Ancient Indian religious traditions

Religion has played a highly important part in the lives of human beings. 

This course is an introduction to two great ancient Indian religious traditions: Hinduism and Buddhism. 

It considers their origins and early historical development, their key text(s) and beliefs and some of their key practices, and the foundations of their ethics. 

It begins with Hinduism. 

Session 1 considers its Vedic period: pre-Aryan and Aryan society, religion and ritual, sacred literature, and the renouncer tradition. 

Session 2 considers the Classical period: the growth of Hindu theism, its literature, Visnu and Siva, and some early intellectual developments. 

Session 3 considers the foundations of Hindu ethics. 

The course then turns to Buddhism. 

Session 3 considers Buddhist scripture and the Buddha. 

Session 4 considers the Buddha’s basic beliefs, the development of the Buddhist community after his death, and Mahayana Buddhism. 

Session 5 considers some early intellectual thought and the foundations of Buddhist ethics. (The latter considers the Buddha’s basic ethical beliefs.)