- Course code: RL5110
- Credits: 10
- Language: English
Study program affiliation:
Current Debates in the Study of Religion RL5110
RL5110 introduces students to current debates and key concepts in the academic study of religion. Exact topics treated may vary depending on the course instructor but will include the history of the concept of religion, issues of definition and classification in the study of religion, problems relating to colonial and postcolonial influences in the formations of religions, and issues of Eurocentricity in the study of religion.
Organization
The course will consist of seminar-style discussions of assigned texts. It is thus absolutely imperative that students read the assigned texts before coming to class.
Study requirements
In order to receive a final assessment, the student must:
- attend 75% of all class meetings
- successfully complete 8 out of 10 reading response assignments before the date on which the readings are to be discussed in class
- pass five short quizzes to be taken online
- participate in the in-depth evaluation of the course if such evaluation is stipulated in the relevant term.
When course requirements are not fulfilled, this will count as one examination attempt, unless the student withdraws before the set deadline (1 May/1 November).
Final assessment/Exam
RL5110 is assessed based on completing the reading respons and the five quizez. The course will be assessed as «passed» / «failed». To gain credits for the course the student must fulfill the course requirements in a single semester.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
The student has
- advanced knowledge of key analytical concepts and categories used in the academic study of religion
- advanced knowledge of the colonial and Eurocentric aspects of the history of the study of religion as an academic discipline
- advanced knowledge of post-colonial and intersectional critique in the recent and contemporary study of religion
- good knowledge of which scholar developed which position in which debate and the context in which each debate took place
- good knowledge of the current academic debates about the concept or definition of religion presented in the course
- good knowledge of original texts by each scholar presented in the course
Skills:
The student can:
- write concise and informative responses to assigned texts to a proper academic standard showing a capacity for analytical thinking about the course texts
- offer examples, illustrations or applications for the concepts learned
- identify and use reference sources beyond the assigned texts to support their learning
- compare and contrast different approaches to the study of religion and identify conceptual or contextual connections between them
- articulate shifts and changes in approaches to the study of religion over time
- apply key analytical concepts and categories accurately
- analyze and critique the methods with which specific debates in the study of religion have been critiqued
Overlapping courses
RL5110: Current Debates in the Study of Religion overlaps partially with SAM5010 Theoretical Perspectives: Religion in Contemporary Society.
- Students who have already completed SAM5010 will receive 5 credit points (ECTS) for RL5110 on their transcript of records or diploma.
MF advised against combining these two courses.
Reading list
Here you can find the reading list for this course.
Part of the literature will be available digitally, while other parts might only be available in paper format. Some of the literature will be available as compendiums, which you can find via the course room in Canvas.
You will automatically get access to literature that is available digitally when you are sitting at MF, otherwise you can get access by using Oria or by using "External access" in the library's list of databases.
Note that it will take some time before link to the reading list is updated. Please make sure that you are looking at the correct semester's reading list.
Course responsible
