CSS Syllabus Comparative Study of Major Religions

PAPER: COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MAJOR RELIGIONS (100 MARKS)

Revised Syllabus for CSS Competitive Examination-2016
(Alternative Paper in Lieu of the Compulsory Islamic Studies)

I. Introduction

Definition(s) of religion
Emergence of the study of religion as a discipline
Theological and academic study of religion
An overview of religious landscape of the World

II. Hinduism

Historical Background
Indus valley civilization, Aryan invasion theory, Vedic Dharma, Brahmanism
Scriptures:
Sruti: Vedas, Upanishads, Smirti: Manu Smirti, Sutras, Puranas, Great epics: Ramayana,Mahabharata

Scriptures:
Sruti: Vedas, Upanishads, Smirti: Manu Smirti, Sutras, Puranas, Great epics: Ramayana,Mahabharata

Hindu Doctrines:
Dharma, Vedanta, Karma, Transmigration of Souls, Moksha (Liberation)
Ways to Liberation:
Karma marga (Works/Rituals), Jnana marga (Wisdom), Bhakti marga (Devotion)

Hindu gods:
Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Trimurti, other gods and divinities

Major Hindu Sects:

Vaishavism (Manifestation avatars), Saivism (Supreme God & Phallic worship), Saktism
(Goddess worship)

Hindu society:
Caste System, Ashramas (Stages of life)
Hinduism in the Modern World 19th century reform and revival movements, Contemporary Hindu Tendencies and movements

III. Buddhism

Historical Background
Life of Gautama Buddha, Formation and spread of Buddhism, Rivalry between Brahmanism and&Buddhism

Scriptures:
Tripitaka: Sutta Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka, Abhidhamma Pitaka

Teachings and Doctrines
Three Jewels of Buddhism: Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha, The four noble truths, Eight fold Path

Buddhist Sects:
Theravadas (Hinayana), Mahayana, other schools and sect Buddhism in the Modern world 19

IV. Judaism

A brief history of Jews and Judaism:
From Abraham to Moses, peace be upon them all, From Moses to establishment of Jewish
rule, Destruction of Jerusalem and dispersion of Jews in the world,

Jewish Scriptures:
Tanakh (The Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings), Mishnah and Talmud

Articles of faith and basic teachings:
Ten Commandments, The thirteen principles of faith propounded by Moses Maimonides (1138-1204)

Jewish holidays and festivals:
Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), Pesach (Passover), Sukkot (Tabernacles) Purim

Jewish Worship:
Daily prayer, fasting, Sabbath

Jewish sects and movements
Orthodox Judaism, Conservative Judaism, Reform Judaism, Zionism, Kabbalah, Hasidism

V. Christianity

Historical background:
Jewish background of Christianity, Life and of Jesus Christ (Through the Four Gospels), Life and the role of Paul (Through the Letters of Paul), Formation and spread of the Christian Church, Christianization of the Roman Empire, Reform movement.

Scriptures:
The Holy Bible (Old Testament and New Testament)

Basic Doctrines:
Original Sin, Incarnation of God, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Atonement,Trinity

Christian Sects:
Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestantism
Sub-denominations: Lutherans, Reformed and Presbyterians, Anglicans, Baptists,Methodists, Unitarians

Christian Festivals and Holidays:
Advent, Christmas, Easter, Pentecost

Christian worship and Sacraments
Baptism, Eucharist, Communion, Lord’s Supper, prayer, fasting, psalms, music,

Christianity in the Modern Times
Encounter with modernity, modern theological trends, Missionary movement, Dialogue and relationship with other religions

VI. Islam

Introduction and Historical Background:
Islamic concept of religion, universality of religion and diversity of shari‘ahs, Sirah (Life) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), The era of rightly guided caliphs of Islam

Sacred Scriptures:
The Holy Quran, Hadith

Basic Doctrines and Creed:
Tawhid (Oneness of God), Risalah (Belief in Prophets and finality of the prophet-hood with the Prophet Muhammad), Akhirah (Belief in Hereafter and the final reckoning by Allah the Almighty), Belief in angels, previous scriptures, predestination and human responsibility before God, infallibility of the Quran,

Five Pillars of Islam:
Utterance of Shahadatayn (To proclaim the Oneness of Allah and that Prophet Muhammad is his messenger, salah (five daily prayers), zakah (compulsory charity), sawm (fasting in the month of Ramadan) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah who can afford travelling to it)

Other Teachings of Islam
Equality of mankind, simplicity, spiritual purity and bodily hygiene, patience, contentment,moderation, social justice, Jihad, tolerance towards other religions,

Sects and Schools:
Sunnis (mainstream Muslims), Shi‘ahs (Special devotion for Hazrat Ali and Family of the Prophet), Khawarij (literalists), Mu‘tazilah (rationalists)

Contemporary Islamic movements and tendencies:
Ikwan al Muslimun (Muslim Brotherhood), Jama‘at-i-Islami, Tablighi Jama‘at, Salafi movement, Fethullah Gulen movement in Turkey, Iranian revolution, extremist groups.