ASIA 250 - Across Religious Boundaries: Understanding Differences

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

(Same as RELI 250) Topic for 2014/15b: Yoga and the West: Asian Spiritual Traditions/Post-Modernity. This course begins by exploring the historical movement of Asian religious traditions into the West and goes on to focus on the encounter between Hindu and Buddhist ideas and practices with post-modern paradigms in the Sciences and Humanities. The following issues are considered: The guru in America, the adaptation of Hindu goddess worship by neo-pagans in America, Buddhism and the Beat Generation, the influence of Buddhist sensibilities upon issues of social and environmental justice, the interfacing of the “dharma” with the teachings of major Western religions and philosophies, the emergence of “Hindu rock” and other hybrid art forms, and the adaptation of Asian teachings and practices to Western societies. Mr. Jarow.

Prerequisites: RELI 231, RELI 233, RELI 235, or permission of the instructor.

Two 75-minute periods.