***N.B.  I have decided to replace a comprehensive religion text in this course with more focused book-length readings, on-line articles and resources and intensive internet research exercises.  I have also put together a very basic but brief on-line introduction to the various major world religions to provide you with a grounding that should complement class lectures and your own browsing and research.  There is much that can be gained from working one's way carefully through an introductory text and I have assigned these as required readings in the past.  I want to avoid reading overload, however.  I expect you to put strong effort into this course but do not want you to work extraordinarily hard yet still feel that my demands are overwhelming you.  With a subject such as World Religion, it's easy to reach such a saturation point.  There is just so much to learn!

I do encourage you to think seriously about purchasing a supplementary course text, to be used this semester as a replacement or complement for the on-line text (or to be browsed in now and then read more carefully when you are less pressed for time).  I would  recommend Michael Coogan's Illustrated Guide To World Religions as one option, though there are several possibilities here.

I also think very highly of the Teaching Company's 30-hour introductory Great World Religions audio course.  It typically goes on sale a couple of times a year for approximately $100.