Faculty of Intercultural Communication

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SOC200GA(社会学 / Sociology 200)
Religion and Society*

Miki NAMBA

Class code etc
Faculty/Graduate school Faculty of Intercultural Communication
Attached documents
Year 2022
Class code C0245
Previous Class code
Previous Class title
Term 春学期授業/Spring
Day/Period 月3/Mon.3
Class Type
Campus 市ヶ谷 / Ichigaya
Classroom name 各学部・研究科等の時間割等で確認
Grade 1~4
Credit(s) 2
Notes
Open Courses
Open Courses (Notes)
Global Open Courses
Interdepartmental class taking system for Academic Achievers
Interdepartmental class taking system for Academic Achievers (Notes)
Class taught by instructors with practical experience
SDGs CP
Urban Design CP
Diversity CP
Learning for the Future CP
Carbon Neutral CP
Chiyoda Campus Consortium
Duplicate Subjects Taken Under Previous Class Title
Capacity/Selection/Rondom 25人程度。希望者多数の場合には,入学時以降のTOEFLやTOEICなど標準的なテストの結果と初回授業へのコメントを総合的に評価して選考します。
Frequency 毎年開講

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Outline and objectives

What is religion? And what does it mean to study religion anthropologically? This course introduces students to anthropological approaches to the study of religion. Anthropology is the study of human s and their cultural, sociological and environmental aspects of life in the past and the present. Since religion is inseparable from human culture and society, it has been a crucial subject of anthropological study. Throughout the course, we will explore multiple religious beliefs, meanings, experiences, expressions and practices across the world. The first part of this course will cover the history and theories of anthropological study of religion. In the second part of the course, we will examine sociocultural dimensions of the religion in the modern world. Why is religion still relevant today? Why does its presence seem even more important in certain places? At the end of the course, students will pursue individual research projects that will give an opportunity to deepen understanding of the sociocultural aspects of a specific religious belief and gain training in research, writing and presentation skills.

Goal

Students who successfully complete this course will:
-Understand basic anthropological approaches to the study of religion.
-Become able to appreciate human diversity.
-Develop proficiency in speaking critically and effectively about the religion and its sociocultural aspects.

Which item of the diploma policy will be obtained by taking this class?

国際文化学部のディプロマポリシーのうち、「DP1」「DP2」「DP3」に関連。

Default language used in class

英語 / English

Method(s)(学期の途中で変更になる場合には、別途提示します。 /If the Method(s) is changed, we will announce the details of any changes. )

This course will be delivered fully online. Students must attend online live classes via Zoom while a few classes will delivered in recorded video form through the semester. In the latter case, students watch the video lecture, write commentary paper and prepare for the group discussion and oral quizzes in the next class. The course instructor will provide feedbacks to the commentary papers and results of quizzes in the class.

Active learning in class (Group discussion, Debate.etc.)

あり / Yes

Fieldwork in class

なし / No

Schedule

授業形態/methods of teaching:オンライン/online

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[オンライン/online]:Introduction

The outline of the course.

2[オンライン/online]:What is religion?

Various anthropological definitions of religion.

3[オンライン/online]:Evolution theory and religion

Early history of anthropological understanding of religion.

4[オンライン/online]:Animism

Anthropological study of animism.

5[オンライン/online]:Witchcraft

Anthropological study of witchcraft.

6[オンライン/online]:Science and religion

The relationship between religion and science.

7[オンライン/online]:Ritual

Performances and meanings of various rituals.

8[オンライン/online]:Fetishism

Anthropological understanding of fetishism.

9[オンライン/online]:Syncretism

Fusion of diverse religious beliefs and practices.

10[オンライン/online]:Modernization and religion 1

Aspects of modernization and secularization.

11[オンライン/online]:Modernization and religion 2

Religion and development.

12[オンライン/online]:Modernization and religion 3

Religion and environmentalism.

13[オンライン/online]:Presentation Day 1

Oral presentation by students.

14[オンライン/online]:Presentation Day 2

Oral presentation by students.

Work to be done outside of class (preparation, etc.)

For each class, students are expected to spend approximately four hours to read an assigned text and prepare for a quiz and a reaction paper.

Textbooks

No textbook required. Reading materials are shared online.

References

Bowie, Fiona. 2002. The Anthropology of Religion. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Eller, Jack David. 2007. Introducing Anthropology of Religion: Culture to the Ultimate. New York: Routledge.

Grading criteria

Presentation 40%
Group discussion 30%
Class participation 30%
The cutoff score for passing is 60%.

Changes following student comments

Minor adjustments may be made to the course design based upon the number of participants and their interests.

Equipment student needs to prepare

To participate in the course, students must have an access to a stable internet connection and a computer / laptop / tablet with sound, microphone and camera. If any of them cannot be afforded, the student must contact the course lecturer in advance (comikintern[a]gmail.com).