RLBcB301 Proseminar for the Introduction to the Study of Religions

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Aleš Chalupa, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Aleš Chalupa, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Kristýna Čižmářová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites (in Czech)
NOW( RLBcA001 Introduction to Religion )
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 course expands the subject matter of the course Introduction to the Study of Religions. The seminars concentrate on key problems of the academic study of Religions that are mentioned in the Introduction, but cannot be (due to the limited time) exhaustively discussed. Seminars concern both practical problems of scientific work (citation systems, bibliographies, instruction about libraries, scientific journals, electronic resources etc.) and actual questions of theory, methodology and terminology of the Study of Religion.
Learning outcomes
After a successful completion of the course students will be able to:
- name fundamental approaches ino the study of religions and their main representatives
- explain the difference between the academic study of religions and theology
- discuss fundamental problems in the academic study of religions
- 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
  • 1) Introductory information meeting and detailed presentation of the individual assignment; 2) non and possibilities of religious studies of religion; 3) special excursion - visit to a religiously significant place; 4) presentation of the topics of individual assignments; 5) academic study of religion and practical problems of academic work; bibliographic research; 6) detailed presentation of the proposal for the individual assignment; 7) exercise in (not only) religious argumentation
Literature
    required literature
  • HORYNA, Břetislav. Úvod do religionistiky. 1. vyd. Praha: Oikoymenh, 1994, 131 s. ISBN 80-85241-64-1. info
  • PADEN, William E. Bádání o posvátnu. Náboženství ve spektru interpretací. 1st ed. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2002, 179 pp. ISBN 80-210-2977-3. info
  • ŠANDEROVÁ, Jadwiga and Alena MILTOVÁ. Jak číst a psát odborný text ve společenských vědách :několik zásad pro začátečníky. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2005, 209 s. ISBN 8086429407. info
    recommended literature
  • WAARDENBURG, Jacques, Břetislav HORYNA and Dalibor ANTALÍK. Jacques Waardenburg, Bohové zblízka. Systematický úvod do religionistiky. Překlad Břetislav Horyna a Dalibor Antalík. Brno: Masarykova univerzita Brno, 1996, 154 pp. ISBN 80-210-1445-8. info
  • MCCUTCHEON, Russell T. Studying religion : an introduction. First published. London: Equinox, 2007, xiv, 206. ISBN 9781845530129. info
Teaching methods
The course consists of seminars and seminar discussions and a religious studies field trip (a visit to a religiously significant site). Home preparation is required. The course is taught in two seminar groups (alternating even and odd weeks), and the student is required to enroll in one of the seminar groups.
Assessment methods
Conditions for the successful completion of the course:
1) sufficient attendance at seminars (5 from 6); 2) in time submission of the individual assignments and its acceptance by the teacher; 3) participation in a religious excursion;4) preparation and timely submission of the bibliographic research.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2025/RLBcB301