Global Religions: Ideas and Practices (2025/2026: Semester 1 – Fall)

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Cursusdoel

After completing this course students are able to:
  1. Understand the complexity of identifying and analyzing contemporary religious ideas and practices.
  2. Understand the basic concepts of globalization theory and the role of religions therein.
  3. Reflect on current issues related to the impact of religion and religious pluralism on social affairs.
  4. Understand contemporary (post)-religious phenomena in western contexts.
  5. Produce academically sound knowledge based on basic fieldwork exercises.


Assessment connected to learning goals:
  • (Fieldwork and) Presentation on fieldwork (30%): 3, 4, 5
  • Paper (40%): 1, 2, 3, 4
  • Written exam (30%): 1, 2, 3, 4

Vakinhoudelijk

This course introduces students to the dynamic, diverse, often colorful and surprising world of global religions. It addresses religious traditions that have a huge influence on the world as we know it: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, as well as a more nature-oriented tradition such as Taoism, but also post-religious phenomena in western context that were caused by globalization, such as Easternization.
The course integrates two components or perspectives: an ideational perspective that concerns (contemporary interpretations of) classical religious beliefs and doctrines, and a practical ‘lived religions’ perspective that concerns the involvement of religions in contemporary social issues.
Both components are approached from a transnational perspective that investigates how religions develop, interact with each other and with other cultural phenomena and political institutions on a global scale.
As a theoretical framework, we use concepts that stem from the field of globalization studies.

Format
Class meets twice a week. Students are required to prepare classes by studying the readings and by doing small assignments (annotations, arguments maps, abstracts, questions to a text, analysis of practice or object etc.). Teaching methods include interactive lectures by the teacher, class discussions and close analysis of texts and practices (as presented, e.g., in short video’s). Moreover, students give oral presentations and prepare and moderate discussions about the topic of the presentation.
Course participants do a field work assignment in small groups, which they present. Students write a paper on a specific topic of their own choice (related to the course). There also is an end-term exam. Students receive (peer-)feedback on their work in various stages.

Werkvormen

UCU hum 1 course

Toetsing

Paper on own topic

Verplicht | Weging 40% | ECTS 3

Presentation on fieldwork

Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25

*midterm FEEDBACK*

Niet verplicht

Written final exam

Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Er is geen informatie over verplichte ingangseisen bekend.

Voorkennis

Er is geen informatie over benodigde voorkennis bekend.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Competenties

  • Academisch schrijven
  • Onderzoeksvaardigheden
  • Presenteren
  • Samenwerken

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de verplichte literatuur bekend


Aanbevolen materiaal

  • DIVERSE
    TBA

Opmerkingen

Cross-listed with SSC. Counts as HUM breadth requirement only, not SSC.

Coördinator

I.Y. Ben Ami i.y.benami@uu.nl

Docenten

I.Y. Ben Ami i.y.benami@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.

Naar OSIRIS-inschrijvingen
Permanente link naar de cursuspagina
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