The course is aimed at understanding the issues related to the concept of religion, religious diversity and interreligious dialogue. In particular, the course is aimed at the knowledge and understanding of:

-  meaning, aims e modalities of interreligious dialogue

-  history, criticism and new elaboration of the concept of religion

-  recognition of the functional and structural diversity of religions

-  analysis of the differences between religions starting from A) the spiritual instances to which they seek an answer (origin) and B) the symbolic structure (formation)

-  in-depth analyses into the dynamics and meanings of religion in theistic and non-theistic field

-  general characteristics of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism and Shinto.

1. History and criticism of the Western concept of religion, definition of religion and reasons for the differences between religions. The question of "Orientalism" in the approach to Asian cultures.
2. Interreligious dialogue: history, meaning, aims and modalities.
3. The religions of the ancient world and their mutual relationship. Zoroastrianism and the rise of monotheism and ethical-metaphysical dualism.
4. Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) in their common traits and differences, and in their relationship with previous religions. The Baha'i religion as a response to the plurality of religions.
5. Hinduism: history, common characters and concepts and internal varieties. Sikhism, contemporary forms of religion in India and the relationship with Islam and Christianity, the spread of Hinduism outside India.
6. The birth of Buddhism and its relationship with pre-Buddhist culture. The evolution of Buddhism in India included the Mahāyāna or Great Vehicle. The spread and transformation of Buddhism outside India (Southeast Asia, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, the West).
7. The origins of Chinese religious culture. The main branches: Confucianism and Daoism. The current situation of religion in China and in the Chinese communities in Italy.
8. Shinto and the new Japanese religions.
9. Perspectives of interreligious dialogue in the contemporary world.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Classroom-taught lessons, also with the support of slides and audiovisual means.

Attendance

The minimum frequency at three quarters of class hours is required.

Course books

- 1) Introductory handout, 2) Handout relating to ancient religions, Zoroastrianism, Abrahamic religions and Baha'i religion provided by the teacher (Compulsory)

-  Aa. Vv., Hinduismo Antico, Vol. I: Dalle origini vediche ai Purāṇa, Mondadori, Milano 2010, pp. XI-XXXIV including, then: LIII-LXXXIV including, then: CX-CXIII including, then: CXXIX-CXXXV including, then: CLXXIII-CLXXXII including. Tot. 75 pages (Compulsory). The text is available at Library of Economics-Sociology (Urbino), at the "Biblioteca Comunale Federiciana" (Fano) and others.

- M.Y. Marassi, Il Buddismo Mahayana attraverso i luoghi, i tempi, le culture. L'India e cenni sul Tibet, Ed. Marietti, Genova-Milano 2006: study, from ch. 0 to ch. IV included. Totally 107 pages. (Compulsory)

- M.Y.Marassi, Il Buddismo Mahayana attraverso i luoghi, i tempi, le culture. La Cina, Ed. Marietti, Genova-Milano 2009: the whole ch. I; of ch. II up to p. 82 included; of ch. III up to p. 110; of ch. IV from p. 121 to p. 128, from p. 138 to the end; of ch. V from p. 147 to p. 152, from p. 158 to p. 160, from p. 163 to p. 168 included; the whole ch. VI. Totally 120 pages. (Compulsory)

In addition to the two compulsory handouts, the slides and handouts of the entire course will be available on Moodle.

- M.Scarpari, Il confucianesimo, i fondamenti, i testi, Einaudi, Torino 2010. (Recommended).

- M.Paolillo, Il Daoismo, storia, dottrina, pratiche, Carocci, Roma 2014 (Recommended).

- Rossella Marangoni, Shintoismo, Editrice Bibliotecaria, Milano 2018 (Recommended). 

- M.Y.Marassi, M. Nicolini-Zani, Incontrarsi al cuore. Un dialogo cristiano-buddhista sull'amore-compassione, Pazzini Editore, Verucchio, 2015 (Recommended). 

- Insieme per pregare, a c. di M. Nicolini-Zani, ed. Qiqajon, Bose, Magnano (BI), 2011 (Recommended). 

- Th. Merton, Zen and the birds of appetite, New Directions Publishing Corporation, New York, 1968 (Recommended). 

- Henri Le Saux, The Further Shore, ISPCK, Delhi ,1975 (Recommended). 

- Dalai Lama, -  Toward a True Kinship of Faiths: How the World's Religions Can Come Together, Harmony Books, 2010  (Recommended). 

Assessment

For the purpose of ascertaining the preparation, the student must take an oral test. The oral test aims to ascertain comprehension skills, ability to communicate and apply the knowledge acquired with autonomous judgment. 

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.