Course Description: Beliefs Across the World

This comprehensive course explores a vast array of cultural beliefs spanning from ancient civilizations such as Egypt and the Near East to modern communities in Central Asia, India, China, and the Far East. Through a rich curriculum designed by the team from the Department of Greek, Latin and Oriental Studies (GLOR) at the University of Louvain, participants will dive deep into the evolution of religions, myths, and the cosmos in various societies.

What Students Will Learn

• An extensive overview of cultural beliefs, religious practices and mythologies around the world.
• Skills to critically analyze and compare the spiritual and cosmological systems of different civilizations.
• The ability to appreciate the historical context and evolution of beliefs over the millennia.

Pre-requisites or Skills Necessary

No specific prerequisites are needed, but a keen interest in humanities and world cultures will greatly enhance the learning experience.

Course Coverage

• Introduction to global religious beliefs and systems.
• Analysis of the origin and dissemination of major world religions and mythologies.
• Understanding the role of supernatural entities and cosmic events in cultural contexts.
• Exploration of afterlife concepts and metaphysical philosophies across different cultures.

Who This Course is For

This course is ideal for anyone interested in the comparative study of cultures, particularly in the areas of religious beliefs, historical traditions, and mythological narratives.

Application of Learned Skills in the Real World

The insights gained from this course can be applied in numerous fields including academia, cultural preservation, international relations, and more broadly in enhancing intercultural communication and understanding.

Syllabus Overview

Week 1: Introduction

• Course modalities and team introduction.
• Geographical and historical contexts of studied civilizations.

Week 2: Gods and Spirits

• Exploration of nature deities in Japanese culture and Chinese hybrids.
• Study of Egyptian cosmogony and gods in Buddhism.

Week 3: Angels and Demons

• Angels across different religious texts including the Hebrew Bible and Quran.
• Demons in Ancient Mesopotamia and Egyptian practices.

Weeks 4 to 6: Afterlife Beliefs and Cosmic Cycles

• Examination of afterlife in Greek epics and Eastern philosophies.
• Discussion on astrology and astronomical cycles in historical contexts.

Week 7 & 8: Special Topics and Summary

• Case studies and a comprehensive summary of the course material.