Religious Fundamentalism & Extremism: Eastern Traditions

This eight-week course is is part of a longer course examining Religious Fundamentalism, Extremism and Terrorism in each of the world's main faith traditions.

It incorporates a detailed study of the history, context and contemporary issues of religious nationalism, fundamentalism, extremism and terrorism. Part 1 of this series looked at the history, context and contemporary examples of Jewish and Christian Fundamentalism and Extremism.
Part 2 of this course (offered in 2020 Term 2) focused on the history, context and contemporary examples of Islamic Fundamentalism and Extremism, while Part 3 (Term 3) examines the history, context and contemporary examples of religious fundamentalism and extremism in Hinduism, Buddhism and the Sikh faith.
This includes a discussion of nationalist movements as well. Our Term 4 course will examine the topic of Religion and Nonviolence.

Each course is self-contained and can be taken independently of any other courses in the series.

Our Term 3 course continues the theme of religious fundamentalism and extremism introduced in RD201 and RD 202 with an examination of the history, context and contemporary examples of Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh Fundamentalism and Nationalism.

Weekly sessions include the following topics:

Week 1: The Hindu Context: Mughal Empire, British Rāj, the Indian Rebellion of 1857
Week 2: The Hindu Context: Mahātmā Gāndhī, the Quit India Movement, and Jalliānwālā Bāgh
Week 3: The Hindu Context: The Rise of Hindu Nationalism and the Emergence of the Indian Independence Movement; Partition
Week 4: Contemporary Hindu Nationalism: Hindutva, Rāshtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishwa Hindū Parishad, the BJP, Indo-Pakistan Aggression, Kashmiri Separatism, Assam Movement, Sino-Indian Relations
Week 5: A History of Sikh Nationalism, Extremism & Terrorism
Week 6: Contemporary Sikh Nationalism, Extremism & Terrorism
Week 7: A History of Buddhist Fundamentalism, Extremism & Terrorism
Week 8: Contemporary Examples of Buddhist Extremism

Cost per person per Term (8 classes):
Waged: $104 (includes $4 online registration fee)
Unwaged (unemployed, students, seniors): $84 (includes $4 online registration fee)

Distance Learning options for this course are available if you live outside the Waikato and participate in live-streamed classes, or wish to
watch the video recorded sessions at a time more convenient.

For more information on this course and its distance learning options, for payment and registration info, or info on our other religious diversity, language, history and mythology courses, please visit our website.