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 - 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 mutual learning 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 significant existential and social aspects of religious belief and practice.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

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

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

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.

COURSE OUTCOMES :

The participants will be able to:

Explain the major nuances within diverse religious traditions
Clarify doubts about specific beliefs and practices
Appreciate the contribution of different religions over time
Engage in meaningful and objective conversations about different religions
Undertake further advanced studies on religious studies with the course as the base

Conceived and Designed by :

Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza, SJ, Director, Department of Inter-Religious Studies, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
Ms. Shilpa Chheda, Curator, Heras Institute, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai

Coordinators:

Ms. Shilpa Chheda, Curator, Heras Institute, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai,

Prof. Vini Sebastian, St. Xavier’s Institute of Education (Autonomous), Mumbai

& the DIRS Student team

Platform: Classes will be conducted online. [Tuesday and Friday from 6.00 to 8.00 p.m.]

Eligibility criteria: Higher Secondary School Certificate (Grade 12)

Minimum attendance : 75%

Study Material : Will be provided by the resource persons

Duration: From July 2024 to March 2025

Hours: 96 HOURS ( 8 MODULES EACH OF 12 HOURS) + ASSIGNMENTS (3 hours per module) for the entire Diploma

Total 120 hours

RESOURCE PERSONS FOR THE COURSE:

Sr.No.	Name of the Resource Person
1	Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza, SJ, Director, Department of Inter-Religious Studies, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
2	Dr. (Fr.) S. M. Michael, Prof. Emeritus, Department of Sociology, University of Mumbai
3	Dr. Irfan Engineer, Director, Centre for Studies in Society and Secularism, Mumbai
4	Dr. (Sr.) Ananda Amritmahal, Former Principal, Sophia College Mumbai
5	Dr. Davinderpal Kaur, Former Vice Principal, G.N. Khalsa College, Mumbai
6	Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla, Former Vice Principal, Wilson College, Mumbai
7	Dr. Harsha Badkar, Former Vice Principal, Wilson College, Mumbai
8	Dr. Anita Rane-Kothare, Head, Department of Ancient Indian Culture, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
9	Dr. Pranoti Chirmuley, Head, Department of Sociology, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
10	Dr. Radha Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Ancient Indian Culture, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
11	Prof. Ms. Amita Dhanda, Lawyer, Hyderabad
12	Ms. Kanakavali Santhanam, Research Scholar, Department of Sanskrit, University of Mumbai
13	Mr. Royston Mascarenhas, IT Professional
14	Dr. (Fr.) Victor Ferrao, Prof. of Philosophy, Rachol Seminary, Goa
15	Ms. Shilpa Chheda, Curator, Heras Institute, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai

MODULE WISE – HOURS AND RESOURCE PERSONS

Module No. and Title	Hours	Resource Persons
1-THE PHENOMENON OF RELIGION	12	Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza, SJ, Director, Department of Inter-Religious Studies, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai Dr. Anita Rane-Kothare, Head, Department of Ancient Indian Culture, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
2-VEDIC TRADITION AND PHILOSOPHY	12	Ms. Kanakavali Santhanam, Research Scholar, Department of Sanskrit, University of Mumbai Ms. Shilpa Chheda, Curator, Heras Institute, St. Xavier’s College
3-JAINISM, BUDDHISM	12	Dr. Radha Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Ancient Indian Culture, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai Ms. Shilpa Chheda, Curator, Heras Institute, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
4- BHAKTI, SIKH TRDITIONS	12	Ms. Shilpa Chheda, Curator, Heras Institute, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai Dr. Davinderpal Kaur, Former Vice Principal, G.N. Khalsa College, Mumbai
5-JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS	12	Dr.(Fr.) Keith D’Souza, SJ, Director, Department of Inter-Religious Studies, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai Mr. Royston Mascarenhas, IT Professional
6-ZORASTRIAN, ISLAMIC AND BAHAI TRADITIONS	12	Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla, Former Vice Principal, Wilson College, Mumbai Dr. Irfan Engineer, Director, Centre for Studies in Society and Secularism, Mumbai
7- INDIGENEOUS TRADITIONS	12	Dr. (Fr.) S. M. Michael, Prof. Emeritus, Dept. of Sociology, University of Mumbai Dr. Pranoti Chirmuley, Head, Dept. of Sociology, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
8- INTERRELIGIOUS CONFLUENCE	12	Prof. Ms. Amita Dhanda, Lawyer, Hyderabad, Dr. (Sr.) Ananda Amritmahal, Former Principal, Sophia College, Mumbai Dr. Harsha Badkar, Former Vice Principal, Wilson College, Mumbai Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla, Former Vice Principal, Wilson College, Mumbai, Dr. Irfan Engineer, Director, Centre for Studies in Society and Secularism, Mumbai Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza, SJ, Director, Department of Inter-Religious Studies, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai Dr. (Fr.) Victor Ferrao, Prof. of Philosophy, Rachol Seminary, Goa

TIMETABLE FOR THE COURSE :

MONTH	DATE	MODULE NO. AND TOPIC	RESOURCE PERSON
		Module 1 - The Phenomenon of Religion
JULY	16-7-2024	The Phenomenon of Religion (Introduction)	Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza, S.J.
	19-7-2024	The Phenomenon of Religion (History of Phenomenology)	Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza, S.J.
	23-7-2024	The Phenomenon of Religion (Verities of Religious Expression)	Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza, S.J.
	26-7-2024	The Phenomenon of Religion (Religious Expression in Literature)	Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza, S.J.
	30-7-2024	The Phenomenon of Religion (Religious Expression in Symbolism)	Dr. Anita Rane-Kothare
AUGUST	02-8-2024	The Phenomenon of Religion (Constrain Governing Religious Expression)	Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza, S.J.
End of Module 1
		Module 2 - Vedic Tradition and Philosophy
AUGUST	06-8-2024	Vedic Tradition - History and Evolution	Ms. Kanakavalli Santhanam
	09-8-2024	Vedic Tradition – Vedas	Ms. Kanakavalli Santhanam
	13-8-2024	Vedic Tradition – Culture	Ms. Kanakavalli Santhanam
	16-8-2024	Vedic Philosophy - Nyaya and Vaisesika Schools	Ms. Shilpa Chheda
	20-8-2024	Vedic Philosophy - Sankhya and Yoga Schools	Ms. Shilpa Chheda
	23-8-2024	Vedic Philosophy - Purva and Uttara Mimamsa Schools	Ms. Shilpa Chheda
End of Module 2
		Module 3 - Jain & Buddhist Traditions
AUGUST	27-8-2024	Jain Tradition - History & Philosophy	Ms. Shilpa Chheda
	30-8-2024	Jain Tradition - Art & Culture	Ms. Shilpa Chheda
SEPT	10-9-2024	Jain Tradition – Practices	Ms. Shilpa Chheda
	13-9-2024	Buddhist Tradition - History & Philosophy	Dr. Radha Kumar
	17-9-2024	Buddhist Tradition - Art & Culture	Dr. Radha Kumar
	20-9-2024	Buddhist Tradition - Practices	Dr. Radha Kumar
End of Module 3
		Module 4 - Bhakti and Sikh Traditions
SEPT	24-9-2024	Bhakti Tradition - Origin and Development	Ms. Shilpa Chheda
	27-9-2024	Bhakti Tradition - Saint Tradition	Ms. Shilpa Chheda
OCT	01-10-2024	Bhakti Tradition - Important Saints	Ms. Shilpa Chheda
	04-10-2024	Sikh Tradition - History and Philosophy	Dr. Davinderpal Kaur
	08-10-2024	Sikh Tradition - Saint Tradition	Dr. Davinderpal Kaur
	11-10-2024	Sikh Tradition – Practices	Dr. Davinderpal Kaur
End of Module 4
		Module 5 - Jewish And Christian Traditions
NOV	26-11-2024	Jewish and Christian Tradition - History	Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza
	29-11-2024	Jewish Tradition - Religion and Philosophy	Mr. Royston Mascarenhas
DEC	06-12-2024	Jewish Tradition - Culture	Mr. Royston Mascarenhas
	10-12-2024	Christian Tradition - Religion and Philosophy	Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza
	13-12-2024	Christian Tradition - Culture	Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza
	17-12-2024	Christian Tradition - Practices	Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza
End of Module 5
		Module 6 - Zoroastrian, Bahaism and Islamic Traditions
JAN	07-1-2025	Zoroastrian Tradition - Religion and Philosophy	Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla
	10-1-2025	Zoroastrian Tradition - Culture	Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla
	14-1-2025	Zoroastrian Tradition - Practices	Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla
	17-1-2025	Bahai Tradition	Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla
	21-1-2025	Islamic Tradition - Religion and Philosophy	Dr. Irfan Engineer
	24-1-2025	Islamic Tradition - Practices	Dr. Irfan Engineer
End of Module 6
		Module 7 - Indigenous Traditions
JAN	28-1-2025	Indigenous Traditions - Theories	Dr. (Fr.) S. M. Michael
	31-1-2025	Indigenous Traditions - Culture	Dr. (Fr.) S. M. Michael
FEB	04-2-2025	Indigenous Traditions - Culture	Dr. (Fr.) S. M. Michael
	07-2-2025	Indigenous Traditions - Religion	Dr. Pranoti Chirmuley
	11-2-2025	Indigenous Traditions - Religion	Dr. Pranoti Chirmuley
	14-2-2025	Indigenous Traditions - Practices	Dr. Pranoti Chirmuley
End of Module 7
		Module 8 - Inter Religious Confluence
FEB	18-2-2025	Possibilities and challenges of Sangam (Religious Confluence)	Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza
	21-2-2025	Dialogue between Faith and Reason & Religion and Science	Dr. Fr. Victor Ferrao
	25-2-2025	Need for Reinterpretation and Reform of Religious Traditions	Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza
	28-2-2025	Need for Inter-Religious Dialogue and Mutual Learning	Adv. Irfan Engineer, Dr. Harsha Badkar & Prof. S. M. Michael
MARCH	04-3-2025	Contours of a new interreligious and intercultural discourse	Sr. Ananda Amritmahal & Prof. Amita Dhanda
	07-3-2025	Towards Interreligious Harmony	Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza
COMPLETION OF THE DIPLOMA

EVALUATION FOR CERTIFICATION:

Evaluation: Quizzes and Assignments for Modules. Participation in the assessment is compulsory for a ‘Certificate of completion’ or the ‘Diploma’. If a participant does not complete the assessment then ‘Participation certificate’ will be issued.

REGISTRATION LINK FOR THE COURSE:

https://forms.gle/pEScyFbRDt2E6NpV8

Kindly Register before July 10, 2024

DETAILS ABOUT CERTIFICATION:

There will be 4 types of certification:

Level of Participation	% of attendance	Certification
Attended all modules without evaluation (auditing the course)	75	Participation Certificate in Inter-religious Traditions
Attended all modules with evaluation	75	Diploma in Inter-religious Traditions
Attended a particular module without evaluation (auditing the module)	75	Participation Certificate in Inter-religious Traditions in that particular module
Attended a particular module/s with evaluation	75	Certificate of completion of the particular module in Inter-religious traditions

FEES FOR THE COURSE (SUBSIDISED):

Participants can complete the entire diploma or select specific modules within the course. Once a module is selected, the entire module has to be covered.

For Indian Participants:

Diploma Fees:

General Public : Rs. 5,000/- + GST Rs. 900/=Total 5900/- (no GST for St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai Staff or Students)
Teachers and Students : Rs. 2,500/- + GST Rs. 450/=Total 2950/- (no GST for St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai Staff or Students)

Module Fees :

Rs. 500/- per module + GST Rs. 90 = Total 590/- per module (no GST for St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai Staff or Students)

For Foreign participants:

Diploma Fees:

General Public: 500 US Dollars
Teachers and Students: 250 US Dollars

Module Fees:

General Public: 50 US Dollars
Teachers and Students: 25 US Dollars

SEATS AVAILABLE:

Total seats available for the course is 40.

CONTACT PERSONS :

Ms. Shilpa Chheda : 9323980615, shilpa.chheda@xaviers.edu.in

Prof. Dr. Vini Sebastian : 9664799979, vinisebastian@sxie.in

Mr. Akarsh Ojha : 7488726054, akarsh.ojha@xaviers.edu.in

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