42571 - Introduction to Religion Studies (M-Z)

Learning outcomes

The course provides a theoretical and historical framework on religious phenomena, and then turns to an internal examination of certain religions as systems - Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam; at the end of the course the student acquires skills for interpreting the relationship between religions and contemporary society.

Course contents

The course offers an introduction to themes and issues in the study of religions, focusing on the analysis of some theoretical classics and analytical approaches that have played a significant role in the international scientific debate. The first part of the course covers the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century. The second module is devoted to the second half of the twentieth century.


PART I


1 -- The 'long nineteenth century': politico-religious changes, nation state, empires and modern theories. Key terms: typologies, animism, primitivism. Orientalism: protagonists and critics.


2 -- French and British schools: Emile Durkheim, J.G. Frazer and the Cambridge ritualists, Marcel Mauss and Henri Hubert. Key terms: sacred/profane, ritual, myth, sacrifice.


3 -- The German workshop: Max Weber, Ernst Troeltsch, Rudolf Otto. The impact of the great biblical criticism and theology.


4 -- The mysteries of the ego, foundational violence: William James, Sigmund Freud, Karl G. Jung.


5 -- The crisis of European culture: racism, totalitarianism, war. Critical tendencies. Anthropological approaches: a look at the school of Franz Boas.


PART II  


From the second half of the 20th century to current trends.


1 -- The Cold War and US hegemony: the three poles of American scientific production.


2 -- European critical trends: the impact of structuralism, symbolic anthropology, microhistory.


3 -- The sociological schools and the dominance of the theory of 'secularisation' and modernisation. Theories and social reality. The emergence of religious fundamentalisms.


4 -- The post-colonial and post-modern critique. A look at critical trends.


5 -- Cognitive sciences and the study of religion.

Readings/Bibliography

 

1) C. Facchini, Raccolta saggi e Appunti lezioni (in Virtuale).

2) Mandatory 

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

Or for students who read English: Ivan Strenski, Understanding Theories of Religion, Wiley Blackwell, Chichester, 2015.

3) One text to select from:

E. Durkheim, Le forme elementari della vita religiosa, Mimesis Milano 2013

S. Freud, Totem e tabù (ogni edizione)

M. Weber, Etica protestante e spirito del capitalismo (ogni edizione)

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

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons.

Text reading, powerpoint presentation, analysis of sources, films and documentaries.

Assessment methods

A student who attends at least 75% of the lectures is considered to be a frequent attendee.

Written test.


The assessment takes into account the soundness of the preparation, the ability to analyse and summarise, clarity of presentation and the ability to use appropriate terminology.


- The achievement of an overall and synthetic view of the topics addressed, combined with the ability to critically analyse them and the use of precise and appropriate language will be assessed with marks 28-30L.


- Fair but not in-depth knowledge of the subject, limited ability to synthesise and analyse, and the use of imprecise language will be assessed with marks 24-27.


- Poor knowledge of the course topics, use of imprecise terminology and lack of familiarity with the course bibliography will result in marks of 18-23.

Office hours

See the website of Cristiana Facchini