FF:RLA69 Typology and Taxonomy - Course Information

RLA69 Typology and Taxonomy in the Study of Religions

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: Lucie Čelková
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts

Timetable

Mon 15:50–17:25 J22

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

• Study of Religions (programme FF, N-HS)
• Study of Religions (programme FF, N-PH) (2)

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

• 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.

Listed among pre-requisites of other courses

• RLMgA002 Typology and Taxonomy in the Study of Religions
  !RLA69  

• Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2013, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2013/RLA69