B8004 - History of Religions (M-Z)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students are able to understand, in the light of the comparative method, in a theoretical and historical framework the phenomena widely documented in human history and identified as religious, in order to identify their characterizations and typologies. They have particular knowledge of contexts in which various religions are in relationship with each other, they are able to formulate problems and understand the typology of the main sources and to identify the conceptual categories prevalent in contemporary critical reflection. In oral communication they have good reading skills and critical understanding of the basic bibliography in relation to the topics addressed in the course and can use the technical terminology of the discipline.

Course contents

This course is designed as an introduction to the academic study of religion. It is not intended to produce future specialists, nor necessarily aimed at fostering a primary or predominant intellectual interest in religion itself. Rather, its primary goal is to sharpen the analytical and critical skills of individuals who, regardless of their future roles and functions in society, will inevitably encounter the existence of religious facts and phenomena.

While providing students with essential bibliographical tools and the historiographical coordinates necessary for a long-term understanding of the discipline’s development and its main theoretical and methodological debates, the course prioritizes a problem-based and thematic approach. Its aim is to formulate questions and explore issues such as: What is a religion? How do religions function? What distinguishes the academic study of religion from other disciplines that address religious phenomena? What are the fundamental operations and categories without which the scientific study of religion would not have been (or could not be) conceived? And how do these categories differ from similarly named or synonymous concepts used outside the academic context?

The course thus offers a proposal for both a didactic reorganization and a theoretical-methodological updating of the contents, topics, and problems deemed essential for a first approach to the specialized study of religion. Its ultimate goal is to facilitate the identification and understanding of religious facts and phenomena through the combined study of both the formation processes of this specific disciplinary field and the emergence of a primary categorical canon, to be continuously subjected to critique and revision.

The categories subjected to historical-historiographical analysis and theoretical-methodological critique include: religion – definition – comparison – classification – canon – myth – ritual – (the) sacred – experience – animism – totemism – magic.

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students

1) H. Kippenberg, La scoperta della storia delle religioni. Scienza delle religioni e modernità, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2021 (except chs. 7, 8, 13).

2) J.Z. Smith, Una questione di classe. Saggi di introduzione alla storia delle religioni, a cura di Luigi Walt, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2024 (solo chs. 4, 7, 8, 11, 12; all uploaded to Virtuale)

3) one "classic" text of their choice from among:

W. James, Le varie forme dell'esperienza religiosa, Brescia, Morcelliana, 1998.

E. Durkheim, Le forme elementari della vita religiosa, Mimesis, Milano 2013 (anche edizione più recente).

B. Malinowski, Magia, scienza, religione, Jouvence, Milano, 2020.

or a more contemporary study from among: 

B. Nongbri, Prima della religione. Storia di una categoria moderna, Torino, Claudiana, 2022

D. Xygalatas, Ritual. Storia dell’umanità tra natura e magia, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2023.

R. Dunbar, Come la religione si è evoluta e continua a esistere, Milano, Mimesis, 2024.

4) PowerPoint slides (prepared by the teacher and uploaded to Virtuale)

 

Non-attending students

1) H. Kippenberg, La scoperta della storia delle religioni. Scienza delle religioni e modernità, Morcelliana, Brescia, 2021.

2) one "classic" text of their choice from among:

W. James, Le varie forme dell'esperienza religiosa, Brescia, Morcelliana, 1998.

E. Durkheim, Le forme elementari della vita religiosa, Mimesis, Milano 2013 (anche edizione più recente).

B. Malinowski, Magia, scienza, religione, Jouvence, Milano, 2020.

3) a more contemporary study from among:

B. Nongbri, Prima della religione. Storia di una categoria moderna, Torino, Claudiana, 2022

D. Xygalatas, Ritual. Storia dell’umanità tra natura e magia, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2023.

R. Dunbar, Come la religione si è evoluta e continua a esistere, Milano, Mimesis, 2024.

Teaching methods

Classes are given in form of lectures structured as compact thematic modules that develop a specific historiographical, analytical, and critical pathway through the selection of primary and secondary literature excerpts, organized into teaching handouts. Visual materials are systematically integrated into the presentation. Students are encouraged to participate actively, but are not required to give oral presentations or submit written assignments.

Assessment methods

Attendance. Students are considered attending if they participate in at least 75% of the lectures.

 

Oral Exam. The exam consists of a limited number of questions aimed at assessing the student's knowledge of the topics covered in class (for attending students) and in the required textbooks. Evaluation will consider the overall solidity of preparation, the ability to analyze, synthesize, and argue critically, clarity of presentation, use of appropriate language, and the ability to establish connections between different parts of the course. Students are therefore expected to carefully read the required texts.

• Achieving a comprehensive and synthesized understanding of the topics, combined with critical analysis skills and precise, appropriate language, will be assessed with grades from 28 to 30 cum laude.

• A fair but not in-depth knowledge of the subject, limited analytical and synthesis skills, and imprecise language will result in grades from 24 to 27.

• Poor knowledge of the course topics, inaccurate terminology, and lack of familiarity with the course bibliography will lead to grades from 18 to 23.

• The exam is not passed if the student fails to answer even one of the exam questions.

Exam sessions are scheduled in the following months: January, February, April, May, June, July, and September, and are open to all students.

 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Documentaries, films, visual materials, and PowerPoint presentations may be used.

Office hours

See the website of Emiliano Urciuoli