Gathering ideas and perspectives from two different
religions we studied in this class and compare them as they relate to each other regarding the
answers and perspectives they give to three big questions: What is Ultimate Reality?, How
Should We Live in This World?, and What is Our Ultimate Purpose?.
For this assignment, first identify the two religions you will be writing about. You may choose
from any religion covered the Invitation to World Religions textbook Chapters 2 – 13, even those
which we did not cover in class. If you’d like to select a religion outside of these options, please
discuss with the instructor prior getting started.
Once you determine the two religions you want to research and write on, you will need to do
three things:
1). Elaborate upon how each religion answers these three questions:
– What is Ultimate Reality?
– How Should We Live in This World?
– What is Our Ultimate Purpose?
The textbook explicitly addresses each of these questions at the end of each chapter. These
sections can be used as a starting point, but you are expected to move beyond these answers in
terms of detail, scope, and presentation of your chosen religions. Go deeper.
2) Compare and contrast the ways in which your two chosen topic religions address these
questions. In what ways are they similar? In what ways are they different? Then,
3) As a conclusion, you are welcome to share how you, personally, would answer the three big
questions. This can be done by either re-asserting the tenants of a particular religion,
expressing your own unique take, or even by expressing your skepticism about having any
answers in general (if you do this last option, you will be expected to express the reasons for
your hesitancy).
Extra Rules:
The paper itself must be an academically formatted paper (APA) between 5-7 pages. The title
and reference pages do not count