RLB301 Proseminar for the Introduction to the Study of Religions

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2020
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Aleš Chalupa, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Ivona Vrzalová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable of Seminar Groups
RLB301/01: each odd Tuesday 8:00–9:40 J22, A. Chalupa
RLB301/02: each even Tuesday 8:00–9:40 J22, A. Chalupa
Prerequisites (in Czech)
NOW( RLA01 Introduction to Religion )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course expands the subject matter of the course Introduction to the Study of Religions. The seminars concentrate on key problems of the academic study of Religions that are mentioned in the Introduction, but cannot be (due to the limited time) exhaustively discussed. Seminars concern both practical problems of scientific work (citation systems, bibliographies, instruction about libraries, scientific journals, electronic resources etc.) and actual questions of theory, methodology and terminology of the Study of Religion.
Learning outcomes
After a successful completion of the course students will be able to:
- name fundamental approaches ino the study of religions and their main representatives
- explain the difference between the academic study of religions and theology
- discuss fundamental problems in the academic study of religions
- 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
  • Study of religions and practical problems of academic work I-II; Study of religions and academic objectivity and neutrality; conceptual apparatus of religious studies: an example of the category of „sacred“; religion as a scientific concept; formal requirements of academic texts (feedback to preliminary versions of semestral papers)
Literature
    required literature
  • HORYNA, Břetislav. Úvod do religionistiky. 1. vyd. Praha: Oikoymenh, 1994, 131 s. ISBN 80-85241-64-1. info
  • PADEN, William E. Bádání o posvátnu. Náboženství ve spektru interpretací. 1st ed. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2002, 179 pp. ISBN 80-210-2977-3. info
  • ŠANDEROVÁ, Jadwiga and Alena MILTOVÁ. Jak číst a psát odborný text ve společenských vědách :několik zásad pro začátečníky. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2005, 209 s. ISBN 8086429407. info
    recommended literature
  • WAARDENBURG, Jacques, Břetislav HORYNA and Dalibor ANTALÍK. Jacques Waardenburg, Bohové zblízka. Systematický úvod do religionistiky. Překlad Břetislav Horyna a Dalibor Antalík. Brno: Masarykova univerzita Brno, 1996, 154 pp. ISBN 80-210-1445-8. info
  • MCCUTCHEON, Russell T. Studying religion : an introduction. First published. London: Equinox, 2007, xiv, 206. ISBN 9781845530129. info
Teaching methods
Seminars and class discussions. Reading of texts concerning themes of individual seminars is required as well as in time submission of position papers before each seminar.The course is taught in two seminar groups (alternately in odd and even weeks).
Assessment methods
Conditions for the successful completion of the course:
1) sufficient attendance at seminars (4 from 5); 2) in time submission of position papers and assignments and their acceptance by the teacher; 3) active discussion at seminar classes.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je 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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The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2020, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2020/RLB301