PHIL 463 Seminar in Religious Studies: Topics in Comparative Religions [CRN 79590]

Overview of Course

Perennialism in religious thought is the belief that all world religions share a single universal metaphysical truth and core mystical experiences. The theme of this seminar is to question that belief, looking through the prism of mysticism in six of the world’s religions: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and the Yoruba traditions of Africa. We will survey the basic tenets of these traditions and explore their respective mystical branches. Our readings will reflect both the view that religions are essentially universal and a criticism of that position.

We will be asking this main question: Is mysticism a universal experience in all traditions—East and West—and if so, what are its unifying characteristics? Or should we just regard mysticism as an overarching term to refer to multiple—and different—ways of experiencing/understanding the “divine,” the soul, or nature? Among the various traditions, what are the conditions required for having a mystical experience, and how are they created or acquired? In what way does the underlying tradition dictate the nature of the mystical experience? Does our study of mysticism support or refute the claim of universality among religious traditions? Semester at Sea offers a unique opportunity for students to ponder these questions as they experience a variety of cultural and religious contexts on their voyage.

The course should interest students with curiosity about the world’s religious traditions. It should also appeal to students who are interested in mysticism, whether in their own tradition or in others. Note: This is a seminar. Students will be expected to actively participate in class, write reflection pieces, conduct independent research, and give presentations to their colleagues. There are no course prerequisites; neither is a background in religious studies required.