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  Course Description
Course Name : Texts in the History of Religions

Course Code : FDB 740

Course Type : Optional

Level of Course : Second Cycle

Year of Study : 1

Course Semester : Spring (16 Weeks)

ECTS : 6

Name of Lecturer(s) : Assoc.Prof.Dr. KADİR ALBAYRAK

Learning Outcomes of the Course : Receives practical training in historical religious texts in their original language and has the ability to use such written material in his/her master´s projects
Learns different religions with their own sacred texts and main sources.
Gains academic knowledge about religions
Has the ability to realize the progress of religions in historical process.
Gains the ability and academic knowledge to compare and comment on the relevant material.

Mode of Delivery : Face-to-Face

Prerequisites and Co-Prerequisites : None

Recommended Optional Programme Components : None

Aim(s) of Course : The aim of the course is to inform the students about the scriptures (sacred texts) of the religions worldwide; to enable the students to learn relevant sources related to religions and to gain profound knowledge about their writings. Thus, they will be able to interpret and compare those with texts each other.

Course Contents : Religious texts, also known as scriptures, holy writ, or holy books are the texts which are considered to be sacred by various religious traditions or of central importance to various religious traditions. And this lesson covers sample texts from the different religions and traditions.

Language of Instruction : Turkish

Work Place : Classroom


  Course Outline /Schedule (Weekly) Planned Learning Activities
Week Subject Student's Preliminary Work Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
1 General Information and evaluation about the terms ´religion´ and ´history´ Reading the relevant parts in the textbook and suggested sources Lecture, question and answer, discussion
2 General Information about the discipline of History of Religions Reading the relevant parts in the textbook and suggested sources Lecture, question and answer, discussion
3 Emergence and Progress of History of Religions in the East and West Reading the relevant parts in the textbook and suggested sources Lecture, question and answer, discussion
4 Reading of Sacred Texts about the Far Eastern Religions Reading the relevant parts in the textbook and suggested sources Reading and Commentary
5 Reading of Sacred Texts about the Near Eastern and Middle Eastern Religions Reading the relevant parts in the textbook and suggested sources Reading and Commentary
6 Sacred Texts of Judaism Reading the relevant parts in the textbook and suggested sources Lecture and discussion
7 Reading of texts about Judaism and its situation in the modern world Reading the relevant parts in the textbook and suggested sources Reading and discussion
8 Texts about the history and emergence of Christianity Reading the relevant parts in the textbook and suggested sources Reading
9 Reading of texts on Today´s Christianity and its Sects Reading the relevant parts in the textbook and suggested sources Reading
10 Midterm Exam Revising the textbook and the relevant topics in suggested sources Written Exam
11 Reading of Sacred Texts on Islam Reading the relevant parts in the textbook and suggested sources Reading and discussion
12 New Religious Movements Reading the relevant parts in the textbook and suggested sources Lecture
13 Religion, Politics and Current Issues Reading the relevant parts in the textbook and suggested sources Lecture and discussion
14 General Comparisons Reading the relevant parts in the textbook and suggested sources Lecture
15 General Evaluation and Conclusion General Revision of All Subjects Brainstorming and Discussion
16/17 Final Exam Revising the textbook and the relevant topics in suggested sources Written Exam


  Required Course Resources
Resource Type Resource Name
Recommended Course Material(s)  Kitabı Mukaddes, Moojen Momen, The Phenomenon of Religion, Yaşayan Dünya Dinleri, Abdurrahman Küçük-Günay Tümer, Dinler Tarihi, Mircea Eliade, Dinsel İnançlar ve Düşünceler Tarihi.
 Xanna Omerxali - Avesta Zerdüştilerin Kutsal Metinleri (Özel Baskı); AVESTA BASIN YAYIN
 Ninian Smart (Editor) , Richard D. Hecht (Editor) - Sacred Texts of the World: A Universal Anthology; The Crossroad Publishing Company; 2002 edition (July 25, 1984)
 Philip Novak - The World´s Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World´s Religions; HarperOne; 1ST edition (July 20, 1995)
 Andrew Wilson - World Scripture: A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts; Paragon House (September 22, 1998)
 Marvin W. Meyer (Editor) - The Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook of Sacred Texts; University of Pennsylvania Press; 1st University of Pennsylvania Press Ed edition (April 9, 1999)
Required Course Material(s)  http://www.sacred-texts.com/
 John Bruno Hare - Internet Sacred Text Archive DVD-ROM 9.0; Evinity Publishing Inc; 9.0 edition (November 20, 2009)


  Assessment Methods and Assessment Criteria
Semester/Year Assessments Number Contribution Percentage
    Mid-term Exams (Written, Oral, etc.) 1 60
    Homeworks/Projects/Others 1 40
Total 100
Rate of Semester/Year Assessments to Success 40
 
Final Assessments 100
Rate of Final Assessments to Success 60
Total 100

  Contribution of the Course to Key Learning Outcomes
# Key Learning Outcome Contribution*
1 Explains the effects of phenomenon of religion to formation, change and development of human and social structure. 4
2 Explains that religions can contribute to the maintenance of the atmosphere of peace and the development of coexistence culture in today´s world. 4
3 Has the necessary information about scientific research methods and techniques 4
4 Follows the impacts and the consequences of religion on social and scientific developments by using the main sources 4
5 Recognizes the key issues in the field and develops ways of solution related to them. 4
6 Has the necessary qualifications to provide the expected service for the students who will work as researchers, educators and religious officials in public and private institutions and organizations. 4
7 Has the capability of reaching accurate religious information by means of scientific research, and is able to evaluate, interpret and use the information obtained . 4
8 Recognizes main literature about the field and is able to have access to them. 4
9 Conducts scientific research on key issues relating to religion and community relations independently and draws conclusions. 4
10 Defends the results which are obtained in accordance with objective and scientific criteria. 4
11 Prepares research report in accordance with scientific criteria. 4
12 Realizes the necessity to think that religion, science, philosophy and morality complete each other and in order to explain the meaning of human life, they should be considered all together. 4
13 Realizies the necessity to respect faith and values which are attributed to holiness. 5
* Contribution levels are between 0 (not) and 5 (maximum).

  Student Workload - ECTS
Works Number Time (Hour) Total Workload (Hour)
Course Related Works
    Class Time (Exam weeks are excluded) 14 3 42
    Out of Class Study (Preliminary Work, Practice) 14 5 70
Assesment Related Works
    Homeworks, Projects, Others 1 10 10
    Mid-term Exams (Written, Oral, etc.) 1 15 15
    Final Exam 1 20 20
Total Workload: 157
Total Workload / 25 (h): 6.28
ECTS Credit: 6