MCCCD Program Description

Women and World Religions

Course: REL290

First Term: 2012 Spring

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S

Description: Focus on the role of women in several organized religions and/or religious sects. Study of myth and symbols as they are used to establish, maintain, and enforce sex roles within specific cultural contexts around the world.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Distinguish the characteristics of female deities in selected prehistoric societies and contemporary indigenous religious traditions. (I) 2. Assess the significance of selected contemporary woman-centered religious traditions with those of male-centered religious traditions around the world. (II, III, IV, V, VI, VII) 3. Compare and contrast the symbols related to male and female deities in religions around the world. (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII) 4. Compare and contrast Indian culture and women`s contemporary roles with their place in Hindu religious literature and art. (II) 5. Compare and contrast Chinese culture and women`s contemporary roles in China with their place in Chinese Buddhist religious art and literature. (III) 6. Compare and contrast Japanese culture and women`s contemporary roles in Japan with their place in Japanese Buddhist the religious art and literature. (IV) 7. Compare and contrast Middle Eastern culture and women`s contemporary roles in Middle East with their places in religious literature and art in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. (V) 8. Compare and contrast European culture and women`s contemporary roles in Europe with their place in religious literature and art in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam movements. (VI) 9. Compare and contrast contemporary American women`s cultural roles in Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and new religious movements as practiced in the United States. (VII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Female in Ancient and Indigenous Religious Traditions A. Early Goddess cultures B. Shift from female to male deities C. Myths and symbols relating to gender II. Indian Culture: Women and Hinduism A. The roles of women in Hinduism and Indian culture and society B. Indian myths and symbols relating to women`s roles in Hinduism III. Chinese Culture: Women and Buddhism A. The roles of women in Chinese Buddhism, Chinese culture and society B. Chinese myths and symbols relating to women`s roles in Chinese Buddhism IV. Japanese Culture: Women and Buddhism A. Roles of women in Japanese Buddhism, Japanese culture and society B. Myths and symbols relating to women`s roles V. Middle Eastern Culture: Women, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam A. The roles of Middle Eastern women in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam B. Middles Eastern traditions relating to women`s roles in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam VI. European Culture: Women, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam A. The roles of European women in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam B. European traditions relating to women`s roles in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam VII. Women and Religion in the United States A. The changing roles of women in the United States B. Dominant religious practices and belief systems regarding women`s roles in contemporary American culture C. Women and new religious trends F. Others

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 6/28/2011

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.