FF:RLBcB510 Neopaganism - Course Information

RLBcB510 Neopaganism

Extent and Intensity

1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching

Teacher(s)

Mgr. Matouš Vencálek (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

doc. PhDr. David Zbíral, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Kristýna Čižmářová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts

Timetable of Seminar Groups

RLBcB510/Kombi02: Fri 20. 9. 16:00–17:40 B2.21, Fri 18. 10. 16:00–17:40 B2.21, Fri 15. 11. 16:00–17:40 B2.21, M. Vencálek
RLBcB510/Prez01: Mon 14:00–15:40 G24, except Mon 18. 11. to Sun 24. 11., M. Vencálek

Prerequisites

The course is primary intended for BA students of Religious studies, but we welcome also MA students and interested persons from other fields. Due to lack of secondary literature in Czech, the ability to read academic literature in English is also required.

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 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 51/50, only registered: 1/50, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 1/50

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 8 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

This course offers an introduction to the study of Modern Paganism. The aim of the course is to introduce students to the roots, origins and development of Modern Paganism in the world and in the Czech and Slovak Republic, to provide information about the most important Pagan movements and groups, and also about the relationship of Modern Pagans to the ecological, social and feminist movements or to racism and right-wing extremism.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student will:
Have a basic understanding of new religious movements and trends in religion in modern Western society
Be familiar with the roots, development, and typology of Modern Pagan movements
Be familiar with the most significant Modern Pagan movements and groups
Have basic understanding of the relationship between contemporary paganism and modern society

Syllabus

• 1. Introduction, Basic Typology of Modern Pagan Movements, New Religious Movements and Trends in Religiosity in Modern Society
• 2. Roots of Modern Paganism I: Religions of Celts
• 3. Roots of Modern Paganism II: Religions of Germanic and Nordic Nations
• 4. Roots of Modern Paganism III: Religions of Slavs and Balts, religion in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome
• 5. Roots of Modern Paganism V: Romanticism and Nationalism of 19th and 20th Century, Paganism and Nazism, Counter-culture Movement of the 1960's, Evolution of Modern Paganism in the World and in the Czech and Slovak Republic
• 6. Most Significant Pagan Movements I: Norse and Germanic Reconstructionism – Ásatrú, Vanatrú, Rökkatrú, Thursatrú…
• 7. Most Significant Pagan Movements II: Slavic and Baltic Reconstructionism – Native Faith, Romuva, Dievturība…
• 8. Most Significant Pagan Movements III: Wicca, Modern Witchcraft, Goddess Spirituality...
• 9. Most Significant Pagan Movements IV: Druidry, Celtic Reconstructionism
• 10. Most Significant Pagan Movements V: Hellenic Reconstructionism, Kemetism, Neo-Shamanism and Others
• 11. Modern Paganism and Society I: Feminist, Eco-Social and Human Rights Activism
• 12. Modern Paganism and Society II: Pagans and Right-Wing Extremism and Racism, Paganism and the War in Ukraine

Literature

required literature
• Aitamurto, K., & Simpson, S. (Eds.). (2014). Modern Pagan and Native Faith Movements in Central and Eastern Europe. Abingdon: Routledge.
• Strmiska, M. (2005). Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO
• Harvey, G. (2011). Contemporary Paganism: Religions of the Earth from Druids and Witches to Heathens and Ecofeminists. New York: New York University Press.

Teaching methods

Lectures, discussions, essay

Assessment methods

To absolve this course the students are required to:
1) Actively participate in classes
2) Submit an essay on chosen topic related to the course subject. The essay will have 2-3 pages (i.e. 3,600-5,400 characters), will be written in correct English (Czech/Slovak) without typos or grammatical errors. Essays are to be submitted into the appropriate folder in Study materials in the Information system. Submitting the essay is an entry condition for oral colloqium
3) Oral colloqium over the submitted essay

Language of instruction

Czech

Further Comments

Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.

• Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2024/RLBcB510