In Gods We Trust: The New Anthropology of Religion

Overview

Drawing on anthropological approaches to the study of religion, this course explores key themes and methods in the study of religious beliefs and practices. The course begins with a questioning of the notion of religion, drawing on key anthropological studies in the field. The course will also explore the intersection of religion, colonialism and post-colonialism (especially in relation to Christianity), religion and politics, and religion and science. The overall aim is to explore the role of religion in the structure of different societies, as well as the intersection of religion, community and identity.

The module will place a particular emphasis on more recent issues in the study of religion and in the practice of religious beliefs. Some of the topics covered in this direction are the relation of religion and modern scientific thought, Evangelism and global politics, religion and sex, atheism and non-belief, spirituality and mindfulness, religious humanitarianism. The overarching goal is to explore the diversity of religious practices and the ways in which contemporary religious beliefs and practices can be explored from an anthropological perspective

Learning Objectives

Be able to understand: 1) Anthropological approaches to the study of religion 2) The intersection of religion, identity and belonging 3) How religion relates to morality and spirituality 4) The relationship between religion and science 5) The contributions of anthropology to the study of religious beliefs and practices 6) The role of religion in contemporary society

Skills

The module will help foster the students’: · Ability to consider the role of anthropology in engaging with key debates in contemporary societies · Ability to present ideas clearly in both oral and written formats · Ability to research and critically analyse material from multiple sources · Ability to debate and defend arguments · Ability to engage in groupwork · Ability to prepare concise and focused presentations

Assessment

None.