HRVB0101FU Esoteric Traditions: across religion, science and philosophy in European history

Volume 2019/2020
Education

Studieordning for det centrale fag på bachelorniveau i Religionsvidenskab, 2015

Studieordning for det gymnasierettede tilvalg på bachelorniveau i Religionsvidenskab, 2015

Fagstudieodning for BA tilvalg i Religionsvidenskab, 2019

Fagstudieordning for KA tilvalg i Religionsvidenskab, 2019

Content

This course will explore Europe’s colorful landscape from antiquity to our present time with a focus on the religious ideas and traditions, which, throughout time, have been categorized as either ‘esoteric’, ‘magical’, ‘occult’, ‘mystical’ ‘irrational’ or as pure ‘superstition’, such as kabbalah, Hermeticism, alchemy, astrology, Platonism, Theosophy, occult philosophy, and ideas and traditions related to various secret societies.

The aim of this course is to analyze the historical, cultural and discursive mechanisms behind the construction of categories such as ‘the occult’ and ‘magic’ and to read these traditions and ideas into their larger historical and philosophical contexts.

Based on current research within the field, this course will historically focus on the pluralistic European religious landscape and on the role of the esoteric traditions in the many exchanges and debates that have taken place between the major religious traditions such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduismand Buddhism. The influence of and influence on the developments in science and philosophy will also be discussed, as well as the relationship between orthodoxy and heterodoxy, reuse of ideas from antiquity, and the continued influence of the pagan religions. This course will also examine the specific religious beliefs, knowledge types, polemical discourses and practices that have characterized esoteric traditions in their interaction with other traditions.

This module allows you to write your exam essays in a variety of relevant topics and addresses students at BA, MA and PhD levels.

Learning Outcome

BA 2015-studieordning:
Valgfrit område (aktivitetskode HRVB00061E)
Valgfrit område med sprogudprøvning (fagelementkode HRVB00081E)

BA Gymnasierettet tilvalg, 2015-ordning:
Valgfrit område med sprogudprøvning (aktivitetskode HRVB10121E)

BA Tilvalg 2019-studieordning
Valgfrit område (aktiviteskode HRVB10231E)

KA Tilvalg 2019-studieordning
Frit valgt emne (aktivitetskode HRVK13001E)

 

Essential background literature, all of which are available online, include:

Goodrick-Clarke, N. (2008). The Western esoteric traditions: a historical introduction. New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Stuckrad, K. (2010). Locations of knowledge in medieval and early modern Europe, esoteric discourse and Western identities (Brill's studies in intellectual history v. 186). Leiden & Boston: Brill.

Rudbøg, Tim. (2013 & 2017). The Academic Study of Western Esotericism. Vols. 1 + 2. Copenhagen: H.E.R.M.E.S.’ Academic Press.

Hanegraaff, W. (2012). Esotericism and the academy, rejected knowledge in western culture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Other literature will be available online in Absalon

The course is composed of classes, lectures, discussions, supervision, source-work.
The international course is in English and will be available online as well as in real-time. Distance learning participation is possible. Writing your exam essays in Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and English is also possible.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 84
  • Preparation
  • 328,5
  • Total
  • 412,5
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
Criteria for exam assesment