“It is common to hear that “eastern” and “western” religions are very different in character. Do you agree? For your final essay you should assess this claim
through a comparison (or contrast) of a single feature common to at least two “eastern” religions (Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism and Buddhism) and two
“western” religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). For “eastern” religions you should discuss one Chinese (Confucianism or Taoism) and one Indian
(Hinduism or Buddhism) religious tradition. One of the “western” religions you discuss must be Islam. Thus your essay will focus on a common theme but
discuss it with regard to four distinct religions. Once again an excellent essay will not only draw on the descriiption of these religious traditions in Smith but
will give illustrations from the scriiptures found in Van Voorst. In general, the more narrow your theme, the better the quality of your essay will be. Also in
general, you need to choose a theme for which there is support in the scriiptures included in the Van Voorst book, or scriiptures you can readily identify in
another authoritative source. Is west more different from east, or are they more similar? This is not a “compare and contrast” essay. It is either a comparison
(they are more similar) or else it is a contrast (they are more different). You are arguing only one side, not both.”