Buddhism and Christianity in Dialogue

3 credits

This course is both an introduction to Buddhism and to Buddhist-Christian comparative learning. In early weeks we study concepts and practices of Theravada and Zen Buddhism from Southeast and East Asia. We then explore some areas of Christian thought that can be compared with Buddhism--understandings of faith, God, Jesus, sin, spiritual rebirth, sacramentality, and social ethics. Finally, from Buddhist and Christian perspectives, we focus on one or more of the following topics: spiritual practices of deepening care and discernment, faith-based action, interfaith learning, ecology, and/or feminism. Satisfies Core requirement for: Theology (Sacred Texts and Traditions) Satisfies Core requirement for: Cultural Diversity,Theology