SOC122 Sociology of religion

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2016

The course is not taught in Spring 2016

Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Roman Vido, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Ladislav Rabušic, CSc.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 9:45–11:15 U35
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 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 19 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 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: object and approach
  • 2. A definition and dimensions of religion
  • 3. Religion in the individual perspective
  • 4. Social basis of religion
  • 5. Typologies of religious collectivities
  • 6. Dynamics of religious collectivities
  • 7. Social functions of religion: cohesion and conflict
  • 8. Religion, politics, and the public sphere
  • 9. Religion and social change
  • 10. Classical sociological theories of religion
  • 11. Modern sociological theories of religion
  • 12. Religion in the sociological research
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
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2004, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2014, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2016, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2016/SOC122