This course will engage issues such as these as it introduces you to some of the basic sources and skills required for the academic study of religion and responsible theological inquiry. Using an ecumenical framework, we will study the dynamic historical nature of religious traditions. Since, of course, there is no such thing as generic religion, we will look at Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as we examine various ways in which these faith communities and their members speak of God--in prayer, in history, in texts from sacred scriptures, in religious classics, in religious practice, and in contemporary events. By the end of the semester, you will understand better how religion shapes the way we view the world and find meaning in life. You will also have examined aspects common to all religion: prayer, story (sacred texts), symbol, ritual, creed (beliefs), doctrine (teaching), and ethics (decisions and actions that express a commitment to do good). There are tests, papers, oral presentations, and a final exam.