SOC122 Sociology of religion

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Roman Vido, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Ing. Radim Marada, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Timetable
Mon 16:00–17:40 U34
Prerequisites (in Czech)
SOC106 Methodology of Social Sciences
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/25, only registered: 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 10 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The main objective of this course is to make students acquainted with the discipline of sociology of religion. After a short outline of general traits of sociology of religion and an overview of its historical development attention will be paid to basic topics of sociological analysis of religion. Important concepts and key figures will be mentioned, and methodological issues will be reflected as well. Students will get an elementary idea about the content and potential of sociology of religion and its links with general sociology, some other sociological disciplines and other sciences interested in religion. Despite theoretical orientation of the course, empirical ilustrations of the selected problems will be also included. After successful graduation of the course students will be able to identify key questions about a relationship between religion and (modern) society, to apply theoretical knowledge to empirical situations from contemporary society and to explain the role and the position of religion in modern society and its relations to other societal institutions (politics, economics etc.).
Syllabus
  • 1. Sociology of religion as a discipline: an overview of its development and basic topics.
  • 2. A definition of religion, dimensions of religion, measuring of religiosity.
  • 3. Elements and functions of religion: sacred, myth, ritual, belief, community.
  • 4. Religion and individual: life-cycle, individual functions, identity, conversion.
  • 5. Religious collectivities: typologies and evolution of religious organizations (church, sect, denomination, cult).
  • 6. Religion, social integration and social conflict: civil religion, fundamentalism.
  • 7. Religion and social transformation: socialization, legitimization, control.
  • 8. Religion in society: class, gender, ethnicity.
  • 9. Religion, politics and nationalism.
  • 10. Contemporary religious trends: secularization, privatization, individualization, deprivatization.
Literature
  • ALDRIDGE A., Religion in the Contemporary World. A Sociological Introduction, Cambridge: Polity Press, 2000.
  • HAMILTON M. B., The sociology of religion. Theoretical and comparative perspectives., London: Routledge, 1995.
  • HARGROVE B., The Sociology of Religion. Classical and Contemporary Approaches, Arlington Heights: Harlan Davidson, 1989.
  • HUNT J. S., Religion in Western Society, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2002.
  • VÁCLAVÍK, David, Zdeněk NEŠPOR, Iva DOLEŽALOVÁ, Eleonóra HAMAR, Dana HAMPLOVÁ, Olga NEŠPOROVÁ and Jiří VEČERNÍK. Příručka sociologie náboženství (Handbook of Sociology of Religion). Spoluautor. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství. 449 pp. Studijní texty ; sv. 44. ISBN 978-80-86429-92-2. 2008. info
  • NEŠPOR, Zdeněk and Dušan LUŽNÝ. Sociologie náboženství (Sociology of Religions). 1st ed. Praha: Portál. 236 pp. 1;. ISBN 978-80-7367-251-5. 2007. info
  • FURSETH, Inger and Pål REPSTAD. An introduction to the sociology of religion : classical and contemporary perspectives. Aldershot: Ashgate. 241 s. ISBN 0754656535. 2006. info
  • MCGUIRE, Meredith B. Religion : the social context. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Thomson Learning. xvii, 413. ISBN 0534541267. 2002. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussions, reading of literature
Assessment methods
Classes consist of two parts: lecture and class discussion. Students write regular mini-tests from the prescribed literature. During the semester, each student elaborates a presentation about a chosen topic (in PowerPoint) and writes an essay. The course is finished by an oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Credit evaluation note: 3 původní kredity.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2004, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2014, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2009, recent)
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