Fall 2024 / RELI 2350, Religions of the World -- Guest Lecture

Catalog Description:
For all students, majors and minors. Satisfies 3 hours of general education for the Global, Society, and Personal Perspectives. The course surveys selected major religions, with attention to their founders, key concepts, historical development, and influence on societies around the world.
Prerequisites: None

Guest Lecture Overview:
The primary learning goal of this lecture is to introduce the basic beliefs and principles of Hinduism. To achieve these learning goals, we will discuss four divine stories from Hindu Mythology named Thiruvillayadal Puranam written in the 16th century by famous scholar Paranjothi Munivar. From these stories, we will explore the playful, serious side of Lord Shiva and analyze/interpret the cultural, religious, and moral themes in Hinduism. Through this exploration, everyone is encouraged to reflect on the broader implications of these divine narratives and their relevance to contemporary issues of personal and societal ethics.