RLA01 Introduction to the Study of Religions

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2009
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Aleš Chalupa, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Radek Kundt, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Mgr. Kryštof Trávníček (alternate examiner)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Dušan Lužný, Dr.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Lucie Čelková
Timetable
Mon 10:00–11:35 N21
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 main objective of the course is to inform students about elemental problems, terminology, subjects and methods of the scientific Study of Religions. The course also discusses the position of the Study of Religions in the context of other related scientific subject fields, especially philosophy and theology. Special attention is paid to the inner systematization of the Study of Religions as seeing from the historical as well as modern perspective. The course will provide a basic introduction into history of Religions, Comparative Religions, Phenomenology of Religion, Hermeneutics of Religion, Sociology of Religion, Anthropology of Religion, Psychology of Religion, Geography of Religion and also into new naturalistic approaches as Sociobiology or Cognitive Study of Religion.
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:
- name fundamental approaches in the study of religions and their main representatives
- explain the difference between the academic study of religions and theology
- 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
  • 0. Introduction to the course; 1. Formal Requirements of Academic Writing and Ethics of Scientific Work; 2. Study of Religion as a Science; 3. Religion: A Scientific Category; 4. Construction of the Meaning and the Interpretation of the World; 5. Typology of Religions; 6. Terminology of the Study of Religions 7. Myth and Ritual; 8. History of Religions and Comparative Religions; 9. Phenomenology and Hermeneutics of Religion ; 10. Sociology and Psychology of Religion; 11. Anthropology of Religion, Sociobiology and Cognitive Study of Religion; 12. End-of-term Test.
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
  • HORYNA, Břetislav. Úvod do religionistiky. 1. vyd. Praha: Oikoymenh, 1994, 131 s. ISBN 80-85241-64-1. info
  • WAARDENBURG, Jacques. Bohové zblízka : systematický úvod do religionistiky : Des dieus qui se rapprochent : introduction systématique a la science des religions (Orig.) : Religionen und Religion : systematische Einführung in die Religionswissenschaft (Orig.). Translated by Břetislav Horyna - Dalibor Antalík. Vyd. 1. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 1997, 163 s. ISBN 80-210-1445-8. info
  • MCCUTCHEON, Russell T. Studying religion : an introduction. First published. London: Equinox, 2007, xiv, 206. ISBN 9781845530129. 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
Teaching methods
Lectures (2 teaching hours per week) and home reading of thematically related texts.
Assessment methods
The course is completed with an examination. The entry condition of the examination is in time submission of a semestral paper and its acceptance by the teacher (at least 60 points from 100 possible).
The examination consists of a written end-of-term test (at least 60 points from 100 possible) and an oral examination (defense of the semestral paper; examination of the subject matter of the course; at least 120 points from 200 possible).
The final grade is assessed: 25% end-of-term test; 25% semestral paper; 50% oral examination.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on completion of the course: Posluchači religionistiky povinně ukončují zkouškou.
The course is taught annually.
General note: Posluchači religionistiky povinně zapisují v 1. semestru studia.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2001, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2009, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2009/RLA01