Course Credit: 4

Philosophy of Religion The objective of this course is to enable the students to understand the nature and scope of Philosophy of Religion, its relation to Psycholow of Religion, Sociolow of Religion and Comparative Religion; theories regarding the origin of religion; philosophical interpretations of religious concepts; place of reason and revelation in religion; concept of God in the historv of philosophy; religion and some contemporary philosophical trends, viz., Logical Positivism, Existentialism, Pragmatism and Marxism; issues related to of Religion, problem of good and evil, religious language, religion and the contenzporary world.

Course Credit: 4

Sociology of Religion 1. Sociological study of Reliöon — reliöon & society, Sociological aspects of religion defined—Substantive and Functional Theories of religion- Marx, Max Weber & Durkheim Elements of reliöon—Faith and Rituals: Ethical & Spiritual 4. Doctrinal belief and social life, cultic religion, totemism & animism—religion of the Far East 5. Functions of Reliöon—Variations: Spatial & Temporal 6. Dysfunctions of Religion — Religious fundamentalism & violence 7. Secularism & Religion — evaluating the secularization thesis 8. Forms of Religion — Cultic Religions, Revealed Religion — sects —monasticism 9. Religion & the state- sociological role of the state, origin & development of state & Religion- Identity of spiritual & secular states. 10. Socioloo.' of Islam — Marx & Weber on Islam-, historical perspectives—differentiation and rationalization.

Course Credit: 4

Schools of Major World Religions Students are expected to have a general knowledge about the schools of the five major world religions- Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity and Islam.

Course Credit: 4

Modern Atheism and Critique of Religions This course examines the critique of religion based on relevant theories of knowledge, the 18th century Enlightenment, radical social and political thought of 19th century: socialism, and anarchism,- analysis of the soul and its symbol-systems of 20th century: psychoanalysis and its attack on the concept of God. Authors will include Hume, Marx, Bakunin, Nietzsche, Freud, Sartre and Russell. The course will also focus on the non- theistic religions of the world.

Course Credit: 4

State, Religion ana International Politics The aim of this course is to acquaint the students with the significance of religion in political affairs of all kinds, and at all levels of analysis. The course be divided into two main sections. The first section will address some of the more theoretical approaches to the role of religion in politics. The students will get an idea how religion plays its role in policy formulation of a state both in its domestic and international contexts. The second section will take up the politics of religion with reference to Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Judaism. Added to it there will be more concrete analysis of religion's significance in regional settings, i.e. South Asia, West and Central Asia, Europe, North and Latin America. Theoretical Issues The advent of religion, religion as a source of moral values, religion as a social thought Religion as a political: Functions and types Theocracy: Origin and Growth Religion and Modernity: Comparative views of religions toward democracy, nationalism, secularism, economic development, and globalization Religion, Conflict, Militancy and Peace Religion in domestic and foreign policy making Empirical observations Religion and politics in South Asia, West and Central Asia, Europe, North and Latin America The influence of religion on the foreign policies of sorne selected states: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan. Saudi Arabia, Iran, United States, United Kingdom

Course Credit: 4

Science and Religion The aim of this course is to study the encounter between religion and modern science and technolow in terms of the impact of the latter on the understanding of human nature and values. The implications of scientific methods and theories .of religion together v,ith reflections on science and technology by religious thinkers will be considered here. Other topics include: te character of foundational beliers in general, and their implications for the evidential basis and epistemic status of assertions in both science and religion, the varieties of agnosticism; misuese of religion in adjudicating matters of science, and misuses of science in adjudicating matters of religion.

Course Credit: 4

Ethics Students will be expected to have a thorough knowledge of the following subject: 1. Ethics, Religion, Psycholow and Soci010O•r The problem of freedom and determinism. The Nature and the object of Moral 2. Theories of Moral Standard : Hedonism, Intuitionism, Perfectionism, Evolutionism, Rationnalism, Moral Scepticism, and Eqistertialism. 3. Theories of punishment. 4. Normative ethics, Meta-ethics, Practical ethics, Bioethics, Environmental ethics, Utility of ethics.

Course Credit: 4

Moral and Legal Issues in Major Religious Traditions Hindu Law Nature and Scope of Hindu Law, Historical Background Hindu Law, Sources of Hindu Law, Schools of Hindu Law, Marriage, Maintenance, Custody and Guardianship, Concept of Dissolution of Marriage, Succession, Women's Property, Status of Women is Hindu Law, Partition, Will, Gift, Debt, Religious and Charitable Endowments, Adoption, Impartible Property, Relationship between Law and Morality in Hindu Law, Concept of Justice, Laws relating to Contract, Crimes and Punishment. Jewish Law Concept of Halakha or Jewish Law, Laws of the Torah and Its Categories, Sources of Law, Takkanot, Different Schools of Judaism, Early and Modern Jewish Law, Codes of Jewish Law, Central virtues and principles in Jewish Ethics, Areas of applied Christian Law Concept of Law in Christianity, Historical Development of Christian Law, Sources of Christian Law, Different Denominations in Christianity, Marriage, Dissolution of Marriage, Custody, Guardianship, Adoption, Gift, Will, Succession, Relationship between Law and Morality, Crime and Punishment under Christian Law, Concept of Justice. Islamic Law Historical Development of Islamic Jurisprudence, Sources of Islamic Law, The Islamic Schools of Law, marriage, Dower, Maintenance, Legitimacy of Child, Custody and Guardianship of Marriage, Maintenance, Custody and Guardianship, Concept of Child, Adoption, Dissolution of Marriage, The Iddat or waiting period, Gift, Will, Waqf, Pre-emption and Inheritence, Islamic law of Contact, Criminal Justice System in Islam, Laws relating to Evidence, Environmental Protection under Islamic Law, Concept of

Course Credit: 4

Research Monograph: Students selected for writing Research Monograph w-ill have to choose a research topic of 100 marks of which 25 marks will be reserved for viva-voce. The Research Monograph will be conducted and completed on topics approved by the Academic Committee of the Department.