A Comparative Study of Religions (DM3011Y)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

The unit seeks to understand the different religious traditions practiced in Australia including the Aboriginal religions and the New Religious Movements (NRMs) in their historic settings. The unit will consider how these may be approached through the methods of comparative theology and inter-religious dialogue.

Unit code: DM3011Y

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: Missiology

Delivery Mode: Blended

Proposing College: Yarra Theological Union

Show when this unit is running

Learning outcomes

1.

Identify the main tenets of at least three religious traditions in Australia, including Australian Aboriginal spiritualities
2.

Analyse the commonalities between Islam and Christianity
3.

Evaluate the approaches to prayer in Christianity and primal religions
4.

Assess the significance of inter-religious practices in the Australian context

Unit sequence

1x DM unit

Pedagogy

Synchronous and asynchronous lectures and tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

  • Antoun, Richard T. Understanding Fundamentalism: Christian, Islamic and Jewish Movements. Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Press, 2001.
  • Bagir, Zainal Abidin, ed. Science and Religion in a Post-Colonial World: Interfaith Perspectives. Adelaide: ATF Press, 2005.
  • Charlesworth, Max, et al eds. Aboriginal Religions in Australia: an Anthology of Recent Writings. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate Publishing, 2005.
  • Cherry, Stephen M., and Helen R. Ebaugh, eds. Global Religious Movements Across Borders: Sacred Service. Farnham, UK: Ashgate Publishing, 2014.
  • Clooney, Francis, ed. The New Comparative Theology: Interreligious Insights from the Next Generation. London: T & T Clark, 2010.
  • Hill, Brennan R. World Religions and Contemporary Issues: How Evolving Views on Ecology, Peace, and Women are Impacting Faith Today. New London, CT: Twenty Third Publications, 2013.
  • Lassner, Jacob. Jews, Christians and The Abode of Islam: Modern Scholarship, Medieval Realities. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2012.
  • Poceski, Mario. Introducing Chinese Religions. London: Routledge, 2009.
  • Reynolds, Gabriel Said. The Emergence of Islam: Classical Traditions in Contemporary Perspective. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2012.
  • Yandell, Keith, and Harold Netland. Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2009.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Portfolio 4500 100.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 24 Jun, 2026

Unit record last updated: 2026-06-24 12:14:32 +1000