HRVB0126EU REL, Esoteric and alternative forms of Christianity (E26)

Volume 2026/2027
Education

Udbydes til:

  • Fagstudieordning Bacheloruddannelsen i religionsvidenskab, 2019
  • Fagstudieordning Bachelordelen af sidefaget i religionsvidenskab, 2019
  • Fagstudieordning Kandidattilvalg i religionsvidenskab, 2019

 

Content

This course explores esoteric and alternative forms of Christianity from antiquity until today. These “Christianities” focus on esoteric, mystical interpretations of scripture and biblical texts, as well as secret histories and practices that sometimes differ radically from traditional or mainline Christianity. Alternative readings of the story of Jesus of Nazareth have accompanied the development of the Catholic Church since the beginning, and depending on context, they have been categorized as heretical, heterodox, anathema, mystical, gnostic or even demonic.

The aim of this course is to analyze the esoteric beliefs, texts and practices of these groups in relation to historical and intellectual contexts and focus on the social mechanisms of insider/outsider, as well as considering how and why some beliefs became “heretical” while others did not.

Drawing on current research within study of religions and the academic study of esotericism this course offers historical approaches and insight into the pluralistic expressions of Christianity.

Beginning with ancient “Gnosticism” and Hermeticism, we then turn to the figure of Jesus as incorporated into Islam and Sufism, followed by a survey of the many medieval mysticism and dualist traditions from Manichaeism to the Cathari. During the Florentine Renaissance, we follow the Byzantine transference to Europe via Gemistos Plethon, Marsilio Ficino, and Pico della Mirandola. This also includes the growing interest in Christianized Kabbalah which resulted in works such as the Kabbala Denudata, or “The Kabbalah Unveiled.” With the Protestant Reformation, mystical Pietisms and Rosicrucianism emerged in the Protestant lands, and with the French Revolution a plethora of Freemasonic and Martinist orders, which spread another type of “Temple Christianity” across (and beyond) Europe. Finally, we will look at the occult Christianity of Éliphas Lévi and the “esoteric” Christianity of Theosophy, Anthroposophy, and the New Age Movement. This course will also examine how these spiritual currents intersect with nature, gender, class, and ethnicity.

Learning Outcome

BA 2019-ordning
Valgfrit område (aktivitetskode HRVB00151E)
Valgfrit område med sprogudprøvning (aktivitetskode HRVB00171E)
Bachelorprojekt (aktivitetskode HRVB00181E)

BA Sidefag 2019-ordning
Valgfrit område med sprogudprøvning (aktivitetskode HRVB10151E)

BA Tilvalg 2019-studieordning
Valgfrit område (aktivitetskode HRVB10231E)

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

Exchange student BA
Individually Studied Area (acitvity code HRVB10231E) 

Exchange student MA 
Free Topic 1 (activity code: HRVK13001E)

Please see detailed exam information for international exchange students below.

To be announced in Absalon

In order for students at the BA or BA sidefag program in Religious Studies to use the exam code for Valgfrit område med sprogudprøvning (HRVB00171E or HRVB10151E), students must have passed their mandatory foreign language courses, alternatively be engaged in preparing their final language exam.
The teachings consists of lectures, discussions and workshops.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 84
  • Preparation
  • 328,5
  • Total
  • 412,5
Oral
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
Aid
Only certain aids allowed (see description below)
Criteria for exam assesment
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
Aid
All aids allowed
Criteria for exam assesment

Academic targets

At the examination, the student can demonstrate:

Knowledge of: 

  • a delimited subject area or complex within the study of religion.
  • the most important basic sources for the selected field.
  • theoretical and methodological issues and relevant key concepts. 

 

Skills in:

  • applying and reflecting on theories and methods in the study of religions in connection with a well-defined area on one’s own.
  • managing academic literature and source material in complex argumentation.
  • formulating a relevant problem within the study of religion in the form of a clear and coherent analysis.
  • identifying sub-issues in relation to challenges in the study of religion.

 

Competencies in:

  • planning and carrying out an analysis in the field of the study of religion on one’s own.
  • identifying and assessing key research positions in the area studied.
  • arguing in favour of one’s choice of theory, method and source material.
  • formulating and communicating subject matter related to the study of religion clearly and intelligibly.

 

Syllabus:

The student compiles his/her own syllabus of 1,000 standard pages of historical and specialised literature as well as source material of 50 standard pages as a rule. The scope may vary from 20 to 200 standard pages depending on the nature of the sources, however. The syllabus must be approved by the examiner. See deadlines and rules for the submission of the syllabus to the Student Counselling Centre under Examination - Find time and place and Examination - Exam form and rules - Syllabus.

Teaching and working methods:

Class instruction with student participation or self-study with individual supervision. 

Exam provisions:

Form of exam: Take-home assignment, optional subject.
Scope: 16–20 standard pages. 
Assessment: Internal exam with a single examiner with assessment based on the 7-point grading scale. 
Regulations for group exams: The exam can be taken individually or as a group (max. 3 students) with individual assessment. If several students work together on an assignment, each individual contribution must constitute a distinct unit that can be identified and assessed separately. The joint part must not exceed 50% of the total.
Group exam: 2 students: 24–30 standard pages. 3 students: 32–40 standard pages. 
Exam language(s): English or Danish
Permitted exam aids: All. 
Make-up exam/resit: Conducted in the same manner as the ordinary exam.

Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
Aid
All aids allowed
Criteria for exam assesment

Academic targets

At the examination, the student can demonstrate:

  • Knowledge and understanding of
  • a selected topic in the sociology of religion or the history religion and how to identify, explain and discuss this topic. 

 

Skills in:

  • explaining the sociological or historical aspects of religion relating to the problem chosen
  • communicating one’s knowledge and reflections in writing and orally in a well-structured manner and with linguistic proficiency, precision and clarity. 

 

Competencies in:

  • reflecting critically on various theoretical and methodological approaches to the field 

 

Syllabus:
The student compiles his/her own syllabus of 1,200 standard pages of historical and specialised literature as well as source material of 50 standard pages as a rule. The scope may vary from 20 to 200 standard pages depending on the nature of the sources, however. The syllabus must be approved by the examiner. See deadlines and rules for the submission of the syllabus to the Student Counselling Centre under Examination - Find time and place and Examination - Exam form and rules - Syllabus.

Teaching and working methods:
The instruction alternates between lectures, seminars, text discussions and student presentations. 

The subject element consists of specialised studies of a topic or a small group of topics, determined by a historical period, a religious belief, a religious institution, a religious phenomenon, a population group, a religious text or text group, the material culture of religions culture or the like. 

Exam provisions

Form of exam: Take-home assignment, optional subject. 
Scope: 21–25 standard pages 
Assessment: Internal exam with a single examiner with assessment based on the 7-point grading scale. 
Regulations for group exams: The exam can be taken individually or as a group (max. 3 students) with individual assessment. Each individual’s contribution must constitute a distinct entity that can be identified and assessed individually. The participants’ joint part must not exceed 50% of the total assignment.
Scope of take-home assignments for group exams: 32–38 standard pages (2 students) or 42–50 standard pages (3 students).
Exam language(s): Danish or English. 
Permitted exam aids: All. 
Make-up exam/resit: Conducted in the same manner as the ordinary exam.