All necessary materials are attached below One of the textbooks is attached below. You might need to find another one. 4 academic resources are mandatory. Must follow the instruction attached to the d

Research papers:  Each research paper is to be no less than 6 pages (1,500 words) and no more than eight (8) pages in length (2,000 words), double-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font, with standard one-inch margins on a topic of your choice. 

In the writing of your paper, you must make use of at least four (4) academic sources, in addition to the Young and Van Voorst texts. While it is not mandatory to include Young in your analysis, it will be helpful if you include scriptural examples from the Van Voorst text. Proper bibliographic and footnoting format is likewise required. You may use either MLA, Chicago, or APA referencing style. Please consult the style sheets available at Dafoe Library or browse the Internet. Please submit your assignment online using the assignment submission tool. 

Please choose one of the five essay topics listed below.

1. Compare the idea of a biocentric world-view in two indigenous traditions. *Note that at least one of these traditions (or both) must be different from the two traditions addressed in your textbook. How does this world-view contribute to ethical practices in each of these traditions? Compare and contrast any notable similarities and differences.

2. Compare and contrast the notion of ahimsa as it is understood in both the Buddhist and the Jain traditions. *Note that in Buddhism, ahimsa is equal to the first precept “not to take life.” It is commonly noted that in Jainism, ahimsa is taken to the extreme. Do you agree with this statement? How does the Buddhist understanding of ahimsa differ from the Jain perspective, and how do both constitute ethical behaviour for their given tradition? 

3. Discuss the ethical significance of the four noble truths in the Buddhist tradition. In your response, pay special attention to the eight-fold path. 

4. In Hinduism, the four stages of life each consist of certain duties and requirements. Discuss how these stages offer a guideline for ethical behaviour. *Note how these stages are only available to the highest three classes in Hindu society. In your response, briefly comment on the “ethics” of the exclusion of the lower classes. 

5. With reference to either wu wei as it is understood in the Taoist tradition, or ren (jen) as it is understood in Confucianism, discuss the ethical implications for the individual and for society according to these principles. 

Rules

General rule of thumb for a religious studies paper: avoid “confessional” language

As an academic discipline in the humanities and social sciences, the study of religion adheres to a non-confessional approach when engaging with various traditions. In plain terms, this means that we do not privilege one tradition over another. A non-confessional approach is distinct from theology, in that it generally does not hold one’s personal beliefs or commitments to be relevant to their argument. While faith-claims and personal allegiances are important to individuals, the academic study of religion aims to examine the phenomenon of religion in a neutral fashion, drawing on various methods and theories that are common to the humanities and social science (i.e., sociological, anthropological, psychological, etc.). And so, for example, while an individual may believe that Mohammad is the messenger of God, or that Jesus Christ died for the sins of humanity, we, as a discipline, seek to avoid such professions of faith in the interests of impartiality and academic rigour. To be clear, we do not wish to denigrate theology or personal beliefs in any way, but rather to promote a method of inquiry that enables us to speak of all traditions using the same methods and tools across the board. If, for example, we were to privilege a Confucian worldview in our approach to Hinduism, we would be prejudicing our analysis from the start. 

One technique to avoid confessional language is as follows: until you are comfortable speaking of all religions in a neutral, academic fashion, it is recommended that for essays and essay questions you choose to write on a tradition(s) other than your own. This way, you will be able to separate your analysis from your personal beliefs, which may prejudice your interpretation. If you do choose to write on a tradition that you personally believe in, try and take a 3rd person perspective in your analysis. For example, instead of writing that Jesus Christ performed several miracles and that this affirms his teachings and divinity, you would add the caveat, “according to the Christian tradition […] Jesus’ miracles are proof of the truth of his ministry and of his word.”  To put it differently, since your peers come from a variety of backgrounds (e.g., Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, atheist, agnostic, etc.), one cannot assume that a “confessional” or “insiders” point of view will be shared by all. Maintaining a critical distance from an insider’s perspective is one of key distinctions between the study of and theology.

In this course, we are interested in exploring the conduct, principles, and worldview of various religious traditions in order to better understand and explain how the foundational period of a given religious tradition informs believers on what is ethically good, just, and true. In short, we are interested in exploring the question of how people understand religion, whether that tradition is our own or someone else’s. If you have any further questions on how to avoid non-confessional language, please don’t hesitate to ask me. 

Content and critical thinking

It is crucial that your essay paper engage in what is commonly referred to as “critical thinking.” While there are different ways to interpret what these means, for the purposes of this course I will be looking for an analysis that goes beyond mere regurgitation of “fact” and shows an engagement with the nuances of a particular question. So, for example, if you were writing on how the 5 Pillars of Islam promotes ethical behaviour, you would need to not only outline the basic parameters, but go into some detail exploring why this constitutes ethical behaviour for practitioners of Islam. It is therefore crucial that in your analysis, that you clearly layout: 1) an understanding of the question in general; 2) how this relates to the worldview of the tradition in question; and 3) why or how this constitutes ethical behaviour. You will need to draw on at least 4 academic sources in support of you argument. For the sake of clarity, these steps are further elaborated upon below:

1. You will want to begin your essay by clearly outlining the parameters of the question that you are attempting to answer. While this may seem redundant, it is imperative that you are clear to yourself and to your instructor/reader that you actually understand what it is that you are addressing and how you are going to proceed. Your textbook is a good place to start for this, though you will need to elaborate these points by using a variety of sources. 

2. *One of our main goals in this course is to gain a better understanding of how ethical practices relate to and are justified by the particular worldview in question. I cannot stress enough the importance of this point. To put it in concrete terms, when we talk of a particular religious practice we are not just speaking about preferences for a certain type of behaviour, but rather an ethical imperative that is informed by a particular view of the world. So, for example, if we were to talk about the commitment to ahimsathat we find in Jainism (i.e., non-violence toward all living beings, which requires vegetarianism) in Christian terms, it might appear odd or even extreme to a typical Western audience. The reason that Jains believe it wrong to eat animals is intimately linked with their religious worldview. We therefore need to analyze and assess this ethical practice in light of its corresponding worldview, in order to do it justice and for it to make sense. In marking your paper, I will be looking for a link to the appropriate worldview as part of my assessment. This connection constitutes an important aspect of what I mean by “critical thinking.” 

3. Related to step number two (above), I will be looking for an explanation and analysis of how the topic in question constitutes ethical behaviour. In your response I am not simply looking for a re-iteration or definition of “what” the question means (this will be covered in step one), but rather an engagement with how you understand a given ethical principle and its relation to the worldview of that particular tradition. In drawing on sources, you will want to use the ideas that other scholars have discussed on this question in order to further elaborate your point and to provide nuance to your answer. 

Note: Your references must come from academic sources. While the internet can be a useful tool in trying to sort out certain ideas, it is less reliable than the library in providing you with “scholarly” information. Play it safe and stick to sources from the library. If you come across an internet link that you find useful, be sure to run it by me before using it. If you have any further questions about sourcing, please do not hesitate to write me for clarification.

How to write a thesis statement 

Your thesis is an introductory statement that will clarify the question that you are looking to address, along with the key points or details of your argument and the method that you will employ. So, for example, if you were writing on the Christian notion of “love,” you might proceed as follows:

In this paper I wish to explore/address the Christian notion of love and how it pertains to Christian ethics more generally. By looking at the formative tradition, including the Gospels, and certain Letters of Paul, I will show how this notion of love is crucial to Christian ethical understanding. Moreover, in my response, I will show how this notion of love relates to the Christian worldview, and will be drawing on sources from thinkers X, Y, and Z in support of my argument. In my response I will pay close attention to the argument made by thinker X, who argues that the principles of charity and forgiveness are the cornerstone of Christian belief.

Marks breakdown

• Referencing (5%): You need at least 4 academic sources in addition to the Young and Van Voorst texts. While it will be useful to draw on these texts, they are only a starting point for your research. You may use either MLA, Chicago, or APA referencing style.

• Spelling and Grammar (10%): While 10% may seem high for spelling and grammar, I have an ulterior motive in mind. Student who pay close attention to spelling and grammar, going over their papers a number of times to look for mistakes, also pay attention to structure, content, and critical thinking. By reviewing your paper for grammar and spelling you will also be revising the substance of your argument. 

• Structure and Content (60%): Here I will be looking for a well organized paper, which includes a thesis (introduction), body, and conclusion, and that covers the important criteria that I have listed above. 

• Critical Thinking (25%): As mentioned above, you will also be marked on your ability to think critically by linking ethical behaviour to worldview, while drawing on 4 external sources in support of your argument.