2019-2020 / ANTH0049-1

Anthropology of religious fields

Duration

30h Th, 30h Pr

Number of credits

 Bachelor in human and social sciences (Nouveau programme)5 crédits 
 Bachelor in sociology and anthropology6 crédits 
 Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...) (Faculté des Sciences sociales)6 crédits 
 Bachelor in information and communication5 crédits 

Lecturer

Elodie Razy

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Grasping the spiritual answers that humans give in response to questions inherent to the human condition, has interested anthropologists since the very beginnings of the discipline. Different theories have thus been developed to understand religion through the ages and across different continents, regarding its origin and the myths surrounding it, ritual events or the daily practices it has given rise to and continues to do so today. After having deconstructed the concept of religion and addressed the different approaches to it, we shall use examples to focus on the interest of certain theories, their possible limitations as well as the criticisms they have triggered. The contours of religion will thus be gradually outlined. Finally, we shall particularly focus on contemporary forms of religiosity (new churches, magico-religious practices, religion in migration, etc.), which will allow us to revisit this key field in the discipline and provide the keys to understanding contemporary worlds.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

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

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

ANTH0007-1 "Fieldwork Methodology"

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Classes, conferences, museum visit, videos, student accounts, discussions and debates, reading, 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 must write a final report based on their ethnographic fieldwork (30 h) and give an oral presentation; students must also present their fieldwork, visit a museum, prepare and organize a debate (instructions, assessment methods and criteria concerning these two exercises will be available on myULg and explained in class).

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

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

Contacts

Students can arrange to see me by appointment.
Office 2.36 (B31)

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session

Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning

Assessment subjects

Assessment methods

Contacts

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session

Assessment subjects

See 1st session.

Assessment methods

See 1st session.

Contacts

elodie.razy@uliege.be

Items online

Texts, program & instructions
Texts, program & instructions