What was the origin of the religious traditions? In what kind of historical and social context have they rose?

• Introduction to Buddhism I. A brief overview
  –S. 2 Buddha's biography
  
  
• Introduction to Christianity I. History
  –S. 1 The emergence of Christianity
  
  
• Introduction to Daoism
  –S. 3 The textual foundations of Daoism
  –S. 5 The birth of Organized Daoism
  
  
• Introduction to Hinduism
  –S. 2 Origins of Indian religions: The Vedic revelation and the Brahmins
  –S. 3 The Upanishad and the Hindu shared worldview
  
• Introduction to Islam I. History
  –S. 1 The emergence of Islam in Arabia in the 7th century
  
• Introduction to Judaism I. History
  –S. 1 The origins of Judaism
  

What are the main objects of worships in the various religious traditions? Is there any absolute principle? Are there any minor or major holy figure? How are they characterized?

• Introduction to Buddhism I. A brief overview
  –S. 1 What is Buddhism? (source 1)
  -S. 2 Buddha's biography
  -S. 6 Main doctrinal traditions (2). Mahayana developments (source 2&3)
  -S. 7 Main doctrinal traditions (3). Vajrayana (source 1&2)
  
• Introduction to Christianity II. Themes
  –S.3 The Credo and dogma
  
  
• Introduction to Daoism
  –S. 1 Definition of Daoism (source 1)
  -S. 3 The textual foundations of Daoism (source 1& 3)
  -S. 3 The ideal of Immortality and related practices (source 3)
  -S. 5 The birth of Organized Daoism (source 2&3)
  
• Introduction to Hinduism
  –S. 3 The Upanishad and the Hindu shared worldview (Source 1)
  -S. 4 Time and Space in Hinduism
  -S. 5 Vishnu, "Bhakti" Devotion and the Concept of Avatara.
  -S. 6 Shiva, the deity of Yoga
  -S. 7 The Goddess and Tantrism
  
  
• Introduction to Islam I. History
  –S.1 The emergence of Islam in Arabia in the 7th century (source 2)
  –S.6 From Sunnah to Sunnism (source 1)
  
  
• Introduction to Islam II. Themes
  –S. 1 Mary/Maryam in the Islamic tradition
  –S. 4 The “visit” to the saints
  
  
• Introduction to Judaism I. History
  –S.1 MThe origins of Judaism (Source 1a)
  
  

Are the main doctrinal tenets of a religious tradition inscribed somewhere? Which kind of texts did a religious tradition produced? What are their contents and role inside a tradition?

• Introduction to Buddhism I. A brief overview
  –S. 3 Main doctrines (1). Karma and Samsara
  -S. 4 Main doctrines (2). Four Noble truths, Illumination and Nirvana (source 1)
  -S. 6 Main doctrinal traditions (2). Mahayana developments (source 1)
  
  
• Introduction to Buddhism II. Diffusion in the world
  –S. 3 Buddhism in China (source 3)
  –S. 4 Buddhism in Japan (sources 2&3)
  
• Introduction to Christianity I. History
  –S.1 The emergence of Christianity (sources 2&3)
  –S.3 Early evangelism and Christianization (source 2)
  –S.5 The birth of the Eastern Orthodox Church (source 1)
  –S.6 The age of Reformations (source 1& 2c)
  –S.7 Christian churches and the modern world (sources 1&2)
  –S.8 Vatican II and ecumenism
  
  
• Introduction to Christianity II. Themes
  –S. 2 Scripture, the canon and apocrypha (source 2a)
  –S. 3 The Credo and dogma (source 1)
  –S. 4 Sacraments and rites (source 2)
  –S. 8 Monasteries and religious orders (source 2)
  
  
• Introduction to Daoism
  –S. 3 The textual foundations of Daoism (source 1& 3)
  –S. 4 The ideal of Immortality and related practices (source 1)
  –S. 6 Daoism and the other religious traditions of China (source 2)
  
  
• Introduction to Hinduism
  –S. 2 Origins of Indian religions: The Vedic revelation and the Brahmins (sources 1&2 )
  –S. 3 The Upanishad and the Hindu shared worldview (sources 1&2)
  –S. 5 Vishnu, "Bhakti" Devotion and the Concept of Avatara (sources 2&3)
  –S. 8 The Hinduism's View of Society
  
  
• Introduction to Islam I. History
  –S. 2 The early Islamic conquests, 632-750 (source 5)
  –S. 4 Islamic Holy Scriptures: the Quran and Hadîths
  –S. 6 From Sunnah to Sunnism (source 1)
  
  
• Introduction to Islam II. Themes
  –S. 1 Mary/Maryam in the Islamic tradition (source 1&3)
  –S. 2 The Quranic story of the “People of the Cave” (surat al-kahf). A heritage of the near-eastern/middle-eastern tradition. The promise of resurrection (source 1)
  –S. 3 The "wonders" of the creation of man in Islamic stories (source 2)
  –S. 5 The legendary bestiaries in the Islamic cultures (source 2)
  –S. 6 The gardens of Islam: a mirror of “paradise” and a way of life (source 1)
  –S. 7 Jerusalem, the Holy city of Islam (source 2)
  –S. 9 The image in Islam (source 1)
  
  
• Introduction to Judaism I. History
  –S. 1 The origins of Judaism (source 1a)
  –S. 3 Judaism in the Middle and Modern Ages (source 1a)
  –S. 5 Judaism and the Jews in the 20th and 21st Centuries (source 1b)
  
  
• Introduction to Judaism II. Themes
  –S. 2 The founding texts and their centrality in Judaism
  
  

What is the main message of the religious traditions? Which are their fundamentals principles? What kind of worldview do they enable?

• Introduction to Buddhism I. A brief overview
  –S. 3 Main doctrines (1). Karma and Samsara
  –S. 4 Main doctrines (2). Four Noble truths, Illumination and Nirvana
  –S. 5 Main doctrinal traditions (1). Development of first Buddhist traditions
  –S. 6 Main doctrinal traditions (2). Mahayana developments
  –S. 7 Main doctrinal traditions (3). Vajrayana
  
  
• Introduction to Christianity II. Themes
  –S. 3 The Credo and dogma
  
  
• Introduction to Daoism
  S. 1 Definition of Daoism
  S. 2 The Traditional Chinese Worldview
  S. 3 The textual foundations of Daoism
  S. 4 The ideal of Immortality and related practices
  S. 6 Daoism and the other religious traditions of China
  
  
• Introduction to Hinduism
  S.2 Origins of Indian religions: The Vedic revelation and the Brahmins
  S.3 The Upanishad and the Hindu shared worldview
  S.4 Time and Space in Hinduism
  S.5 Vishnu, "Bhakti" Devotion and the Concept of Avatara
  S.6 Shiva, the deity of Yoga
  S.7 The Goddess and Tantrism
  S.8 The Hinduism's View of Society
  
  
• Introduction to Islam I. History
  –S. 1 The emergence of Islam in Arabia in the 7th century
  –S. 4 Islamic Holy Scriptures: the Quran and Hadîths
  –S. 5 Shi'a Islam
  –S. 6 From Sunnah to Sunnism
  –S. 7 Interpreting the Law in Islam, from major law schools (8th – 10th centuries) to the present
  
  
• Introduction to Islam II. Themes
  –S. 3 The "wonders" of the creation of man in Islamic stories (source 2)
  
• Introduction to Judaism I. History
  –S. 1 The origins of Judaism (source 1a)
  –S. 2 Rabbinic Judaism
  
• Introduction to Judaism II. Themes
  –S. 1 The founding texts and their centrality in Judaism
  –S. 5 The main diversity trends in Judaism
  

Who and how controls the development of a religious tradition and the accordance to its principles? Moreover, as a social phenomenon, how a religious tradition is organized in order to follow its principles in the world?

• Introduction to Buddhism I. A brief overview
  -S.8 Buddhism and Society: the role of the Buddhist Community
  
  
• Introduction to Christianity II. Themes
  –S.6 Authority and ministers
  –S.8 Monasteries and religious orders
  
  
  
• Introduction to Daoism
  –S.5 The birth of Organized Daoism
  -S.7 Development of Daoism schools and practices
  -S.8 Daoism and Modern China
  
  
• Introduction to Hinduism
  –S.11 The figure of the Master (Guru)
  
• Introduction to Islam I. History
  –S.7 Interpreting the Law in Islam, from major law schools (8th – 10th centuries) to the present
  
• Introduction to Judaism I. History
  –S. 1 The origins of Judaism (source 2)
  –S. 2 Rabbinic Judaism
  
• Introduction to Judaism II. Themes
  –S. 2 The Temple and the synagogues
  

Each religious tradition has its set of practices and rituals that shape the life of the practitioner. How does they changes between religions? What are common and different points?

• Introduction to Buddhism I. A brief overview
  –S.9 Buddhist practice (1). Meditation and transfer of merit
  –S.10 Buddhist practice (2). Funerary rites, feasts, exorcisms
  
  
• Introduction to Christianity I. History
  –S.1 The emergence of Christianity (source 3)
  
  
• Introduction to Christianity II. Themes
  –S.4 Sacraments and rites
  –S.7 Relics and pilgrimage
  
  
• Introduction to Daoism
  –S.6 The ideal of Immortality and related practices
  –S.5 The birth of Organized Daoism (source 2)
  –S.6 Daoism and the other religious traditions of China (source 3)
  –S.7 Development of Daoism schools and practices
  –S.8 Daoism and Modern China
  
  
• Introduction to Hinduism
  –S. 9 The Hindus way of life: the four stage of life, rites of passage and everyday cult
  -S.10 Temples, Pilgrimages and Festivals
  
• Introduction to Islam I. History
  –S.4 Islamic Holy Scriptures: the Quran and Hadîths (sources 1&4)
  
• Introduction to Islam II. Themes
  –S. 4 The “visit” to the saints
  -S. 8 The mosque: the sacredness of the space and the multitude of functions
  
  
• Introduction to Judaism II. Themes
  –S.4 The main Jewish rites and practices
  
  

How religious traditions build their relationship with the society at large? How do they influence society? How they become influenced by society?

• Introduction to Buddhism I. A brief overview
  –S.8 Buddhism and Society: the role of the Buddhist Community
  
  
• Introduction to Buddhism II. Diffusion in the world
  –S.1 Diffusion of Buddhism in Asia
  –S.2 Buddhism in Sri Lanka and South-east Asia (source 4)
  
  
• Introduction to Christianity I. History
  –S.2 Social, political and doctrinal affirmation
  –S.3 Early evangelism and Christianization
  –S.4 The Western Christian world
  –S.7 Christian churches and the modern world
  
  
• Introduction to Daoism
  –S.8 Daoism and Modern China
  
  
• Introduction to Hinduism
  –S.8 The Hinduism's View of Society
  –S.9 The Hindus way of life: the four stage of life, rites of passage and everyday cult
  
• Introduction to Islam I. History
  –S.3 Arabization and islamization
  –S.8 Islam between tradition and modernity: revivals and reforms (from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century)
  –S.9 Islamist trends and new directions for liberal thought in contemporary Islam
  –S.10 Islam in the contemporary world
  
• Introduction to Islam II. Themes
  –S.2 The Quranic story of the “People of the Cave” (surat al-kahf). A heritage of the near-eastern/middle-eastern tradition. The promise of resurrection (source 3)
  –S.10 Muslim minorities in Western Europe
  
• Introduction to Judaism I. History
  –S.3 Judaism in the Middle and Modern Ages
  -S.4 Jewish Modernity
  -S.5 Judaism and the Jews in the 20th and 21st Centuries
  
• Introduction to Judaism II. Themes
  –S. 7 Israel and the Jewish Diasporas
  

Which is the contribution that religions brought to the cultural and artistic heritage of the world?

• Introduction to Buddhism II. Diffusion in the world
  –S.1 Diffusion of Buddhism in Asia (source 2)
  –S.2 Buddhism in Sri Lanka and South-east Asia (sources 2&3)
  –S.3 Buddhism in China (sources 4&5)
  –S.4 Buddhism in Japan (sources 4,5&6)
  –S.5 Buddhism in Tibet (sources 2&3)
  
  
  
• Introduction to Christianity II. Themes
  –S.1 Liturgy and worship
  –S.5 Images and Christianity
  
  
• Introduction to Hinduism
  –S.10 Temples, Pilgrimages and Festivals
  
  
• Introduction to Islam II. Themes
  –S.2 The Quranic story of the “People of the Cave” (surat al-kahf). A heritage of the near-eastern/middle-eastern tradition. The promise of resurrection
  –S.6 The gardens of Islam: a mirror of “paradise” and a way of life
  –S.7 Jerusalem, the Holy city of Islam
  –S.8 The mosque: the sacredness of the space and the multitude of functions)
  
  
• Introduction to Judaism II. Themes
  –S.2 The Temple and the synagogues
  –S.3 The main Biblical and historical figures
  –S.6 The centrality of Jerusalem
  
• Religions and The Body
  –S.2 Body in Hinduism (source 3)
  –S.6 Body in Islam (sources 3&5)
  
• The three monotheistic traditions in medieval Spain and Sicily
  –S.4 Cultural exchanges
  

Modernity has represented, in the Western Word, an important change in role of religions. What was it? How was this change in non-western countries?

• Introduction to Buddhism II. Diffusion in the world
  –S.6 Buddhism and Modernity
  
  
  
• Introduction to Christianity I. History
  –S.7 Christian churches and the modern world
  –S.8 Vatican II and ecumenism
  –S.9 Christians worldwide
  
  
• Introduction to Daoism
  –S. 8 Daoism and Modern China
  
  
• Introduction to Hinduism
  –S.12 Modern and contemporary Hinduism
  
  
• Introduction to Islam I. History
  –S.8 Islam between tradition and modernity: revivals and reforms (from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century)
  –S.9 Islamist trends and new directions for liberal thought in contemporary Islam
  –S.10 Islam in the contemporary world
  
• Introduction to Islam II. Themes
  –S.10 Muslim minorities in Western Europe
  
• Introduction to Judaism I. History
  –S.5 Judaism and the Jews in the 20th and 21st Centuries
  
• Religions and Fundamentalisms
  –Entire Module
  

What happen when different religious traditions encounter? What are the social, political, cultural and also more specifically religious outcomes?

• Introduction to Daoism
  –S.6 Daoism and the other religious traditions of China
  
  
  
• Introduction to Islam II. Themes
  –S.7 Jerusalem, the Holy city of Islam
  
  
• Introduction to Judaism II. Themes
  –S.6 The centrality of Jerusalem
  
  
• Religious diversity in contemporary europe
  –Entire Module
  
  
• The three monotheistic traditions in medieval Spain and Sicily
  –Entire Module