Comparative Religious Studies

Status:
Confirmed
Year/Term:
2019-2020 Summer
Level:
Immersion 1
Division:
Arts and Humanities
Credit:
8

What is religion, what are the scholarly definitions of religion, what are the comparative aspects of religions? These will be some of the key questions discussed during the seminar.

The aim of the course is to provide an analytical overview of the essential concepts of Abrahamic religions-Judaism, Christianity, and Islam identifying similarities and differences between key notions such as godhead, prophecy or scripture and to examine their historical and social roles within the three monotheistic traditions. Besides introducing the main thematic aspects in religious studies, the course will introduce students to the ways in which major religious notions were signified and contested historically, as well as to the modes of their interaction and entanglement across time and space.

The module is recommended for students considering to apply for disciplines primarily engaged with topics of religion (theology, Biblical studies etc.) or specialist fields relying heavily on the understanding of such topics (Middle Eastern or Oriental Studies, philosophy, history, classics etc.). However, we will also relate to and discuss current debates concerning the place of religion in secular societies, fundamentalism, atheism etc. Therefore, we also welcome students interested in these topics.

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