Exploring the diverse belief traditions contributing to New Zealand society.
Learn about the history, development and contemporary practice of the world’s major religions in this introductory series of Term courses. Each Term has a different focus and covers different material. The first two Terms focus on the history and development of each of the world’s main faith and belief traditions, while the second two Terms focus on Selected Topics in the Contemporary Practice of each of the major world religions. In the first half of this four-Term series, we explore both Western and Eastern Traditions. In the second half, we look at selected topics in the contemporary practice of religion, focusing on a different topic during each class, and viewing how each religion approaches that particular topic. Structuring discussions in this way allows us to focus on the similarities between the major world religions rather than on any perceived differences. The second half of this series focuses on a comparative examination of the contemporary values and practices of the major world religions, and involves a critical exploration of lifecycle rituals and beliefs, from birth to death, food and clothing preferences, festivals and other activities associated with what religions do.
Any Term course can be taken independently of the others and at any time and in any order. There are no prerequisites for any of the Religious Diversity courses.
All classes are taught from an objective point of view. These are classes about religion and religious behaviour, taught from an anthropological point of view, and are designed for participants to get a greater understanding of the depth and scope of the diversity that exists within the world’s various faith and belief traditions.
