Universität Wien

010068 VU Approaches to the Study of Religion (2016W)

4.00 ECTS (3.00 SWS), SPL 1 - Katholische Theologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Sprache, in der die Lehrveranstaltung abgehalten wird: Deutsch
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 50 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 19.10. 16:45 - 20:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Wednesday 09.11. 16:45 - 20:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Wednesday 16.11. 16:45 - 20:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Wednesday 23.11. 16:45 - 20:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Wednesday 30.11. 16:45 - 20:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Wednesday 07.12. 16:45 - 20:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Wednesday 14.12. 16:45 - 20:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Wednesday 11.01. 16:45 - 20:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Wednesday 18.01. 16:45 - 20:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Wednesday 25.01. 16:45 - 20:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Wednesday 01.02. 16:45 - 20:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The course is designed to give an introduction to the scholarly study of religions. Students will be presented the theoretical groundings of this field of research, combined with basic exercises in research methods. An introduction to the main controversies among scholars with regard to the key concepts of the study of religions (most notably the concept of "religion" itself) will be given, leading to an understanding of main questions raised in contemporary discussions of methodological issues. The setting of study of religions within a broad interdisciplinary field and its relationship to neighbouring academic disciplines (as theology, philosophy of religion, cultural studies and the like) wil be discussed.

Assessment and permitted materials

Exercises will be found on e-learning-platform
Attendance: 40%
Presentation: 20%
Essay: 30%
Encylopaedia entry: 10%

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Basic knowledge of the history of the academic study of religions, its main methods and the prevalent approaches in the field.
Ability to orientate oneself in scholarly literature on the topic and to sum up discussions on the subject.
Basic knowledge of requirements for designing and conducting research in this field of study.

Examination topics

Presentation by teacher, working groups, research tasks to be done autonomously.

Introduction: a) Getting to know and learning to handle the main resources in this field of study; introduction by teacher, autonomous research in libraries; b) survey on the history of the academic study of religions; c) Introductory notes of teacher to main concepts, methods and approaches in the academic study of religions, group-work by students.
Practice: Specific units of group-discussions related to introductory units by teacher
Research: a)Short presentation of texts.
Exam: a) Writing of a short encyclopaedia entry; b) writing an essay.

Reading list

Alles, Gregory D. Religious Studies. A Global View. London 2008
Braun, Willi [Hrsg], Guide to the Study of Religion. London 2000
Connolly, Peter [Hrsg.], Approaches to the Study of Religion. London 1999
Chryssides, George D. / Geaves, Ron [Hrsg.], Study of Religion: An Introduction to Key Ideas and Methods. London 2007.
Drehsen, Volker [Hrsg.], Kompendium Religionstheorie. Göttingen 2005.
Figl, Johann [Hrsg.], Handbuch Religionswissenschaft. Innsbruck 2003
Hock, Klaus, Einführung in die Religionswissenschaft. Darmstadt 2008
Idinopulos, Thomas A. [Hrsg.], What is Religion? Origins, Definitions, and Explanations. Leiden e.a., 1998.
Kippenberg, Hans Gerhard, Die Entdeckung der Religionsgeschichte. Religionswissenschaft und Moderne. München 1997
Kippenberg, Hans Gerhard / von Stuckrad, Kocku, Einführung in die Religionswissenschaft. Gegenstände und Begriffe. München 2003
Klimkeit, Hans-Joachim [Hrsg.], Vergleichen und Verstehen in der Religionswissenschaft. Marburg 1997
Klinkhammer, Grit-Maria [Hrsg.], Kritik an Religionen. Religionswissenschaft und der kritische Umgang mit Religionen. Marburg 1997
Löhr, Gebhard [Hrsg.], Die Identität der Religionswissenschaft. Beiträge zum Verständnis einer unbekannten Disziplin. Frankfurt/Wien 2000
Michaels, Axel [Hrsg.], Klassiker der Religionswissenschaft. Von Friedrich Schleiermacher bis Mircea Eliade. München 1997
Rodrigues, Hilary / Harding, John, Introduction to the Study of Religion. London 2008. Stolz, Fritz, Grundzüge der Religionswissenschaft. Paderborn 2001
Whaling, Frank [Hrsg.], Theory and Method in Religious Studies. Contemporary Approaches to the Study of Religion. Berlin 1995.
Wilke, Annette, Ansätze und Methoden der Religionswissenschaft. Münster 2003.

Association in the course directory

Pflichtfach für Erweiterungscurriculum "Grundlagen und Methoden der Religionswissenschaft" M2; (freies) Wahlfach für 020; 033 195 (15W) SP PdR BAM11c

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:27