RLA69 Typology and Taxonomy in the Study of Religions

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2014
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 5 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. David Václavík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. David Václavík, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Šárka Londa Vondráčková
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 10:50–12:25 VP
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields 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
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Main objectives can be summarized as follows: to analyze the main methodological approaches in typological systems using in academic study of religion, to delineate the major differences between these approaches, to understand and analyze their ideological background.
At the end of the course students should be able to:
define main problems of formation of classification systems in academic study of religions
translate main approaches in the process of formation of classification systems in academic study of religions
identify main insufficiencies of concrete systems of classifications
analyze ideological background of chosen systems of classifications
judge efficiency of concrete systems of classifications for the study of concrete religious traditions and phenomena
asses propriety of use systems of classifications
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to the main aims of course
  • 2. Typology and taxonomy in the context of human cognition
  • 3. Basic principles of creating of typological systems
  • 4. The term "religion" as a example of selective classification
  • 5. Evolutionist typology of religion
  • 6. Sociological typology of religion I - sociological delimitation of religion
  • 7. Sociological typology of religion II - religious groups
  • 8. Phenomenological typology of religion
  • 9. Genealogical typologies of religion
  • 10. Monothetical versus polytetical classifications
  • 11. Ideology and typology of religion
  • 12. Classification and ethnocentrism
  • 13. Final summary
Literature
    recommended literature
  • VÁCLAVÍK, David. Religionistická typologie a taxonomie (Typology and Taxonomy in Academic Study of Religion). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2014, 103 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-7099-8. Digitální knihovna FF MU info
    not specified
  • PADEN, William E. Bádání o posvátnu. Náboženství ve spektru interpretací. 1st ed. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2002, 179 pp. ISBN 80-210-2977-3. info
  • Guide to the study of religion. Edited by Willi Braun - Russell T. McCutcheon. London: Cassell, 2000, xii, 560 s. ISBN 0-304-70176-9. info
  • SMITH, Jonathan Z. Drudgery divine : on the comparison of early Christianities and the religions of late antiquity. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1990, xiii, 145. ISBN 0-226-76362-5. info
  • SMITH, Jonathan Z. Imagining religion : from Babylon to Jonestown. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982, xiii, 165. ISBN 0-226-76358-7. info
  • LÉVI-STRAUSS, Claude. Myšlení přírodních národů. Praha: Československý spisovatel, 1971, 399 s. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussions, reading and critical reflections of texts, presentation of short papers
Assessment methods
Requirements for the exam:
Final project and its oral presentation. Oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on completion of the course: Studenti religionistiky povinně ukončují zkouškou.
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku ja podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
Information about innovation of course.
This course has been innovated under the project "Faculty of Arts as Centre of Excellence in Education: Complex Innovation of Study Programmes and Fields at FF MU with Regard to the Requirements of the Knowledge Economy“ – Reg. No. CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0228, which is cofinanced by the European Social Fond and the national budget of the Czech Republic.

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Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2006, Spring 2008, Autumn 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Spring 2019, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2014, recent)
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