13753 - History of Religions (1) (G.A)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to understand the religious phenomena within the light of historical comparative method and to be able to identify their caracteristics and typologies. In particular, students will obtain knowledge of the antiquity and late antiquity contexrs where various religions co-existed.

Course contents

Meetings, comparisons and clashes between religions. Christian monotheism in the face of the polytheism of the Roman Empire.

List of topics: The History of Religions and its method. Nature and function of religion. Tolerance and intolerance. Christian monotheism and polytheism of the Roman Empire. The mental schemes of polytheism and those of monotheism. Polemical positions and forms of mediation between religions.

Readings/Bibliography

-  M.V. CERUTTI, Storia delle religioni, EDUCatt, Milano 2014;

-  M. BETTINI, Elogio del politeismo, Il Mulino, Bologna 2014;

-  Notes from lectures and seminars and individual readings.

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: ADD:

-  G. FILORAMO, Che cos'è la religione. Temi metodi problemi,Einaudi, Torino 2004.

Teaching methods

The Course consist of: 30 hours of frontal teachings in classroom, held by the titular teacher.

The Course also consist of: a few hours of supplementary didactics, held by collaborators of the teacher.

Assessment methods

The oral exam will seek to verify the understanding of the topics dealt during the Course, the acquisition of the knowledges proposed by the prescribed Bibliography for individual study and the ability of interpreting documents and linking research topics and particular problems.

Top marks will be awarded to a student displaying an overall understanding of the topics discussed during the lectures, combined with a critical approach to the material and a confident and effective use of the appropriate terminology.

Average marks will be awarded to a student who has memorized the main points of the material and is able to summarise them satisfactorily and provide an effective critical commentary, while not demonstrating full use of the appropriate terminology.

It will be deemed to have failed the exam if the student presents significant errors in its understanding and non-acquisition of the general lines of the subject, along with a bad utilization of the appropriate terminology.

Teaching tools

The Course includes the use of the Library of the Section of Storia antica (via Zamboni, 38) of the Department of Storia Culture Civilta' (DiSCi) for research and word processing.

Office hours

See the website of Dario Cosi