SOC422 Modernization, secularization, and social integration

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Roman Vido, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Ing. Radim Marada, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Timetable
Mon 12:00–13:30 U34
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 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The main objective of the course is detailed analysis of the position of religion in modern societies, especially with respect to social integration, for the purpose of improving our understanding of contemporary problems associated with religious issues. Key concepts discussed in this context are modernization and secularization. In the course students will be confronted with prominent figures of sociology of religion who dealt extensively with these topics. The existence of secularization paradigm and its adequacy for analysis and interpretation of contemporary religious trends in European societies will be debated. A portion of time will be spent on critique of some elements of secularization theories as well as the concept of secularization itself. Methodological issues concerned with operationalization of the concept in empirical research will be also discussed. Special attention will be given to the context of post-Communist countries. After successful graduation of the course students will be able to understand the place of religion in modern societies, to reflect upon the complexity of the problem of secularization (levels of secularization, pro- and anti-secularization factors etc.), to evaluate critically the concept of secularization itself and to become familiar with methodological questions associated with the use of the concept of secularization in empirical study.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Development of secularization narrative
  • 3. Secularization as a historical phenomenon
  • 4. Classical secularization theories: P. L. Berger
  • 5. Classical secularization theories: B. R. Wilson
  • 6. Secularization and civil religion: R. N. Bellah
  • 7. Historicization of the secularization debate: D. Martin
  • 8. Secularization in (post)Communist societies
  • 9. Secularization in comparative empirical studies
  • 10. Religious America, secular Europe?
  • 11. Secularization and Czech society
  • 12. Secularism and multiculturalism
Literature
  • The sacred canopy : elements of a sociological theory of religion. New York: Anchor books, 1990, vii, 229. ISBN 0385073054. info
  • BRUCE, Steve. Religion in the modern world : from cathedrals to cults. Oxford, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, 1996, vi, 256. ISBN 0198781512. info
  • DOBBELAERE, Karel. Secularization : an analysis at three levels. Brussels: P.I.E.-Peter Lang, 2002, 214 s. ISBN 9052019851. info
  • MARTIN, David M. A general theory of secularization. 1st pub. Aldershot: Gregg Revivals, 1978, ix, 353. ISBN 0751201944. info
  • RÉMOND, René. Náboženství a společnost v Evropě. Translated by Anna Hánová. Praha: Lidové noviny, 2003, 273 s. ISBN 80-7106-496-3. info
  • Religion in sociological perspective. Edited by Bryan R. Wilson. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982, vii, 187. ISBN 0198266634. info
  • BERGER, Peter L., Grace DAVIE and Effie FOKAS. Religious America, secular Europe? : a theme and variation. Aldershot, England: Ashgate, 2008, 168 s. ISBN 9780754660118. info
  • MCLEOD, Hugh. Náboženství a lidé západní Evropy (1789-1989). Translated by Tomáš Suchomel. 1. vyd. Brno: CDK (Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury), 2007, 215 s. ISBN 9788073251246. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussions, reading of prescribed literature
Assessment methods
Students must submit written position papers from prescribed literature each week. They must also elaborate and present a paper with the use of the PowerPoint programme. Activity at classes is expected. The key output of the course is a written analytical essay and its public defense.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Spring 2011, Autumn 2012.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2009, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2009/SOC422