POL291 Christianity and Politics

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2017
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Jiří Baroš, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. David Macek (lecturer)
Mgr. Miroslav Návrat (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Stanislav Balík, Ph.D.
Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 18:45–20:15 U41
Prerequisites
Ability to read scholarly text in English; willingness to participate in in-class discussions.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 29 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The students understand the basic aspects of the relationship between Christianity and politics. They can describe the position od christian democrats parties in contemporary european party politics. The students are able to discuss some actual practical questions about the relation of the state and the churches.
Learning outcomes
Upon completing the course, students will:
- understand the fundamental categories of Christianity and Christian Political Thought;
- interpret the relationship between Christianity and political modernity;
- have a good grasp of current quarrelsome issues between Christianity and contemporary political orders and be able to critically discuss them;
Syllabus
  • 1. Christianity and Politics
  • A. Theoretical Part
  • 2. Bible a Politics
  • 3. What is Christianity? Christianity in the First Centuries
  • 4. Great Thinkers during the Middles Ages
  • 5. Spiritual and Temporal Power: the Outline of Theological-political Problem
  • 6. Church, Modernity, and Nation State
  • 7. Secularization and its ChallengesSekularizační
  • B. Contemporary Issues
  • 8. Church and State
  • 9. Christian Democracy
  • 10. Religion in European Politics
  • 11. The Challenges of Chrisian Political Thought
  • 12. The Social Doctrine of Catholic Church
Literature
    required literature
  • Berg, Thomas C. 2004. The State and Religion in a Nutshell. St. Paul: West, 1-36
  • O´Donovan, Oliver 2002. Common Objects of Love. Moral Reflection and the Shaping of Community. Grand Rapis: Eerdmans, 1-72.
  • BAROŠ, Jiří. Subsidiarita : od teoretického konceptu k praktické zkušenosti (Subsidiarity : From Theoretical Concept to Practical Experience). Studia theologica. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, 2017, vol. 19, No 2, p. 1-22. ISSN 1212-8570. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.5507/sth.2017.017. URL info
  • TRETERA, Rajmund Jiří and Záboj HORÁK. Konfesní právo. Vydání první. Praha: Leges, 2015, 414 stran. ISBN 9788075021182. info
  • MALÝ, Vojtěch and Pavel DUFEK. Náboženské racionale v liberální demokracii: Vyloučení, zahrnutí a hledání třetích cest (The Religious Rationale in Liberal Democracy: Exclusion, Inclusion and the Search for Third Ways). Sociální studia. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2013, vol. 10, No 3, p. 61-83. ISSN 1214-813X. URL info
  • BEINERT, Wolfgang. Malé dějiny křesťanského myšlení. Translated by Tomáš Jajtner - Ambrož Petr Šámal. 1. české vyd. Kostelní Vydří: Karmelitánské nakladatelství, 2012, 346 s. ISBN 9788071955412. info
  • SMITH, Steven B. Political philosophy. London: Yale University Press, 2012, xi, 282. ISBN 9780300181807. info
  • PHILLIPS, Elizabeth. Political theology : a guide for the perplexed. New York: T&T Clark, 2012, [vi], 201. ISBN 9780567263544. info
  • JÄGER, Petr. Právo svobodně projevovat své náboženství a autonomie církví (Freedom to manifest one's religion and church autonomy). In WAGNEROVÁ, Eliška a Vojtěch ŠIMÍČEK a Tomáš LANGÁŠEK a Ivo POSPÍŠIL. Listina základních práv a svobod. Komentář. 1. vyd. Praha: Wolters Kluwer ČR, a. s., 2012, p. 394-421. Kodex. ISBN 978-80-7357-750-6. info
  • JÄGER, Petr. Svoboda myšlení, svědomí a náboženského vyznání (Freedom of thought, conscience and religion). In WAGNEROVÁ, Eliška a Vojtěch ŠIMÍČEK a Tomáš LANGÁŠEK a Ivo POSPÍŠIL. Listina základních práv a svobod. Komentář. 1. vyd. Praha: Wolters Kluwer ČR, a. s., 2012, p. 370-393. Kodex. ISBN 978-80-7357-750-6. info
  • PECKNOLD, C. C. Christianity and politics : a brief guide to the history. Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books, 2010, xxii, 174. ISBN 9781556352423. info
  • HLOUŠEK, Vít and Lubomír KOPEČEK. Politické strany. Původ, ideologie a transformace politických stran v západní a střední Evropě (Political Parties. Origin, Ideology and Transformation of Political Parties in Western and Central Europe). Praha: Grada, 2010, 320 pp. edice Politologie. ISBN 978-80-247-3192-6. URL info
  • BAROŠ, Jiří. Křesťanská modernita? Kontexty. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2009, vol. I, no. 3, p. 62-68. ISSN 1803-6988. URL info
  • SLÁDEK, Karel. Monoteistická náboženství a stát. Červený Kostelec: Pavel Mervart, 2009, 344 s. ISBN 9788087378199. info
  • FIALA, Petr. Laboratoř sekularizace. Náboženství a politika v ne-náboženské společnosti: český případ. (The Laboratory of Secularization. Religion and policy in the non-religious society: the Czech case.). Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2007, 183 pp. Politika a náboženství. ISBN 978-80-7325-141-3. info
  • NEŠPOR, Zdeněk and Dušan LUŽNÝ. Sociologie náboženství (Sociology of Religions). 1st ed. Praha: Portál, 2007, 236 pp. 1;. ISBN 978-80-7367-251-5. info
  • JÄGER, Petr. Církve a náboženské společnosti v České republice a jejich právní postavení : příručka pro veřejnou správu. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury (CDK), 2006, 239 s. ISBN 8073250926. info
  • Globalizace. Edited by Václav Mezřický. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2003, 147 s. ISBN 8071787485. URL info
  • RÉMOND, René. Náboženství a společnost v Evropě. Translated by Anna Hánová. Praha: Lidové noviny, 2003, 273 s. ISBN 80-7106-496-3. info
  • From Irenaeus to Grotius : a sourcebook in Christian political thought, 100-1625. Edited by Oliver O'Donovan - Joan Lockwood O'Donovan. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1999, xx, 838. ISBN 9780802842091. info
  • FIALA, Petr. Křesťanské alternativy v politice (Christian alternatives in politics). Brno: CDK, 1997, 200 pp. Svazek 1. ISBN 80-85959-20-8. info
  • Sociální encykliky : 1891-1991. Edited by Ludmila Martinková. 1. vyd. Praha: Zvon, české katolické nakladatelství, 1996, 505 s. ISBN 8071131547. info
    recommended literature
  • Vácha, Marek 2014. Věda, víra, Darwinova teorie a stvoření podle knihy Genesis. Brno: Cesta, 163-192.
  • TAYLOR, Charles. Sekulární věk : dilemata moderní společnosti : vybrané kapitoly. Translated by Tomáš Chudý - Ondřej Štěch. Vyd. 1. Praha: Filosofia, 2013, 560 s. ISBN 9788070073933. info
  • OSOLSOBĚ, Petr. Umění a ctnost (Art and Virtue). Brno: Barrister & Principal, o.s., 2013, 300 pp. Dějiny a teorie umění. ISBN 978-80-7485-015-8. info
Teaching methods
The teaching method will be short lectures followed by seminar discussions (the two parts will not be always strictly separated). Students are encouraged to actively participate by posing questions of clarification and bringing up topics for discussion. They are expected to read the assigned reading(s) for each seminar carefully and prepare their own comments and questions, even if they do not submit a position paper for a given topic.

Sumary: lectures
in-class discussions
debate contests
reading and analysis of texts (position papers, final paper)
Assessment methods
(1) Position papers (0–1 points each, i.e. up to 3 points). Based on the readings, students are required to write at least three short position papers (ca. 250–500 words, i.e. 1–2 standard pages, each). If there are two or more required readings, students should briefly summarise all of them and then proceed to discuss, criticize etc. selected issue(s) (depending on one’s preferences). Based on their papers, students are thus encouraged to actively participate in the seminars.

(2) Final paper (0–6 points; approximately 10 standard pages) which should deal with a topic relevant to the course. (3) Participation in one debate session. For a discussion session three groups will be created: the first one will answer the question positively and defend the corresponding position, the second one will take the opposite stance The third group will act as referees. Students will create groups during the third week at the latest.
The winning party will receive two points, the points received by losing party and referees will depend on the quality of their argumentation.
For further information please consult the course syllabus in the Study materials

Grade scale: A 10–9,5p; B 9-8,5p; C 8–7,5p; D 7–6,5p; E 6–5,5p; F 5 and less.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2009, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2017, recent)
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