Assignment Content This assignment offers you the opportunity to explain the commonalities found in different religions, provide examples of situations involving ethics that are faced by people in the world today, and identify contemporary challenges and issues related to religion. Select and complete either Option A or Option B. Option A: Written Summary Write a 525- to 750-word paper that addresses the following topics: What is essential (in the practices and beliefs) for a tradition to be called a religion? Illustrate your points by referring to the commonalities of at least 2 different religions. Include specific examples from the various religious traditions described in the Week 1 readings, such as a belief in one God or many gods and goddesses, the removal of one’s shoes before entering a place of worship, bathing and baptism as methods of spiritual purification, or refusing to eat certain types of meat. You may also include examples from your own religious tradition or another religious tradition with which you are familiar. What place does religion have in making ethical decisions? Include specific examples of situations involving ethics faced by members of a religion today. Reflect on your own spiritual beliefs, how have your ethics been influenced personally or professionally? If you hold no spiritual beliefs, consider how individuals you may know or work with are faced with ethical decisions that are influenced by their beliefs. Consider what you know about religion today. What are some modern issues that may be affecting religious traditions? How are these religions handling these issues? Format your paper according to appropriate course-level APA guidelines. You may find helpful resources for completing your assignment in the Center for Writing Excellence in the University Library. Option B: Presentation Prepare  a 10- to 12-slide presentation that addresses the following topics: What is essential (in the practices and beliefs) for a tradition to be called a religion? Illustrate your points by referring to the commonalities of at least 2 different religions. What place does religion have in making ethical decisions? Include specific examples of situations involving ethics faced by members of a religion today. Aside from ethical challenges, what are some contemporary challenges and issues related to religion? Include specific examples from the various religious traditions described in the Week 1 readings, such as a belief in one God or many gods and goddesses, the removal of one’s shoes before entering a place of worship, bathing and baptism as methods of spiritual purification, or refusing to eat certain types of meat. You may also include examples from your own religious tradition or another religious tradition with which you are familiar. You may use Microsoft® PowerPoint® or some other presentation format for this assignment. Use bullet points and images or graphics to illustrate your mai.

1. Assignment Content
This assignment offers you the opportunity to explain the
commonalities found in different religions, provide examples of
situations involving ethics that are faced by people in the world
today, and identify contemporary challenges and issues related
to religion.
Select
and
complete
either Option A or Option B.
Option A: Written Summary
Write
a 525- to 750-word paper that addresses the following topics:
What is essential (in the practices and beliefs) for a tradition to
be called a religion? Illustrate your points by referring to the
commonalities of at least 2 different religions. Include specific
examples from the various religious traditions described in the
Week 1 readings, such as a belief in one God or many gods and
goddesses, the removal of one’s shoes before entering a place of
worship, bathing and baptism as methods of spiritual
purification, or refusing to eat certain types of meat. You may
also include examples from your own religious tradition or
another religious tradition with which you are familiar.

2. What place does religion have in making ethical decisions?
Include specific examples of situations involving ethics faced
by members of a religion today. Reflect on your own spiritual
beliefs, how have your ethics been influenced personally or
professionally? If you hold no spiritual beliefs, consider how
individuals you may know or work with are faced with ethical
decisions that are influenced by their beliefs.
Consider what you know about religion today. What are some
modern issues that may be affecting religious traditions? How
are these religions handling these issues?
Format
your paper according to appropriate course-level APA
guidelines. You may find helpful resources for completing your
assignment in the
Center for Writing Excellence
in the University Library.
Option B: Presentation
Prepare
a 10- to 12-slide presentation that addresses the following
topics:
What is essential (in the practices and beliefs) for a tradition to
be called a religion? Illustrate your points by referring to the
commonalities of at least 2 different religions.
What place does religion have in making ethical decisions?
Include specific examples of situations involving ethics faced
by members of a religion today.

3. Aside from ethical challenges, what are some contemporary
challenges and issues related to religion?
Include
specific examples from the various religious traditions
described in the Week 1 readings, such as a belief in one God or
many gods and goddesses, the removal of one’s shoes before
entering a place of worship, bathing and baptism as methods of
spiritual purification, or refusing to eat certain types of meat.
You may also include examples from your own religious
tradition or another religious tradition with which you are
familiar.
You may use Microsoft® PowerPoint® or some other
presentation format for this assignment.
Use
bullet points and images or graphics to illustrate your main
points.
Present
your presentation according to your course offering:
Local campus students: Give a 10- to 15-minute oral
presentation accompanied by your presentation.
Online and directed-study students: Write detailed speaker notes
for each slide of your presentation.

4. Cite
your references.
Format
your assignment according to appropriate course-level APA
guidelines. You may find helpful resources for completing your
assignment in the
Center for Writing Excellence
in the University Library.
Submit
your assignment.
Resources
Reference and Citation Generator
Grammar and Writing Guides