The historical origins, central teachings, and devotional practices of the major religious traditions--Indigenous, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—are considered in relation to common themes of human experience: the holy or sacred, evil and suffering, love and compassion, wisdom and justice, death and deliverance. Interpretive skills appropriate to religious studies will be explored through films and readings with opportunities for daily meditation, journal, discuss and write responses. The goals of the course are to impart understanding of the essential doctrines and institutions of the world's religions, stressing their founding and normative principles; to identify similarities and differences of thought and practice among the traditions; to understand a Catholic response to dialogue; and to clarify and articulate one's own religious attitudes and orientations in the context of comparative study.