ANSO 325(S) Culture, Religion, and World View in China and Japan*
How can we understand another culture without being reductionist and over-simplistic? This course examines religious beliefs and practices in China and Japan, two societies whose cultures seem particularly exotic to Americans. For the purposes of the course, religion will be defined broadly enough to encompass not only Buddhism, Shinto and Confucianism, but also other belief systems, such as the cult of Mao in China or emperor-centered nationalism in Japan. We will explore the relationship between religious ideas and practices on the one hand, and issues of social and individual ethics and morality on the other, in order to gain a fuller understanding of how beliefs shape people's lives. Open to non-majors; prior exposure to Anthropology, Sociology, or Asian Studies courses recommended but not required.