here are five main religions are: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. Judiasm, Christianity, and Islam are the three main western religions, and Buddhism and Hinduism are known as the eastern religions. The three western religions are similar in many ways.

Touchstone 2: Comparing and Contrasting the Common Elements of Religions

ASSIGNMENT: For this Touchstone, you will demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of religions so far by comparing and contrasting two of the worldàreligions.

In a 400-600 word short essay, you will compare and contrast one astern2eligion and one åstern2eligion discussed so far in this course. Using specific examples from the lessons in Unit 1 and Unit 2 to support your conclusions, you will analyze some of the ways in which these religions are both similar and different.

A. Assignment Guidelines

DIRECTIONS: Select one astern2eligion and one åstern2eligion discussed so far in this course. Review the lessons in Unit 1 and Unit 2 as you consider how these religions are both similar and different.

Your short essay should include four parts:

Briefly introduce the two religions you have selected to compare and contrast.

Identify and explain at least two commonalities between these two religions, using specific examples from the lessons.

Identify and explain at least two differences between these two religions, using specific examples from the lessons.

Briefly summarize & conclude your short essay. In your conclusion, explain what we can learn about religions in general by noticing both their similarities and differences.

As you develop your response, you should compare or contrast at least one example from each of the following elements of religion:

Historical & geographic origins

• Core beliefs & doctrines
• Core rituals & practices
• Important texts & narratives
• You will use information from the Sophia tutorials to support your response. When citing material from a tutorial, please include the name of the tutorial and use the following format (using Sophia’s Primal Religions tutorial as an example):

In-text citation: (Primal Religions, n.d.)

Reference: (n.d.). Primal Religions [MOOC]. In Approaches to Studying Religions. Sophia Learning. https://app.sophia.org/spcc/approaches-to-studying-religions–2/unit1/study-guide/7845/primal-religions-2

Refer to the completion checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.

• ? Have you selected one astern2eligion and one åstern religion$iscussed so far in this course?? Have you briefly introduced the two religions you selected?? Have you identified and explained at least two commonalities between these religions?? Have you identified and explained at least two differences between these religions?? Have you included at least one example from each of the given elements of religion: historical & geographic origins; core beliefs & doctrines; core rituals & practices; and important texts & narratives?? Is your short essay between 400-600 words, double-spaced, and formatted in 12-point font?? Have you cited examples with in-text citations?? Have you proofread your short essay for mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization?
• B. Rubric
• Advanced (100%)Proficient (80%)Needs Improvement (60%)Non-Performance (0%)
• Selection of Religions (5 points)

Essay identifies an astern!nd a åstern2eligion discussed in the course.Essay correctly identifies an astern2eligion and a åstern2eligion to compare and contrast, and accurately describes both.Essay correctly identifies an astern2eligion and a åstern2eligion to compare and contrast, but may describe one or both less accurately.Essay may incorrectly categorize religions as astern/r åstern,/r may provide a markedly inaccurate description of one or both.Essay fails to identify an astern2eligion and a åstern2eligion to compare and contrast, or to provide any description of either.

Analysis of Similarities (Comparison) (5 points)

• Essay analyzes similarities between religions and provides specific examples that support the analysis.
• Essay accurately identifies and explains at least two similarities between religions.Essay accurately identifies and explains at least two similarities between religions.Essay accurately identifies and explains only one similarity between religions.Essay does not accurately identify and explain similarities between religions.

Analysis of Differences (Contrast) (5 points)

Essay analyzes differences between religions and provides specific examples that support the analysis.

Essay accurately identifies and explains at least two differences between religions.Essay accurately identifies and explains at least two differences between religions.Essay accurately identifies and explains only one difference between religions is accurately identified and explained.Essay does not accurately identify and explain differences between religions.

Elements of Religion (5 points)

Essay draws on disparate elements of religion for analysis.

Essay describes examples from each of the four given elements of religion:
-historical & geographic origins
-core beliefs & doctrines
-core rituals & practices
-important texts & narrativesEssay describes examples from three of the four given elements of religion:
-historical & geographic origins
-core beliefs & doctrines
-core rituals & practices
-important texts & narrativesEssay describes examples from one or two of the four given elements of religion:
-historical & geographic origins
-core beliefs & doctrines
-core rituals & practices
-important texts & narrativesEssay does not describe examples from any of the four four given elements of religion:
-historical & geographic origins
-core beliefs & doctrines
-core rituals & practices
-important texts & narratives

Use of Evidence (3 points)

Submission uses specific examples from the course, that are cited appropriately, to support the response.

At least 4 specific examples from the course are used to support the response. Examples are cited appropriately.2-3 examples from the course are used to support the response. Examples are cited appropriately.1-2 examples from the course are used to support the response. Examples may not be cited appropriately.No examples from the course are used or cited to support the response.

Conventions (1 point)

Essay follows conventions for standard written English.

There are one or no errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.There are minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that do not impede readability.There are frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that impede readability.There are consistent errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization that significantly impede readability.

References should use this style: (n.d.). Monotheism [MOOC]. In Approaches to Studying Religions. Sophia Learning. https://app.sophia.org/spcc/approaches-to-studying-religions–2/unit2/study-guide/8161/monotheism-2