140194 VO Religious Approaches to the Problem of Suffering - Western and Asian Perspectives (2012W)

(1) to expose students to different religious perspectives on the problem of suffering within (a) the Abrahamic (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), (b) South Asian (Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism), and (c) East Asian (Daoist and Confucian) traditions, with critical assessment of the validity and significance of these approaches in light of contemporary philosophical and sociological perspectives.

(2) to encourage independent inquiry and open discussion among the participants about these diverse approaches, helping them to develop their own perspectives on the problem addressed;

(3) to enable students to understand and synthesize material covered in the course and express their own ideas and questions, through in-class dialogue and individual presentations.