THEOREL 221 Comparative Religion and Society - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Provides an introduction to social theories of religion. An empirical approach to the study of religion, which constructs theories and arguments about its social forms and significance through the collection and analysis of data. Global case studies will be used to consider the power of religion both as a force for social cohesion as well as disruption and social change.

Course Overview

This course is designed to introduce students to social theories of religion. The study of religion was central to such original, theoretical work as Emile Durkheim’s The Elementary Forms of Religion (1904) and Max Weber’s Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1904-5). The first part of the course will involve a close reading of selections from these classics, which will be followed by a consideration of contemporary theorists whose works have critically engaged, revised, and extended their approach to the study of religion.

This course will address some fundamental questions and debates in the social-scientific study of religion, such as: How do scholars determine what constitutes religion? What counts as data in the study of religion? How are these data collected, analysed, and interpreted? What is religious experience and how does one study it? How do institutional expressions of religion change over time? How does the understanding of “religion” vary from culture to culture or even between individuals and groups within one society? Is religion in decline today or simply changing form?

These questions will be critically engaged through a consideration of the theoretical and empirical work of contemporary scholars studying religion in various regions of the world. Readings and case studies will address the central debate surrounding secularization and consider some other key topics that occupy social scientists today. These include the rise of global fundamentalisms and new religious movements, religious nationalisms, immigration and the revitalization of religion in diaspora communities, and debates surrounding civil religion and the role of religion in the public sphere. The course will also consider the recent shift in the field from a focus on “official religion,” or religious organizations, to the study of religion in everyday life, which occurs outside of these institutions.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I Restriction: THEOREL 321

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

To introduce students to classical and contemporary theories of religion and equip them to study critically and comparatively the role of religions in various regions of the world. (Capability 1, 3 and 4)
To foster student knowledge of some key debates in the social-scientific study of religion, including secularization, the global rise of fundamentalism, religious nationalisms, new religious movements, and the public role of religion. (Capability 3 and 4)
To equip students with the theories and concepts to critically examine and research the roles religion continues to play in contemporary society. (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
To cultivate critical reading and analytical skills so that students can apply the social theories and insights gained through these comparative empirical studies to their own analysis and understanding of religion in Aotearoa New Zealand. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
Critically evaluate and apply a sociological theory to an empirical case of contemporary religion. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
Demonstrate an understanding of of how sociological theories have been revised to account for changes in contemporary religion. (Capability 3 and 4)
Demonstrate an understanding of how the legal-political context shapes the practice of religion. (Capability 1, 4 and 5)
Be able to account for patterns of religious decline and revitalization in multiple cultural context. (Capability 1, 3 and 4)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
In class test	30%	Individual Test
Five online reading responses to study questions for tutorial discussions	20%	Individual Coursework
Comparative data analysis report	20%	Individual Coursework
Final Essay (2,000 words)	30%	Individual Coursework
4 types	100%

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect [2] hours of lectures, a [1] hour tutorial, [5] hours of reading and thinking about the content and [2] hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to receive credit for components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials, will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

A list of readings and online resources will be made available in a detailed syllabus, which will be posted on Canvas before the start of the semester.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

The number of required readings has been reduced for some of the weekly topics in light of feedback from the previous year.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Capability 1:	People and Place
Capability 3:	Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4:	Critical Thinking
Capability 5:	Solution Seeking
Capability 6:	Communication

THEOREL 221 : Comparative Religion and Society

Arts

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)