Paper: Comparative Study of Major Religions
(100 Marks)
(Alternative Paper in Lieu of the Compulsory Islamic Studies)
I. Introduction
▪ Definition(s) of religion
▪ Emergence of the study of religion as a discipline
▪ Theological and academic study of religion
▪ An overview of religious landscape of the World
II. Hinduism
▪ Historical Background: Indus valley civilization, Aryan invasion theory, Vedic
Dharma, Brahmanism
▪ Scriptures: Sruti: Vedas, Upanishads, Smirti: Manu Smirti, Sutras, Puranas, Great
epics: Ramayana, Mahabharata
▪ Hindu Doctrines: Dharma, Vedanta, Karma, Transmigration of Souls, Moksha
(Liberation)
▪ Ways to Liberation: Karma marga (Works/Rituals), Jnana marga (Wisdom),
Bhakti marga (Devotion)
▪ Hindu gods: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Trimurti, other gods and divinities
▪ Major Hindu Sects: Vaishavism (Manifestation avatars), Saivism (Supreme God &
Phallic worship), Saktism (Goddess worship)
▪ Hindu society: Caste System, Ashramas (Stages of life)
▪ Hinduism in the Modern World: 19th century reform and revival movements,
Contemporary Hindu Tendencies and movements
III. Buddhism
▪ Historical Background: Life of Gautama Buddha, Formation and spread of
Buddhism, Rivalry between Brahmanism and &Buddhism
▪ Scriptures: Tripitaka: Sutta Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka, Abhidhamma Pitaka
▪ Teachings and Doctrines: Three Jewels of Buddhism: Buddha, Dhamma,
Sangha, The four noble truths, Eight fold Path
▪ Buddhist Sects: Theravadas (Hinayana), Mahayana, other schools and sects
▪ Buddhism in the Modern world
IV. Judaism
▪ A brief history of Jews and Judaism: From Abraham to Moses, peace be upon
them all, From Moses to establishment of Jewish rule, Destruction of Jerusalem
and dispersion of Jews in the world,
▪ Jewish Scriptures: Tanakh (The Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings), Mishnah
and Talmud
▪ Articles of faith and basic teachings: Ten Commandments, The thirteen principles
of faith propounded by Moses Maimonides (1138-1204)
▪ Jewish holidays and festivals: Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), Pesach
(Passover), Sukkot (Tabernacles) Purim
▪ Jewish Worship: Daily prayer, fasting, Sabbath
▪ Jewish sects and movements: Orthodox Judaism, Conservative Judaism, Reform
Judaism, Zionism, Kabbalah, Hasidism
V. Christianity
▪ Historical background: Jewish background of Christianity, Life and of Jesus Christ
(Through the Four Gospels), Life and the role of Paul (Through the Letters of
Paul), Formation and spread of the Christian Church, Christianization of the
Roman Empire, Reform movement
▪ Scriptures: The Holy Bible (Old Testament and New Testament)
▪ Basic Doctrines: Original Sin, Incarnation of God, Crucifixion and Resurrection of
Jesus Christ, Atonement, Trinity
▪ Christian Sects: Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestantism
Sub-denominations: Lutherans, Reformed and Presbyterians, Anglicans,
Baptists, Methodists, Unitarians
▪ Christian Festivals and Holidays: Advent, Christmas, Easter, Pentecost
▪ Christian worship and Sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Communion, Lord’s
Supper, prayer, fasting, psalms, music,
▪ Christianity in the Modern Times: Encounter with modernity, modern theological
trends, Missionary movement, Dialogue and relationship with other religions
VI. Islam
▪ Introduction and Historical Background: Islamic concept of religion, universality of
religion and diversity of shari‘ahs, Sirah (Life) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad,
peace be upon him, The era of rightly guided caliphs of Islam
▪ Sacred Scriptures: The Holy Quran, Hadith
▪ Basic Doctrines and Creed: Tawhid (Oneness of God), Risalah (Belief in Prophets
and finality of the prophet-hood with the Prophet Muhammad), Akhirah (Belief in
Hereafter and the final reckoning by Allah the Almighty), Belief in angels, previous
scriptures, predestination and human responsibility before God, infallibility of the
Quran
▪ Five Pillars of Islam: Utterance of Shahadatayn (To proclaim the Oneness of Allah
and that Prophet Muhammad is his messenger, salah (five daily prayers), zakah
(compulsory charity), sawm (fasting in the month of Ramadan) and Hajj (pilgrimage
to Makkah who can afford travelling to it)
▪ Other Teachings of Islam: Equality of mankind, simplicity, spiritual purity and bodily
hygiene, patience, contentment, moderation, social justice, Jihad, tolerance
towards other religions,
▪ Sects and Schools: Sunnis (mainstream Muslims), Shi‘ahs (Special devotion for
Hazrat Ali and Family of the Prophet), Khawarij (literalists), Mu‘tazilah (rationalists)
▪ Contemporary Islamic movements and tendencies: Ikwan al Muslimun (Muslim
Brotherhood), Jama‘at-i-Islami, Tablighi Jama‘at, Salafi movement, Fethullah
Gulen movement in Turkey, Iranian revolution, extremist groups.