Anthropology of religious fields

Duration

30h Th, 30h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Elodie Razy

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Grasping the spiritual answers which humans make in response to inherent questions about the human condition has interested anthropologists since the very beginnings of the discipline. Different theories have thus been developed to account for religion through the ages and across different continents, both in terms of origin and in myths, ritual manifestations or daily practices which humans have used and continue to use today. After having deconstructed the concept of religion and addressed the different approaches to it, we will focus on examples of the strengths of various theories, their possible limitations and the criticisms which they have attracted. The contours of religion will thus be gradually outlined. Finally, the focus will particularly be upon the contemporary forms of religiosity (new churches, magical-religious practices, religion in migration, etc.) which will enable this key field in the discipline to be revisited and will provide the keys to understanding the contemporary world.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Students will have acquired good historical knowledge of this field and the theories of it which have been developed over time. The use of methodological and conceptual tools, coupled with fieldwork experience will enable them to address contemporary religious expression (in terms of practices and representations) with the required critical distance and an all-round approach which characterises anthropology.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

ANTH0007-1 "Fieldwork Methodology"

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Class, conferences, museum visit, videos, students' accounts, discussions and debates, readings, ethnographic fieldwork.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Lectures.

Recommended or required readings

Students will have to read one publication, articles and extracts from publications.

Assessment methods and criteria

Students will write a final report based on their ethnographic fieldwork (30 hours) and give an oral presentation ; students will also prsent their fieldwork, visit a museum, prepare and organize a debate (instructions, assessment methods and criteria concerning these two exercises will be given on MyULg and explained in class).

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Lectures are compulsory (compulsory sessions with a student will also be organized).

Contacts

I meet with students by appointment
Office 2.36 (B31)

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