Short course
Five Great Religions of the World
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
28/09/2026 - 30/11/202614:00 - 16:00
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£315.00
Religion has been a highly important part of the lives of human beings.
This course is an introduction to five great religions of the world: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
It is an introduction to some of the foundations of these great religions: their origins and early historical development and their key text(s) and some of their fundamental beliefs and practices.
No prior specialist knowledge is required.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Course starts 28 September 2026
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Mondays, 2.00-4.00pm.
Week 1: Hinduism: Introduction; Vedic period: pre-Aryan and Aryan culture; Sacred Literature; Renouncer Tradition
Week 2: Hinduism: Classical period: Literature; Gods; Some Schools of Thought
Week 3: Buddhism: Scriptures; Buddha and his Teachings
Week 4: Buddhism: Early Development; Expansion; Divisions; Some Schools of Thought
Week 5: Judaism: The Hebrew Bible; Early (traditional) History
Week 6: Judaism: Early History; Beliefs; Philo
Week 7: Christianity: The Bible; Jesus; Paul
Week 8: Christianity: Gnosticism; Early Church; Church Fathers
Week 9: Islam: Pre-Islamic Arabia; Muhammad; Qur’an; Sunna and Hadith
Week 10: Islam: Expansion and Divisions; Law and Duties; Theology
Course aims
This course aims to enable participants to develop an understanding of the origins, early historical development and key characteristics of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and to explore the beliefs, texts and practices that have shaped these major religious traditions.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will have been given the opportunity to:
- develop an understanding of the origins and early historical development of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam
- engage with key texts associated with these religions and consider their significance within their respective communities
- explore some of the fundamental beliefs and practices within these religions and examine their historical and cultural contexts
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will:
- Have a knowledge of the origins and early historical development of these religions and a knowledge of their key texts and some of their fundamental beliefs and practices.
- Be able to begin to evaluate and reflect critically about some of the matters which are considered in the course.
Level and demands
No specialist knowledge is required.
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.
Teaching methods
Lectures (principally) and discussion.
Sessions consist of clearly structured talks and an encouragement to ask questions and to make comments.
Assessment methods
Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation, in advance of the course start date, can submit coursework/assignments for assessment.
Assessment
You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Dr Karim Esmail
Dr. Karim Esmail was educated at London, Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard.
He was awarded the Gregg Bury Prize at Cambridge and a British Academy Studentship.
He was a Research Fellow at Oxford and Burney Student at Cambridge and a Visiting Fellow at Harvard.
Alongside international articles, he is the author of a clear and concise and original work on the nature and existence of God.
He lectures at both Oxford and Cambridge.
Academic credit
Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS Points)
Please note, students who do not register for assessment and accreditation during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun. If you wish to gain credit from completing this course you must register to do so before the course starts.
Only those who have registered for assessment and accreditation will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard. Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail.
Learn more about the Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme.
If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee for assessment and accreditation.
Digital certificate of completion
Students who are registered for assessment and accreditation and pass their final assignment will also be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Information on how to access the digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course attended. You will be able to download the certificate and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee (with no assessment) | £315.00 |
| Assessment and Accreditation fee | £60.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
- More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website.
- This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.
Preparatory reading
- The World’s Religions / Smart, N.,
Module code: O26P410THW
How to enrol
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.
How to register for accreditation and assessment
To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for this course, if you wish to do so, you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.
If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.