RLBcKA001 Introduction to the Study of Religions

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2020
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 4 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Aleš Chalupa, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
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
Fri 16. 10. 8:00–11:40 J22, Fri 13. 11. 8:00–11:40 J22, Fri 11. 12. 8:00–11:40 J22
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 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
The course is taught annually.
General note: Posluchači religionistiky povinně zapisují v 1. semestru studia.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 12 hod./sem. + tutorial 14 hod.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2020, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2020/RLBcKA001