RLB390 Theory of Sacrifice

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2015
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Dr. Hans Gerald Hödl (lecturer), Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D. (deputy)
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
Tue 7. 4. to Mon 13. 4. Mon 15:50–19:05 G25, Tue 12:30–15:45 U13, Wed 15:50–19:05 U24, Thu 15:50–19:05 G22, Fri 10:50–14:05 U27
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
We find offerings in their various forms (including the destruction of the object offered in sacrifice, simple oblations and purely symbolic acts) in various fields of religious practice. In the course an overview of these practices will be given, taking into account various religious and cultural contexts with the aim of developing a typology and giving a structural analysis of the phenomena covered (Ritual Practice). In a further step, the main interpretations of this widespread human action pattern will be presented and their explanatory value will be discussed (Ritual Theory).
Learning outcomes of the course unit: The student will attain knowledge of the main theories of sacrifice as developed in religious and cultural studies and will be able to discuss in–depth theories of ritual.
Syllabus
  • (1) Sacrifice and Offerings: A first look at terminology and categories (2) Sacrifice in Connection with Hunting? The Ainu Bear-Ritual as interpreted by Jonathan Z. Smith. Critique of Smith's interpretation as brought forth by Takeshi Kimura and Benjamin C. Ray (3) Offerings and Sacrifice in Ancient Greek Religion. Description and discussing the Interpretations of Meuli, Burkert and Vernant (& disciples) (4) Offerings and Sacrifice in West Africa. Discussing Human Sacrifice in Pre-Colonial West Africa. Articles by Robin Law, Olatunji Ojo and Edna Bay (and some books by Law and Bay) (5) Offerings and Sacrifice in Aztec Religion. Human Sacrifice and Ritual Cannibalism in the context of the Flowery War: Interpretations by Harner/Harris, Hicks, Price, Winkelmann, Graulich and Carrasco (6) The "Binding of Isaak": Substituting Human Sacrifice? Intepretations of Gen. 22, 1-19 in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Articles by Reuven Firestone and Yvonne Sherwood (7) Sacrifice in Judaism and Christianity. Temple Sacrifice and the Eucharist (Interpretations by Bernhard Lang and Gerhard Baudy) (8) Sacrifice and Offerings in East Indian Religions. Overview. (9) Theories of Offerings and Sacrifice: W. Burnett Tylor, Wilhelm Schmidt, W. Robertson Smith, E. Durkheim, Marcel Mauss/Henri Hubert, Adolf. E. Jensen, A. Vorbichler, René Girard, Walter Burkert, Davíd Carrasco
Literature
    recommended literature
  • STEWART, Pamela J. - STRATHERN, Andrew . Ritual: Key Concepts in Religion. London - New York: Bloomsbury, 2014. ix, 171 s. ISBN 9781441137296.
  • BELL, Catherine M. Ritual : perspectives and dimensions. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997, xv, 351. ISBN 0195110528. info
Teaching methods
Lectures and discussions. Course-materials will be provided (powerpoint-presentations, texts).
Assessment methods
Written test with short questions (50%) and questions to be answered extensively (50%). Short questions aim at testing factual knowledge, extensive questions at testing understanding of wider theoretical contexts.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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