OVp028 Introduction to Religious Studies

Faculty of Education
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Slavomír Lesňák, PhD. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Slavomír Lesňák, PhD.
Department of Civics – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jitka Autratová
Supplier department: Department of Civics – Faculty of Education
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At the end of the course students should be able to understand of the Religious studies. This subject intends to deal with not only contemporary essential world religions, but also all fideistic lines of human thought that are religious in principle, even though they are usually not seen as such.
Learning outcomes
The students:
- will get an orientation of the world religions
- will be able to understand of the methods of research in Religious studies
- will be able to define the common foundations of world religions
- will be recognize the other religious ways of thinking
Syllabus
  • 1. Three function of religious ideas, contemporary status and character of religion - invation to the search for the roots 2. Religion in prehistory 3. Ancient religion in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India 4. Judaism 5-6. Christianity 7. Islam 8-9. Hinduism, Buddhism, Yoga 10. Religion in China 11. New religions and sects in the Czech Republic and in the world 12. Violence, women and religion 13. New challenges of religion studies
Literature
    required literature
  • DEMJANČUKOVÁ, Dagmar. Teorie a dějiny náboženství. 1. vydání. Dobrá Voda: Aleš Čeněk, 2003, 172 stran. ISBN 8086473430. info
    recommended literature
  • DE BOTTON, Alain. Religion for atheists : a non-believer's guide to the uses of religion. 1st United States ed. New York: Pantheon Books, 2012, 320 s. ISBN 9780307379108. info
  • DE BOTTON, Alain. Náboženství pro ateisty : bezvěrcův průvodce po užitečných stránkách náboženství. Translated by Pavel Bakič. Vyd. 1. Zlín: Kniha Zlín, 2011, 269 s. ISBN 9788087497487. info
  • HORYNA, Břetislav. Úvod do religionistiky. 1. vyd. Praha: Oikoymenh, 1994, 131 s. ISBN 80-85241-64-1. info
Teaching methods
Lecture, discussion
Assessment methods
Quiz (min 60%)
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/spring2025/OVp028