Course Syllabus
Welcome to the Department of Literature, History of Ideas and Religion!
Course coordinator: Jessica Moberg, jessica.moberg@lir.gu.se
Is religion a universal human phenomenon or a category created by scholars? Is religion grounded in social structures, in biology or elsewhere, and which are its main characteristics? How do we categorize, name and represent religion, and which are the scholarly, social and political consequences? Is it fruitful to speak about “world religions”?
The course treats various ways of understanding and categorizing religion. The course critically examines the “World Religion Paradigm” (WRP), the category religion, and discusses alternative approaches. It presents critique of the understanding that religion is a universal phenomenon and highlights recent attempts to defend and redefine the category religion.
Course design
You can follow the course online or on campus. In case few students attend classes on campus, the course will be converted into a fully online course. The course introduction and workshop are online for both campus and online students. The seminars are hybrid, which means that they are held at campus and streamed for online students.
The course takes place on Thursdays, with one exception. The course starts with an introduction, September 5, 13.15-15.00. It contains a course presentation and a lecture that introduces the field of research. The introduction is held online for both campus and online students. It is not recorded.
The rest of the course consists of four seminars, where the literature is scrutinized and discussed, and a workshop. The seminars take place September 19, October 3, October 17, and October 24 (all 13.15-15.00). The seminar discussion begins on Canvas, where you can highlight and discuss substantive, methodological and theoretical aspects. Lively discussions, while decent and respectful, are encouraged. The teacher(s) supervise(s) the discussions, but do not participate, act as moderators, or keep the discussion going.
The course ends with a workshop October 29, 8.15-10.00. The workshop takes place online via zoom, for both campus and online students.
The seminars
The seminars are part of the examination and are mandatory. If you miss a seminar you need to write a review (2-3 pages) where you illustrate that you have read and understood the literature. You may take your departure in the study questions for the seminar in question. Upload your review(s) on Canvas latest November 3.
Registration
Registration period is open between: 2024-08-23 - 2024-08-29
Read more about how to register here: Registration
Information for re-registered students
If you are re-registered for the course, it is important that you contact the course coordinator for the course(s) you are re-registering for at the start of the course to confirm which parts and examinations you have to do.
Studentportal
On the Studentportal you will find everything you need to manage your studies and university life.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism involves presenting someone else's text or other material as if it were your own, by, for example, not marking a quote or copying material without correct referencing.
Find out more: Plagiarism
Disability study support
All students at the University of Gothenburg are to have the opportunity to complete their studies successfully. Study support is available for those who have a long-term, documented disability.
Find out more: Disability-study-support
Useful links
Getting started with Zoom
Information about the Department of Literature, History of Ideas and Religion can be found on our website: LIR