ONLINE COURSE IN INTER-RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS

(Diploma | Cetificate | Modules)

Rationale for the Course:

Religion has been a source of meaning and purpose for the vast majority of humankind since ancient times. There have been several religious traditions—small and big, simple and complex, highly organized and lesser so—which have evolved over the centuries and even the millennia. While religion promises to be a rich resource for civic peace and harmony, it has not always been so. There have been several instances of crippling repression within religious communities and also serious conflicts between communities with disparate belief systems. While the need for understanding, collaboration and fecundity between these traditions has always been important, this is felt even more in our age of instant global communication, when conflicts can exacerbate rapidly.

There is an urgent need to restore the perceptual image and the more pressing ground reality of religion as a resource for personal and collective wisdom, freedom and empathy. Religious traditions need to be transformed into social resources for greater personal and social well-being. It is with this intent that the course in “Inter-Religious Traditions” has been curated.

The course attempts at going beyond a mere study of religious traditions, in order to include several experiential components of religious belief and practice.

Accordingly, the main objectives of the course are as follows:

1. Valuing religious traditions as a source of meaning and purpose in human history.

2. Becoming aware of the intricacies and nuances of belief and practice within different religious traditions.

3. Understanding how different traditions have developed over time.

4. Recognizing how different traditions have influenced one another.

5. Appreciating the need for better inter-religious relations as a social resource in facilitating civic peace and harmony.

Eligibility

Eligibility: Higher Secondary School Certificate

COURSES

Diploma Course

Module 1: The Phenomenon of Religion

Module 2: Vedic Tradition and Orthodox / Astika Philosophy

Module 3: Jain, Buddhist and Charvak traditions

Module 4: Bhakti and Sikh traditions

Module 5: Jewish and Christian traditions

Module 6: Zoroastrian, Islamic and Bahai traditions

Module 7: Indigenous traditions

Module 8: Inter-Religious Confluence [sangam]

*Each Module will be offerd as an Honours Credit*

Platform: Classes will be conducted online.

Duration: From July 2022 to February 2023 [Tuesdays and Fridays from 5.00 to 7.00 p.m.]

Hours: 96 hours [8 modules of 12 hours each]

Evaluation: 5 short essays [100 marks] + Final theory exam [100 marks]

Certificate Courses

1. Certificate in “Inter-Religious Traditions: Astika, Nastika, Bhakti & Sikh Traditions”.

a. From July to September, Tues & Fri from 5 to 7 p.m.

b. 60 hours: [48 contact hours + 12 hours assignments]

2. Certificate in “Inter-Religious Traditions: Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Bahai & Indigenous Traditions”.

a. From November to February, Tues & Fri from 5 to 7 p.m.

b. 60 hours: [48 contact hours + 12 hours assignments]

Platform: Classes will be conducted online.

Evaluation: 3 short essays

FEE STRUCTURE

Fees: Diploma (96 contact hours)

General/Public: Rs. 10,000 /- + GST 1800/-;
Xavier’s students: Rs. 5,000/- ;
Students: Rs. 5,000/- + GST 900/- ;
Retired Senior Citizens /Those only auditing the course: 5,000/- + GST 900/- ;
For foreign participants: 500 dollars

Fees: For each Certificate Course (48 contact hours)

Xavier’s students: 2,500/-
Other students: 2,500/- plus GST- 450/-
General Public/ Professionals: 5,000/- plus GST- 900/-
Retired Senior Citizens/ Those only auditing the course: 2,500/- plus GST- 450/-
For foreign participants: 250 dollars

Fees: For each Module (12 contact hours)

Xavier’s students: 500/-
Other students: 500/- plus GST- 90/-
General Public/Professionals: 1,000/- plus GST- 180/-
Retired Senior Citizens: 500/- plus GST- 90/-
For foreign participants: 75 dollars

MODULES

Module 1: The Phenomenon of Religion

This course deals with the nature, history and social influence of religious belief and practice. The course will explore themes such as- the basic characteristics of religion as a social phenomenon, the various forms of religious expression, how religions have originated and influenced one another, the need for interpretation and reform in religious traditions.

Resource Persons: - Dr. Keith D’Souza

- Dr. Bryan Lobo

Duration: 5th July to 22nd July 2022 [Tuesday and Friday from 5.00 to 7.00 p.m.]

Hours: 12 hours

Module 3: Jain, Buddhist and Charvak traditions

Evolution of Sramana tradition as opposed to the Vedic tradition. Sixth century BCE socio-political reforms—formation of various traditions, kingdoms and oligarchies. Exposition of the three Sramanic traditions, viz. Jain, Buddhist and Charvak traditions.

Resource Persons: -Dr. Radha Kumar

-Ms. Shilpa Chheda

Duration: 16th August to 2nd September 2022 [Tuesday and

Friday from 5.00 to 7.00 p.m.]

Hours: 12 hours

Module 5: Jewish and Christian

traditions

Distinctiveness of the Abrahamic traditions. Monotheism and the significance of the prophets. The leadership and vision of Moses and Jesus. Notion of a covenantal faith and types of covenants. Two foundational moments: Exodus and the Resurrection. Creation and redemption. Jewish and Christian canons [revealed and authoritative texts]. Calendar and festivals. Influence of Zoroastrianism on Judaism and Christianity, and the latter’s influence on Islam.

Resource Persons: -Dr. Keith D’Souza

-Mr. Royston Mascarenhas

Duration: 27th September to 14th October 2022 [Tuesday

and Friday from 5.00 to 7.00 p.m.]

Hours: 12 hours

Module 7: Indigenous traditions

Primal and nature-attuned religious expression. Orality, narrativity and aesthetics as communicative means. Community-based identity. Significance of totems. Generalities and divergences between global indigenous traditions. Raimundo Panikkar’s “cosmotheandric wisdom” as a template for indigeneous spiritualities.

Resource Persons: -Dr. S. M. Michael

-Dr. Pranoti Chirmuley

Duration:29th November to 16th December 2022 [Tuesday and Friday from 5.00 to 7.00 p.m.]

Hours: 12 hours

Template for Modules 2 to 7:

Each module will comprise of the following presentational structure:

1. Exposition of the origins of the particular religious tradition/s: history, literature, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, socio-cultural features.

2. Overview of the subsequent interpretations, developments, and sub-divisions of the tradition/s.

3. A critique of the tradition/s in the light of contemporary contexts, and various challenges that need to be addressed.

4. Future (trajectorial) possibilities of the development of the tradition/s.

Module 2: Vedic Tradition and Orthodox / Astika Philosophy

Introduction to the Vedic view of life. Concepts of Rta-Rna, varna, dharma, ashrama, purusartha. Introduction to Vedic literature: Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads. Transition from the cultic to the philosophical. Development into six major schools of philosophy (darsanas).

Resource Persons: - Dr. Shakuntala Gawde

- Prof. Meenal Katarnikar

- Dr. Harsha Badkar

Duration: 26th July to 12th August 2022 [Tuesday and

Friday from 5.00 to 7.00 p.m.]

Hours: 12 hours

Module 4: Bhakti and Sikh traditions

Bhakti as a path to liberation during the Medieval Period. The development of rational and empirical mysticism during this period. Introduction to the Sikh tradition, which is an amalgamation of the Vedic, Sramanic, Bhakti and Islamic traditions. The ten Gurus and the Grant Sahib.

Resource Persons: -Dr. Harshita Jhala

-Dr. Davinderpal Kaur

Duration: 6th September to 23rd September 2022 [Tuesday

and Friday from 5.00 to 7.00 p.m.]

Hours: 12 hours

Module 6: Zoroastrian, Islamic and

Bahai traditions

Zoroastrian tradition as the oldest tradition in West Asia. The beginnings of monotheism. Belief in Ahura Mazda. The teachings of prophet Zarathustra. Influence on Judaism, and thereby Christianity and Islam. Islam as the religion propounded by Prophet Muhammad. A development of the Jewish and Christian traditions. Bahai faith started by Bahaullah in Iran. A development or synthesis of Islam and other traditions.

Resource Persons: -Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla

-Mr. Irfan Engineer

Duration: 8th November to 25th November 2022 [Tuesday

and Friday from 5.00 to 7.00 p.m.]

Hours: 12 hours

Module 8: Inter-Religious Confluence

[sangam]

Similarities and differences between different religious traditions. The influence of religions on one another. Instances of, and possibilities for mutual fecundity. The need for inter-religious dialogue. The necessity for a reinterpretation of religious traditions. The possibility of a religion-influenced global ethics. A common charter for compassion. The role of religion in contributing towards civic harmony.

Resource Persons: -Ms. Amita Dhanda

-Dr. Ananda Amritmahal

-Dr. Harsha Badkar

-Dr. Victor Ferrao

-Prof. Aravind Ganachari

-Dr. S. M. Michael

-Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla

-Mr. Irfan Engineer

-Dr. Keith D’Souza

-Mr. Royston Mascarenhas

Duration: 10th January to 24th January 2023 [Tuesday and

Friday from 5.00 to 7.00 p.m.]

Hours: 12 hours

For queries and registration contact-

Ms. Shilpa Chheda (Course Coordinator) : 9323980615

Write an email to courses.dirs@gmail.com

St. Xavier's College, Mumbai

(Empowered Autonomous Institution)

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