KSCB035 Religion in Modern Chinese Culture

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2013
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Shih Fang-Long, Ph.D. (lecturer), Mgr. et Mgr. Dušan Vávra, Ph.D. (deputy)
Cheng Liu, M.A. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Luboš Bělka, CSc.
Center for Chinese Studies – Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Táňa Dluhošová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Center for Chinese Studies – Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Tue 29. 10. 10:50–12:25 M24, 14:10–15:45 M24, Wed 30. 10. 12:30–14:05 J22, Thu 31. 10. 10:50–12:25 M24, Fri 1. 11. 10:50–12:25 N51, Mon 4. 11. 12:30–14:05 M24, Tue 5. 11. 10:50–12:25 M24, 14:10–15:45 M24, Wed 6. 11. 12:30–14:05 J22, Thu 7. 11. 10:50–12:25 M24, Fri 8. 11. 10:50–12:25 N51
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: 0/50, only registered: 0/50, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives (in Czech)
This course is an introduction to the study of Chinese religions, and consists of two parts: methods and issues. As regards methods, we will look at three significant approaches: phenomenology of religion; sociology of religion; and anthropology of religion, with each related to the religions of China.. These lectures will be followed by a discussion giving an overview of the problems of writing and re-writing Chinese religions in Taiwan. As regards issues,, we will consider religion as embodied in social, economic, and political processes, and we will connect Chinese religious ideas and practices to issues such as ,,gods, ancestors, and ghosts; ,,women, family, and kinship; ,,death, ritual, and afterlife; ,,religion and modernity; and ,,religion and globalization. By applying a range of theoretical approaches to the various issues, the course will be of potential interest to a wide range of students, and will stimulate new interactions between disciplines. This will help to develop new spaces for dialogue and understanding of Chinese religious ideas and practices.
Syllabus
  • Lecture 1: Phenomenology of Religion
    Lecture 2: Phenomenological Approaches to the Religions of China
    Lecture 3: Sociology of Religion
    Lecture 4: Sociological Approaches to Chinese Religions
    Lecture 5: Anthropology of Religion
    Lecture 6: Anthropological Approaches to Chinese Religions
    Lecture 7: Writing and Re-writing Chinese Religions in Taiwan
    Lecture 8: Gods, Ancestors, and Ghosts in Chinese Religious Culture
    Lecture 9: Women, Family, and Kinship in Chinese Religious Culture
    Lecture 10: Death, Ritual, and the Afterlife in Chinese Religious Culture
    Lecture 11: Religion and Modernity in the Chinese Context
    Lecture 12: Religion and Globalization in the Chinese Context
Literature
  • Sumner B. Twiss, Walter H. Conser. Experience of the Sacred: Readings in the Phenomenology of Religion
  • The anthropology of religion, charisma, and ghostsChinese lessons for adequate theory. Edited by Stephan Feuchtwang. New York: W. de Gruyter, 2010, vii, 213 p. ISBN 9783110223552. info
  • MCGUIRE, Meredith B. Lived religion : faith and practice in everyday life. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008, ix, 290. ISBN 9780195368338. info
  • BRUCE, Steve. God is dead : secularization in the West. 1st pub. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2002, xv, 269. ISBN 0631232745. info
  • Unruly gods : divinity and society in China. Edited by Me'ir Šachar - Robert P. Weller. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i, 1996, vii, 290. ISBN 0824817249. info
  • CHING, Julia. Chinese religions. 1. publ. Houndmills: Macmillan, 1993, xv, 275 s. ISBN 0-333-53173-6. info
  • SMART, Ninian. The religious experience of mankind. 3rd ed. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1984, xxii, 634. ISBN 0684180774. info
Teaching methods
The course has a form of a combination of lectures and seminars, where students will be encouraged to discussed topics as described in the secondary literature.
Assessment methods
Students will be assessed on one written essay of 2000 words. For their essays, students will be asked to analyse an issue discussed in this course from a particular disciplinary perspective. The criteria for the assessment of the essay will include several elements: clarity of key points, referencing of significant literature, accuracy of information, handling of methodology, and insights into the topic. The essay shall be submitted by January 15, 2013.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2010, Autumn 2015.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2013, recent)
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