Write a five-page paper on ONE of the following prompts: RELIGION, CONFLICT, AND VIOLENCE: In Module #4, we examined the theme conflict and violence through the examples of Buddhism and Christianity. What is the usual model often used to relate violence to religion? How does Craig Martin’s model offer us a better model? How does Martin’s model help us make sense of religion and violence in cases of the Buddhist Monks in Myanmar and the Coptic Christians in Alexandria, Egypt? Use your notes from the Module #4 class sessions as well as other course materials from this module to provide and critically discuss examples in composing your paper. RELIGION, RITUAL, AND POLITICS: In Module #5 you explored Hinduism and Confucianism under the theme of ritual and politics. How did we define ritual? In what ways is ritual useful for articulating political goals? How does religion figure in? How do you see ritual and politics interacting in Hinduism around issues of the Caste System? How do you see this working in Confucianism in terms of the Chinese Communist Party’s relationship with Confucianism? Use your notes from the Module #5 class sessions as well as other course materials from this module to provide and critically discuss examples in composing your paper. RELIGION, LAW, AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: In Module #6, you examined the theme of law and religious freedom by examining new religions in the United States, especially the cases studies of Mormonism and Scientology. What are some of the larger complications on defining religion and extending religious freedom in American law? How do new religions inform these issues? Specifically, how does Mormon polygamy and Scientology’s quest for tax exemption inform these issues? Use your notes from the Module #6 class sessions as well as other course materials from this module to provide and critically discuss examples in composing your paper.
