RLA01 Introduction to the Study of Religions

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2017
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Aleš Chalupa, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. Andrea Beláňová, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Mgr. Jakub Cigán, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Mgr. Lucie Čechovská (alternate examiner)
Mgr. Tomáš Hampejs, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Mgr. Vojtěch Kaše, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Mgr. Silvie Kotherová, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Mgr. Lujza Kotryová (alternate examiner)
Mgr. et Mgr. Jan Krátký, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Mgr. et Mgr. Radek Kundt, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Mgr. et Mgr. Eva Kundtová Klocová, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Mgr. Martin Lang, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
PhDr. Mgr. Eva Lukášová, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Mgr. Šárka Londa Vondráčková (alternate examiner)
Ing. Mgr. et Mgr. Miroslav Vrzal, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. David Zbíral, 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 12:30–14:05 J31
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 100 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/100, only registered: 0/100, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/100
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The main objective of the course is to inform students about elemental problems, terminology, subjects and methods of the scientific Study of Religions. The course also discusses the position of the Study of Religions in the context of other related scientific subject fields, especially philosophy and theology. Special attention is paid to the inner systematization of the Study of Religions as seeing from the historical as well as modern perspective. The course will provide a basic introduction into history of Religions, Comparative Religions, Phenomenology of Religion, Hermeneutics of Religion, Sociology of Religion, Anthropology of Religion, Psychology of Religion, Geography of Religion and also into new naturalistic approaches as Sociobiology or Cognitive Study of Religion.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:
- name fundamental approaches in the study of religions and their main representatives
- explain the difference between the academic study of religions and theology
- define the position of the academic study of religions among related scientific disciplines
- interpret scientific texts
- apply correctly the terminology used in the academic study of religion
- employ fundamental rules of academic writing
Syllabus
  • 0. Introductory Class; 1. 1. Formal requirements of academic writing and ethics of academic Work; Information in Science; 2. Study of religion as an academic discipline I; 3. Study of religion as an academic discipline II; 4. Concept of religion; 5. Reading week; 6. Myth and ritual; 7. Historically oriented approaches to the study of religion; 8. Reading week; 9. Anthropologically and sociologically oriented approaches to the study of religion; 10. Psychologically oriented approaches to the study of religion; 11. Behavioral and evolutionary approaches to the study of religion; 12. Test.
Literature
    required literature
  • PADEN, William E. Bádání o posvátnu. Náboženství ve spektru interpretací. 1st ed. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2002, 179 pp. ISBN 80-210-2977-3. info
  • HORYNA, Břetislav. Úvod do religionistiky. 1. vyd. Praha: Oikoymenh, 1994, 131 s. ISBN 80-85241-64-1. info
    recommended literature
  • WAARDENBURG, Jacques. Bohové zblízka : systematický úvod do religionistiky : Des dieus qui se rapprochent : introduction systématique a la science des religions (Orig.) : Religionen und Religion : systematische Einführung in die Religionswissenschaft (Orig.). Translated by Břetislav Horyna - Dalibor Antalík. Vyd. 1. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 1997, 163 s. ISBN 80-210-1445-8. info
  • MCCUTCHEON, Russell T. Studying religion : an introduction. First published. London: Equinox, 2007, xiv, 206. ISBN 9781845530129. 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
Teaching methods
Lectures; home reading of seminar text and submission of two position papers; writing of a semestral paper.
Assessment methods
The course is completed either with an examination or, alternatively, with a colloquium (intended exclusively for students not enrolled into Study of Religions).
Completion with an examination:
- In time submission of two continuous position papers and their acceptance by the teacher (admission condition of examination);
- In time submission of the final semestral paper and its acceptance by the teacher (admission condition of examination) (25%);
- Successful completion of a written test (student must get at least 60 points out of 100) (25%);
-Successful completion of oral examination (50%)
Completion with a colloquium:
- Successful completion of a written test (student must get at least 60 points out of 100) (50%);
- Successful oral colloquium (50%).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on completion of the course: Posluchači religionistiky povinně ukončují zkouškou.
The course is taught annually.
General note: Posluchači religionistiky povinně zapisují v 1. semestru studia.
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 2001, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2017, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2017/RLA01