This course is a survey of the major world religions. It will begin with the origins of religious thought in the East Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Confucianism and Taoism, and then to the major religions of the West – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It will analyze each of the religions from a perspective of empathy and neutrality, looking at its beginnings, its major teachings, and its modern practice.

In this course, students will become aware of justice/injustice in the world, analyze structures of injustice using the biblical tradition found in Scripture, the social teaching of the church and develop a personal response to justice in their lives and the world. Students will also appreciate the justice work of “the community of saints” – those who have modeled and continue to model justice. Students will apply the social teaching and tradition of the Catholic Church to some of the major issues of our time such as: poverty, homelessness, war, resource distribution and the World Order, and environmental crisis. Students will study the issues, examine their own lives as well as public policy through reading, discussion, art, music, prayer and the theological reflection of the Church. Then they will find ways to work concretely toward helping to effect structural change.