ONLY CHOOSE THREE of the questions below. In your own words as much as possible.
Respond to three of the following four questions with original (NOT copied and pasted material). Insert question prompts individually into the essays, one at a time, as sub-headings and respond to the question prompts underneath. Responses should be 3-5 pages, typed, 12 pt font. Short answer/essay response format for each individual question listed as part of each question set (1.,2.,3., etc.). Integrate quotes from the reading.
1. Religion is a favorite rallying point and a social institution that has a large number or potential disciples. It allows some to define their people as purveyors of truth and others as plotting to subvert that truth and to perpetuate falsehood. Central to this is the point that religion becomes political in nature. How do past and current examples of spreading religion speak to the political nature of religion? What are your thoughts regarding this?
2. Compare and contrast Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. How are these belief systems social in nature and connected to peoples and place, in social context?
3. Define fundamentalism. Identify examples of fundamentalism in Christianity and Islam. What are the challenges facing ideological frameworks which support fundatmentalism.
4. Religion is involved in and is part of the socio-political economics. Discuss how relition reinforces economic norms and patterns. Identify how religion may challenge economic relationships and the extent of these challenges
