AANB11046U The Anthropology of Religion, introductory course - CANCELLED IN SPRING SEMESTER 2015

Volume 2014/2015
Content

Anthropologists have always been interested in ‘Religion’. Studying Religion offered (and continues to offer) fundamental insights into how people understand their world and the cosmos. Moreover, studying religion offers fascinating insights into how people seek to promote, maintain and contest these commitments in institutions, rituals, or more fluid forms of practice. 

But as old as anthropology’s interest in religion is the question: what kind of phenomenon is religion? Is its world-making importance restricted to ‘traditional’ societies? Is it confined to a particular domain in modern societies? Does it make sense at all to speak of ‘religion’ as a clearly defined phenomenon? Or are ‘religions’ merely one aspect of a more encompassing phenomenon in society: the tendency of humans to attribute sacredness to certain things, persons, and narratives? 

This lecture course takes the latter (broadly Durkheim’ian) approach. It explores, from 7 related perspectives, the ways in which people evoke, contest, and engage the sacred, and how anthropologists and other social scientists have sought to understand these engagements with the sacred.

We begin with an introduction to the anthropology of religion and from there move on to what is often seen as it opposite: the secular. The 5 remaining lectures will then take perspectives that often transcend the religion/secular binary, by taking their vantage points from ritual, Magic, syncretism, conversion, and belief respectively.

Learning Outcome

The final portfolio is expected to demonstrate, by way of a clearly structured, well written, and lucidly argued set of texts, that he or she is capable of:

  • identifying and defining the implications the assigned texts, additional readings, and the weekly lectures have for an anthropological topic chosen at the outset of the course.
  • demonstrating factual knowledge of a selected ethnographic field within the overall theme of the course,
  • demonstrating knowledge of and insight into key topics and questions discussed by the anthropological literature concerning the selected topic,
  • demonstrating the ability to engage productively with the weekly lectures (and assigned texts) and generate a coherent set of 6 postings that cast light on the chosen topic from different angles.

 

In addition, the student is expected to demonstrate in the seminar that he or she can contribute orally to discussions on the theme of the lecture course. The student is expected to demonstrate his or her ability to read and understand the course literature by regularly uploading the required ‘postings’ to his or her portfolio on the Absalon course website.

BSc-, Credit-, Open Education and all international students: 500 pages obligatory literature.
MSc students: 500 pages obligatory literature + 200 pages of literature chosen by students

Literature chosen by students must be relevant to the course’s subject matter.

Course literature will be available in Absalon on the course website

The course will consist of 7 weeks, with one lecture and one seminar per week.
The lectures will be given by different faculty members. The weekly seminars will be led by a TA. They offer students the opportunity to discuss the week’s lecture and literature. In addition, the seminars tie the lecture course together and secure a coherent learning experience.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam Preparation
  • 48
  • Lectures
  • 14
  • Preparation
  • 132
  • Seminar
  • 14
  • Total
  • 208
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Obligatory portfolio assignments: The course lecturer determines the number and length of portfolio assignments. A minimum of 75% thereof will be assessed as the exam. At the end of the course, the lecturer will announce upon which portfolio assignments the assessment will be based.

The portfolio assignments can be written individually or in groups of max. 4 people. Read more about the rules for group examinations in the curriculum 4.3.1. The oral exam can only be done on an individual basis.

The exam will be evaluated on the basis of aims for the course (see description of aims).
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Re-exam
1. & 2. Re-exam
For written exams:
A new essay/portfolio with a revised problem statement is submitted at the announced date. The student must register for the re-exam.
For oral exams:
A revised synopsis with a new problem statement is submitted at the announced date. The students must hereafter participate in a new oral exam at the announced date. The student must register for the re-exam.
Criteria for exam assesment

See learning outcome