99017 - Fundamental Theology (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, students are able to research and critically examine specialized bibliography and documentary sources on fundamental theology, in order to conduct autonomous investigations. They are able to communicate in written and oral form the knowledge they have acquired, using communication methods appropriate to the above contexts and taking into account their udience.They are able to give form to the results of their research in fundamental theology, properly documenting the information on which they base their conclusions, while giving an account of the methodologies of investigation used. They know how to apply the tools of communication and digital data in the editorial and publishing field.

Course contents

The seminar is a course in fundamental and contextual theology run in collaboration with various associations and practitioners working in prisons.

The seminar will address – with experts and witnesses invited to participate either in person or online – a number of issues relating to prisons, life in detention, the prevailing model of justice, and alternative models of justice, with a particular focus on restorative justice, understood as a frame of reference and a subject for theological and biblical exploration.

The focus will be on the various aspects of life and the existential and social dimensions of prison, examined in a transdisciplinary manner using the tools of the social sciences and those of the Christian tradition, with insights from the Islamic perspective.

The seminar will be led by various individuals who work – or have worked – in prisons, drawing on phenomenological accounts of prison life – that is, descriptions of lived experiences and contexts – as well as tools for analysis and intervention.

The discussions will then be accompanied by a series of key readings, which will form the basis for collective discussion and exchange.

Through this programme, it will be possible to identify certain human and social issues that challenge the religious sciences – in particular biblical and contextual studies – which, in turn, can contribute insights and alternative perspectives to the interpretation of the many layers of imprisonment in terms of its human and social significance.

The aim is to identify:

a) elements of in-depth understanding of the reality of imprisonment and the issues it raises for civil society and theological reflection;

b) critical and practical reference points for social research and the political management of daily life in prison;

c) essential areas for further exploration by the religious sciences when engaging with a reality as intensely complex and challenging as that of prison;

d) tools for reflection and action to support – both personal and collective – efforts to build a more ‘just’ and more ‘humane’ society.

Lecture topics

Introduction, tools, methods and research issues

Phenomenologies of prison I: Daily life in prison

Phenomenologies of prison II: Prison as a total institution

Phenomenologies of prison III: Religions in prison: Islam

Phenomenologies of prison IV: Mental health in prison

Tools for analysis and intervention I: Teaching in prison

Tools for analysis and intervention II: Theatre in prison

Tools for analysis and intervention III: Restorative justice as an alternative or complementary approach to prison

Tools for analysis and intervention IV: Workshop on restorative justice

Tools for analysis and intervention V: Journalism in prison

Seminar on readings I and II

Final seminar I and II

The order of some topics may change depending on the availability of the invited guests.

Readings/Bibliography

The texts listed here are those from which we will read selected sections during the seminar. 

The material will be available on the course’s online platform.

I. Goffman, Asylum. Le istituzioni totali, Torino 2010

D. Garland, The Culture of Control, Oxford 2002

L. Wacquant, Punire i poveri, Bologna 2006

F. Pomes, Cercate ogni speranza o voi che entrate, Bologna 2025

E. Fassone, Fine pena ora, Palermo 2015

A. Faraj, Perché ero un ragazzo, Palermo 2025

J. Said, Vie islamiche alla nonviolenza, Bologna 2026

Pax Christi International, La nonviolenza di Gesù. Operare la pace secondo i Vangeli, Bologna 2024

S. Vinci, La prima verità, Torino 2016.

I. Lizzola – M. Inglese, Punire o riparare?, Roma 2026

I. Lizzola, La scuola prigioniera, Milano 2017

L. Decembrotto, Educare in carcere, Trento 2025

G. Bertagna – A. Ceretti – C. Mazzuccato Il libro dell’incontro, Milano 2015

P. Bovati, Vie della giustizia secondo la Bibbia, Bologna 2014

Teaching methods

The course will be delivered as follows: lectures, sessions with guest experts on specific topics; the majority of sessions will take the form of seminars.

The seminar-based part of the course will involve group discussion of texts assigned in advance for individual or small-group study.

There will also be several sessions dedicated to the collective analysis of certain key reference texts.

For non-attending students, the reading list and the topic of the paper will be agreed upon.

 

Assessment methods

The assessment involves an evaluation of active participation in seminar sessions and a final oral examination, including the writing of a short paper.

The aim is to ascertain whether the student has grasped the content of the texts and whether they have gained a comprehensive and coherent understanding of the topics covered.

Students are encouraged to adopt a personal style through which they can demonstrate that they have engaged with the subject matter on their own terms. They are also encouraged to demonstrate a degree of expressive mastery and the use of specialist language and correct terminology.

For non-attending students, the reading list and the topic of the paper will be agreed with the lecturer.

There will be three examination sessions: in December, February and June. In exceptional circumstances, an additional session may be added.

Teaching tools

Further material will be made available on the teacher's website during the course.

Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students.

Links to further information

https://fter.academia.edu/FabrizioMandreoli

Office hours

See the website of Fabrizio Mandreoli