Eastern traditions constitute any of the following: Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Shinto, Confucianism.

(1)    Compare and contrast the biographies of two historical figures (not the founders!) in the Eastern traditions. Take account of the historical and social context in which they lived. What is their significance to their respective traditions? How did they shape or transform their traditions? What was their historical impact?

(2)    Several of the Eastern traditions are structured around the experiences of key figures of religious authority. Comparing and contrasting two traditions, discuss the ways in which the communities filled the gap left by their “founders”. What sorts of institutions arose to lead the community? What challenges did they experience? On what bases did they establish their authority?

(3)    Some scholars believe that gender equality is not a reform but a radical transformation of our religious worldviews.  With respect to two of the Eastern traditions, discuss this contention. How do these traditions deal with challenges from women and sexual minorities? Are these traditions’ willingness to accommodate reform innovations to the tradition, or are the resources for reform present within the traditions themselves?

(4)    Hindu and Buddhist ethical systems are often said to be derivative from Jain ethics. Discuss this contention. To what extent do the ethics of the Indic traditions reflect common concerns?  To what extent are they particular to the philosophies and ideologies of their respective traditions? Provide appropriate and specific detail in your discussion.

(5)    While the Western traditions are structured around the concept of God, in the Eastern traditions belief in God is one option among many for conceptualizing our world. Taking two Eastern traditions (one Indic and one East Asian), discuss how they account for phenomena that in the Western traditions are the function of God. For example, how do they account for creation and destruction, for sin and retribution, for reward and punishment? In the Western traditions, God  is active in history and communicates his will to human beings. In the Eastern traditions, what substitutes for the will of God? How are people to understand the right path?

(6)    Scripture occupies a central place in each of the Western traditions. Compare and contrast two Eastern traditions’ view of scripture.  What is the function of scripture in these traditions? How is it understood? What is its importance in the religious lives of people?

(7)    All traditions have, in the modern age, been faced with the challenge of religious pluralism. Taking two traditions, discuss how the Eastern traditions accommodate the presence of other faiths. How do they understand Western traditions’ claims to exclusive knowledge of truth? How do they deal with the issues of proselytization and conversion?

(8)    Art and religion: with reference to two of the Eastern traditions, discuss how each tradition used artistic media to express religious or mythical themes.  (Reflect, for example, on the mandalas of the Tantric traditions, or the use of dance, drama, and music).

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