Introduction to World Religions
This paper is an “application” paper, of sorts. You will be presented with a topic, and you will
explain how different religions think about this topic and how it should be addressed. You are
welcome to do research in order to help figure out how the religions you choose to apply are
approaching the issue. Below you will find information about exactly what you should be explaining
in each paragraph of your submission.
This paper should be prepared in Microsoft Word according to MLA formatting guidelines; a
template has been provided for you. If you choose not to utilize the template, information on MLA
formatting is posted in the course. You will be graded on the content of your paper, of course, but a
portion of the grade will be assigned based on correctly naming the file that you submit, submitting
the paper correctly, formatting the paper correctly, and the mechanics of writing. A grading rubric
has been posted with the assignment, to show you how your grade will be determined.
When you are preparing your paper, you will assign a file name when you save it on your computer.
The file name needs to be correct—so that when you upload your paper, it will be distinguishable
from the papers submitted by the other students. The correct file name is:
WA3 LastName FirstName
where “LastName” is replaced by your last name and “FirstName” is replaced by your first name
(this should be your first name as it appears on my class roster—and this should match the first
name that you put on the first line of the heading within the paper itself).
This paper should consist of five paragraphs (which are outlined below). Remember that each
paragraph should contain at least 2 substantive sentences and is expected to be 5-8 sentences in
length. Additionally, note that I am asking specific questions, indicating exactly what you should be
explaining in each of your five paragraphs. Make sure that you answer the questions that have been
asked.
This is a philosophy course, and philosophy is most interested in the answer to the question,
“Why?” As you are writing, be careful not to simply report. The goal here is for you to explain the
meaning involved. Why are things done in a particular way? What is the real difference between
things? “Why” is far more important than “What” in a philosophy course. You need to demonstrate
an understanding of the concepts—not just that you were able to find them.
For that same reason, you are encouraged to limit your quotations. It is fine to quote from the
reading (or from other sources, if you choose to use them). But a quotation tells me what someone
said. It does not explain why they said it, or what they meant by it. If you quote, make sure you
explain the meaning behind what was quoted. Again, “Why” is more important than “What.” I’m
the “Why Guy.”
Here is the issue: world hunger. Hunger affects about a billion people around the world; that is 1 out
of every 7 people. In the United States, about 40 million people struggle with food insecurity. Faith-
based organizations have been leaders in addressing the needs of the hungry across the globe, as well
as in advocating for structural changes that would end hunger.
1) In the first paragraph, you should clearly explain the ways that hunger affects human and societal
development. The basic question here is, Why should we care whether others go hungry? What are
the effects of world hunger on the population as a whole?
2) In the second paragraph, you should clearly explain ways in which non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) are addressing this issue. What are some of the ways that faith-based
organizations are seeking to make a difference … and what motivates them to do so? What are some
of the structural changes that these NGOs are fighting for, and why? What leads faith-based
organizations to be involved in addressing hunger issues?
3) In the third paragraph, choose a religion (one of those we have studied in this course). Explain
how this particular religion would address world hunger. Do the teachings of the religion you have
chosen lead its followers to try to be involved? Or does the religion you chose see hunger as a “fact
of life” that needs to be accepted? Be specific about how the teachings of the religion you chose
would address this issue.
4) In the third paragraph, you will do the same thing—with a second religion. Choose another
religion that we have studied this semester and assess how that religion views the issue of world
hunger. Ideally, this will be a religion that has a different perspective; either (a) it sees the issue in a
completely different way, or (b) it has very different reasons for the perspective that it has adopted.
(Making sure there is a clear difference will make the last paragraph easier.)
5) In your final paragraph, you will explain the differences between the approaches that you have
identified in the previous paragraphs. What are the fundamental differences in these two religions
that lead them to view the issue of world hunger as they do? And which of them seems to be the
way that we ought to think about this issue? Which of the two religions that you chose seems to
have the better approach? Explain why we should prefer one perspective to the other.
Remember that the goal is to explain—not to merely report. Don’t just tell me what you read about;
explain what it meant. The goal is to explain the ideas, in your own words, as you would explain it to
someone who knows nothing about how NGOs are addressing the issue of world hunger. Ideally,
you would not quote from the article; demonstrate your understanding by explaining in your own
words. If you do feel that you need to quote, a brief quote or two is acceptable, as long as the quote
is placed in quotation marks and a page number is correctly cited.
If you have any questions about this assignment, please do not hesitate to ask.
