwara (or Gateway), 4525 NW 16th, Oklahoma City OK (405) 949-2638

     Plus: Keep your ears open during the semester. If you discover a student on campus who has grown up in one of these religions, let me know. We can try to have them come to class for an interview.

• Syllabus in PDF Adobe Acrobat format [ click here ]
• Video viewing guides
  • Buddhism -- Religions of the world series
  • Divine Horsemen: The living gods of Haiti
  • Great Religions of the World
  • Magical Curing and Delivered from the Power of Darkness
  • Origins of India's Hindu culture
  • Roots and wings (Judaism in the U.S.)
  • Sacred text and stories
  • Sikhism
  • Understanding Hindu traditions
  • World God Loves: World religions overview segment plus segments on Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam
  • World of Unreached Peoples: Islam

• Related case studies:
  • Communal feast -- protection from evil spirits in Java
  • Shintoism/Christianity clash
    • Neighborhood celebration
    • U.S. President's visit to Shinto shrine
  • Buddhism/Christianity clashes
    • Buddha pedestals in Thailand
    • Lily Liu's baptism
    • My son is marrying a Buddhist!
  • Islam and Christianity: How should Bashir be buried?
  • Hinduism/Christianity clash
    • Food offered to Hindu gods
    • Bible translation in India - a word for God

  Recent World Religions class during a field trip to Oklahoma City's Hindu temple

• Messianic Judaism terminology
• Zoroastrianism - student PowerPoint presentation on history, beliefs and practices
• Live-and-let-live? Some devotional reflections on Luke 5 and 6
• Exam study guides [ click here ]

What past students have said

"It has helped me take a critical look at what I believe and why."
"It opened my eyes to how diverse even Oklahoma is."

Sample student paper: Visit to worship service

Links to world religions resources on the Internet

How to cite internet sources in your papers

Oklahoma City's Hindu temple

One would expect to find a Hindu temple in India. But in Oklahoma City? [ read more ]

Other SNU Missions Courses

Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University, 6729 NW 39th, Bethany, OK 73008  |  Phone: 405-491-6693 - Fax: 405-491-6658
Copyright © 2000, 2001 - Last Updated: October 9, 2007 |  URL: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/worldrel.htm