RELI 212: Introduction to Religions of Asia

RELI 212-DL1: Religions of Asia
(Fall 2026)

Online

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Section Information for Fall 2026

Description of Course and Course Learning Outcomes:
This course surveys religions of South and East Asia: Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, and Shinto. This course seeks to describe religious and philosophical perspectives that shape South and East Asian worldviews. Particularly, this course addresses the historical development of Asian religions and philosophy with attention to the development of paths of salvation, religious and philosophical developments in metaphysics, cosmology, and epistemology, textual analyses of religious scripture, and religious conceptions of God, humanity, and nature within the context of Asian culture and society. This course will engage in the historical development of religious and philosophical themes in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Japanese traditions.
There are no pre-requisites or co-requisites for this course.
Global Contexts Learning Outcomes
Upon completing a Global Contexts course, students will be able to:
1.
Identify and explain how patterns of global connections across nations and/or cultures have shaped societies to create interdependence and inequality. (Global Contexts Worksheet)
2.
Use a disciplinary lens to demonstrate knowledge of how at least one nation and/or culture participates in or is affected by global contexts. (Global Contexts Worksheet)
3.
Apply an understanding of one’s own positionality within a globally interdependent and unequal world to analyze solutions to global problems. (Global Contexts Worksheet)
Just Societies Flag Learning Outcomes
Courses with a Just Societies flag must meet both of these outcomes, in addition to other required course outcomes related to the primary Mason Core Exploration category. Upon completing a Just Societies course, students will be able to:
1.
a) Define key terms related to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion as related to this course’s field/discipline and b) Use those terms to engage meaningfully with peers about course issues (Just Societies Discussion Board #1)
2.
Articulate obstacles to justice and equity, and strategies for addressing them, in response to local, national, and/or global issues in the field/discipline. Just Societies Discussion Board #2)

This is an online asynchronous section.

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Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Focuses on the traditional religions from Asia, particularly Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confusianism from historical, comparative, and cross-cultural perspectives. May also include Jainism, Sihk, Shinto, native shamanism, and others as well as modern developments after European colonialism and these traditions' growth as global religions. Offered by Religious Studies. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core, Global Contexts, Global Understanding, Just Societies
Specialized Designation: Non-Western Culture
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.