FSS:CORE091 New and unusual religions

CORE091 New and unusual religions - threat or opportunity?

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2024

Extent and Intensity

2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).

Teacher(s)

Guaranteed by

prof. PhDr. Dušan Lužný, Dr.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Kateřina Müllerová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies

Prerequisites

The course is open to students from a variety of disciplines and therefore requires no specific prerequisites.

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 100 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/100, only registered: 0/100, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/100

Course objectives

The aim of the course is to acquaint non-major students with the issues of contemporary religious groups that are active in the Czech lands and which they may encounter in their lives. Graduates of the course will acquire the perspective of religious studies and sociology and anthropology of religion, which will enable them to orient themselves in the contemporary religious pluralism and understand this situation. New and non-traditional religions are also the subject of public (media) debate and some of these groups are often referred to as cults or dangerous sects. Learners, or members of their families, may encounter such groups and it is advisable to be prepared for such a situation. The course will introduce the groups, provide relevant sources of information and deepen critical thinking in this area. It will enable them to understand the legal status of religion (and non-traditional groups) in Czech society and the media image of these groups. As some of these groups are of non-European origin, the course will also develop thinking in a global context, which will contribute to the development of students' academic competences and strengthen their interdisciplinary perspective.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able:
- critically evaluate information about different religious groups;
- analyze media discourse about non-traditional religions;
- identify key elements of the doctrine and practice of selected religious groups;
- write an essay on religious pluralism in contemporary Czech society;
- reflect on one's own worldview and values.

Syllabus

1. Introduction to the course and basic facts about the religious situation in today's Czech society.
2. Definition of "religion" - what is or can be religion today
. 3. Identification of religious groups, their types and labeling (sect, church, cult)
. 4. Criticism of "sects" and the impact of anti-cult movements (tragic events, brainwashing)
5. Media image of non-traditional religions
6. Hare Krishna movement
7. Discussion with a member of the Hare Krishna Movement
8. Unification Movement (followers of Rev. Moon)
9. Discussion with a member of the Unification Movement
10. Dianetics and Scientology
11. Discussion with a member of the Church of Scientology
12. UFO cults
13. Review of the course

Literature

required literature

Encyklopedie nových náboženství : nová náboženská hnutí, sekty a alternativní spiritualita. Edited by Christopher H. Partridge - J. Gordon Melton, Translated by Zdeněk Voj. 1. vyd. V Praze: Euromedia Group - Knižní klub, 2006, 446 s. ISBN 8024216051. info
LUŽNÝ, Dušan. Nová náboženská hnutí (New Religious Movements.). Brno: Masarykova univerzita Brno, 1997, 181 pp. sv. 3. ISBN 80-210-1645-0. info

recommended literature

VOJTÍŠEK, Zdeněk. Nová náboženství a násilí. Vydání první. Praha: Univerzita Karlova, Nakladatelství Karolinum, 2017, 285 stran. ISBN 9788024628615. URL info

not specified

Digital religion understanding religious practice in new media worlds. Edited by Heidi Campbell. New York: Routledge, 2013, xi, 272. ISBN 9780203084861. URL info
Exploring religion and the sacred in a media age. Edited by Christopher Deacy - Elisabeth Arweck. Farnham: Ashgate, 2009, xi, 260. ISBN 9780754665274. info
Media, religion, and conflict. Edited by Lee Marsden - Heather Savigny. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate, 2009, xxiv, 168. ISBN 9780754696810. info
Practicing religion in the age of the media : explorations in media, religion, and culture. Edited by Lynn Schofield Clark - Stewart M. Hoover. New York: Columbia University, 2002, x, 386. ISBN 0231120893. info
The World's religionsthe study of religion, traditional and new religion. Edited by Stewart R. Sutherland - Peter Clarke. London: Routledge, 1988, vi, 214 p. ISBN 0203413970. info

Teaching methods

lectures, discussions, self-study, readings

Assessment methods

The main method of assessment: seminar paper assessment. The student chooses the topic of his/her seminar paper (the content must be related to the course focus) and prepares it in a professional manner. The seminar paper must contain notes and references to the sources used. Active participation in the class will also be taken into account in the overall assessment.

FSS:CORE091 New and unusual religions - Course Information

CORE091 New and unusual religions - threat or opportunity?

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