Time Schedule:
John M Palka
ENVIR 450
Seattle Campus
Format may range from seminar/discussion to formal lectures to laboratory or modeling work.
Class description
The goal of this seminar is to examine how five of the world's great scriptural traditions speak to contemporary views of nature and the place of human beings in the context of creation. The traditions we will consider are Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. The scriptural readings will be taken from several versions of the Bible, the Koran, the Vedas and Upanishads, and several of the Buddhist Sutras. Because scripture, even in translation, is difficult to grapple with, we will also read contemporary writings and older non-scriptural writings from the same traditions, as well as the reflections of a few scientists.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
The class will be conducted in seminar format, which means that substantial student participation will be expected. This will take the form of brief writing assignments, oral presentations, a modest amount of independent searching in the literature, active class participation and a final paper. There will be no exams.
