- Course code: SAM5010
- Credits: 10
- Semester: Autumn
- Language: English
Study program affiliation:
Theoretical Perspectives: Religion in Contemporary Society SAM5010
SAM5010 Theoretical Perspectives: Religion in Contemporary Society aims to provide an introduction to theoretical perspectives, themes and debates in the interdisciplinary academic study of religion. Pursuing a selection of seminal theory formations and debates, the course will enable an enhanced understanding of academic research on religion.
SAM5010 Theoretical Perspectives: Religion in Contemporary Society consists of two parts.
Part A (5 ECTS), “Approaching Religion”, addresses perspectives and debates of importance for all academic study of religion, whether historical or in contemporary society. Part A is designed to be a shared component with HIS5010 Theoretical Perspectives: Religion in History.
The areas explored are:
- theories and definitions of religion: major turns
- key concepts in the study of religion
- categorizations and religion: gendering, racializing, othering
- present usages of the past
Part B (5 ECTS), “Researching Contemporary Religion,” is a specialized component where the focus will be on perspectives and debates of particular importance for the study of religion in contemporary society.
The areas explored are:
- secularization and secularities
- global and post-colonial outlooks
- cognition, emotions and practice
SAM5010 Theoretical Perspectives: Religion in Contemporary Society is an obligatory course in the Master’s program Religion in Contemporary Society.
Study requirements
In order to receive a final assessment, the student must:
- take active part in a minimum of 75% of the formal teaching activities
- pass a written assessment task (800-1000 words)
- participate in the in-depth evaluation of the course if such an 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 November).
Final assessment/Exam
The final grade will be based on a three day home exam (2500-3500 words). The course is assessed with grades A-F.
To gain credits for the course the student must fulfill the course requirements.
Learning outcome
KNOWLEDGE
The student has:
- thorough knowledge of key theories and definitions of religion
- thorough knowledge of how religion may interact with other categorizations, including gender and ideas about race and ethnicity
- thorough knowledge of theories of secularization beyond the west
- thorough knowledge of theories of everyday religion
- good knowledge the use of religion in present usages of the past
- good knowledge and critical awareness of the ways in which conceptions, theories and debates shape academic knowledge about religion
- good knowledge of debates about media and religion
SKILLS
The student can:
- participate in discussions and other classroom activities, displaying awareness of her/his positionality within the larger guild of academic studies of religion
- apply academic concepts and theories to analyze, interpret and discuss religion
Overlapping courses
SAM5010 Theoretical Perspectives: Religion in Contemporary Society overlaps partly with HIS5010 Theoretical perspectives: The historical study of religion:
- Students who have already completed HIS5010 will receive 5 credit points (ECTS) for SAM5010 on their transcript of records or diploma.
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.