World Religions

World Religions
is a one semester senior level class taught in the Theology Department at Cardinal Gibbons High School. The course provides an historical and philosophical introduction to the world's major religious traditions.



The course description as found in the Course of Studies book is as follows:

The purpose of this course is to help students understand the manner in which the Catholic Church relates to non-Catholic Christians as well as to other religions of the world. Building on the foundational truth that Jesus Christ established the Catholic Church and entrusted to her the fullness of God's Revelation, the course is intended to help students to recognize the ways in which important spiritual truths can also be found in non-Catholic Christian churches and ecclesial communities as well as in non-Christian religions. It is also intended to help them to recognize the ways in which other systems and practice differ from the Catholic faith." (Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age, p. 49)

World Religions corresponds to USCCB Curriculum Framework Elective Option E ("Ecumenical and Interreligious Issues").

All documentation for this course is linked below. Keep in mind that the information on this site is supplemented by the information found on the CGHS website and on Google Classroom, both of which are accessible only to students enrolled in my classes.

  • Introductory Documentation for Students
  • Back to School Night Information for Parents
  • Virtual Learning Policy
  • Grading Policy

Below you will find links to Video and PDF versions of the presentations used in my class, with a link to a PDF copy of the corresponding notes pages. Keep in mind that the PDFs of my PowerPoints do not always contain everything you will need to complete the notes. In some cases, the notes may refer you to readings or other sources to find answers to questions, and in other cases, questions may have been answered in class but not in the PowerPoint. Also, note that the page numbers for notes sometimes overlap from one topic to the next. This is because each new note sheet is not always the start of a new topic, and I've provided all pages that would be relevant to a specific presentation.

Title Notes
01 Religions: Four Basic Problems I Video PDF PP: 
02 Religions: Four Basic Problems II Video PDF PP: 
03 Religions: Four Basic Problems III Video PDF PP: 
04 Religions: Four Basic Problems IV Video PDF PP: 
05 Hinduism: I: Introduction Video PDF PP: 
06 Hinduism: II: Indus Valley Civilization Video PDF PP: 
07 Hinduism: III: Indo-Aryan Culture Video PDF PP: 
08 Hinduism: IV: Axial Age India Video PDF PP: 
09 Hinduism: V: Dharma and Caste Video PDF PP: 
10 Hinduism: VI: Male and Female Life Cycles Video PDF PP: 
11 Hinduism: VII: Four Desires Video PDF PP: 
12 Hinduism: VIII: Three Paths Video PDF PP: 
13 Buddhism: I: Introduction Video PDF PP: 
14 Buddhism: II: The Four Noble Truths Video PDF PP: 
15 Buddhism: III: The Eightfold Path Video PDF PP: 
16 Buddhism: IV: The Buddha and Buddhism Video PDF PP:35-38
17 Buddhism: Placeholder Video PDF PP: 
18 Buddhism: Placeholder Video PDF PP: 
19 Buddhism: Placeholder Video PDF PP: 
20 Confucianism: I: Introduction Video PDF PP: 
21 Confucianism: II: Confucius in Context Video PDF PP: 
22 Confucianism: III: Confucianism and Culture Video PDF PP
23 Confucianism: IV: Key Concepts Video PDF PP: 
24 Confucianism: V: Confucianism and China Video PDF PP: 
25 Daoism: I: Introduction Video PDF PP: 
26 Daoism: II: Yin and Yang Video PDF PP: 
27 Daoism: III: Living the Dao Video PDF PP:
28 Daoism: Placeholder Video PDF PP: 
29 Judaism: I: Introduction Video PDF PP: 
30 Judaism: Placeholder Video PDF PP:
31 Judaism: Placeholder Video PDF PP: 
32 Judaism: Placeholder Video PDF PP: 
33 Christianity: I: Introduction Video PDF PP: 
34 Christianity: Placeholder Video PDF PP: 
35 Christianity: Placeholder Video PDF PP: 
36 Christianity: Placeholder Video PDF PP: 
37 Islam: I: Introduction Video PDF PP: 
38 Islam: Placeholder Video PDF PP: 
39 Islam: Placeholder Video PDF PP: 
40 Islam: Placeholder Video PDF PP: 

Title Assigned Due
01 Q3 Smith: Who's Right About Reality? RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
02 Q3 Prothero: God Is Not One, Intro Part I RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
03 Q3 Prothero: God Is Not One, Intro Part II RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
04 Q3 The Blind Men and the Elephant RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
05 Q3 Hinduism Crossword XW 08.00.20 08.00.20
06 Q3 Hinduism Primary Source Readings 1 RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
07 Q3 Hinduism Primary Source Readings 2 RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
08 Q3 Smith: Hinduism 1 RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
09 Q3 Smith: Hinduism 2 RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
10 Q3 Smith: Hinduism 3 RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
11 Q3 Legend of Bagger Vance 1 VQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
12 Q3 Legend of Bagger Vance 2 VQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
13 Q3 Legend of Bagger Vance 3 VQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
14 Q3 Muesse: The Way of Devotion RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
Title Assigned Due
01 Q4 Buddhism Primary Source Readings 1 RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
02 Q4 Buddhism Primary Source Readings 2 RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
03 Q4 Prothero: God Is Not One, Buddhism RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
04 Q4 Buddhism Crossword XW 08.00.20 08.00.20
05 Q4 Hart: Saint Sakyamuni RV 08.00.20 08.00.20
06 Q4 Confucianism Primary Source Readings 1 RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
07 Q4 Daoism Primary Source Readings 1 RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
08 Q4 Chinese Religions Crossword XW 08.00.20 08.00.20
09 Q4 Placeholder RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
10 Q4 Placeholder RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
11 Q4 Placeholder VQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
12 Q4 Placeholder VQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
13 Q4 Placeholder VQ 08.00.20 08.00.20
14 Q4 Placeholder RQ 08.00.20 08.00.20


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