|
As an introduction to the academic study of religion, this course examines topics, theories and methods that are essential to gain an understanding of religion as an important aspect of human culture and history. The course proceeds along two lines: on the one hand, students are introduced to influential approaches to defining and investigating religion (e.g. Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, Clifford Geertz, Wilfred Cantwell Smith, Ninian Smart). On the other hand, theoretic approaches are used to study parts of specific religious traditions, especially Christianity and Islam, but – albeit to a lesser extent – also Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and native (African) religions. Topics that are discussed include perspectives on transcendence and immanence, war and peace, reconciliation and retaliation, social difference, holy texts and the challenge of modernities. Since the academic study of religion comprises various disciplinary approaches (e.g. historical, cultural anthropological, philosophical, literary approaches), the course will also be an exercise in interdisciplinarity, both theoretical – studying the respective academic literature – and practical – actually investigating religious phenomena, using of methods from various academic disciplines.
Format
This class meets twice a week. It is imperative that students read the primary reading material before coming to class.
The first weekly meeting is devoted to a lecture by the instructor which puts the readings into context. Starting the second week, meetings will be divided into one part instruction and one part presentation. These presentations consist of a close scrutiny of primary texts by the students, followed by plenary discussions. These oral presentations, as well as the general participation of students in class discussions, form part of the final grade. The aim is not just to achieve a better understanding of the texts that have been read, but also to reach the deeper, cultural questions which these texts convey.
In addition, students are asked to write an essay on a topic different from that of their oral presentation in class. This guarantees that students receive sufficient training in oral and written expression, and become familiar with the class material in its entirety.
At the end of the course there is a final examination about the literature.
|