What is the Axial Age, and why was it important in the rise of the major world religious traditions?

A Christian Approach to Religious Study and an Introduction to World Religions

Assignment Introduction and Context

The subject for Week 1 sets the foundation for the weeks that follow. The primary focus is to develop a Christian approach to the study of religions and to introduce the idea of how to study world religions.

This discussion assignment provides a forum for discussing relevant topics for this week on the basis of the course competencies covered.

For this assignment, make sure you post your initial response to the Discussion Area by the due date assigned.

To support your work, use your course and text readings and also use the South University Online Library. As in all assignments, cite your sources in your work and provide references for the citations in Turabian format.

Start reviewing and responding to at least two of your classmates’ posts and consider commenting on differences and similarities between how you gather facts and how your classmates gather facts. Think about the language you use to comment constructively on other students’ posts.

Participate in the discussion by asking a question, providing a statement of clarification, providing a point of view with a rationale, challenging an aspect of the discussion, or indicating a relationship between two or more lines of reasoning in the discussion. Cite sources in your responses to other classmates. Complete your participation for this assignment by the end of the week.

Tasks

In around 200–300 words, post to the Discussion Area your response to any one of the following:

How did the readings this week help you identify aspects of a Christian approach to the study of religion, and what elements would you include in your approach? Select one value and one Christian goal and discuss how they come together in Christian religious studies.

We all approach the religions of others as outsiders, but why is it important to try to develop an accurate and sympathetic insider understanding of another religious tradition?

In the textbook discussion of a theology of religions, what aspects seemed most important, and what else might you add to what was included in the chapter?