RLA69 Typology and Taxonomy in the Study of Religions

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2008
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 5 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. David Václavík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Dušan Lužný, Dr.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Lucie Čelková
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 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
Main objectives can be summarized as follows: to analyze the main methodological approaches in typological systems using in academic study of religion, to delineate the major differences between these approaches, to understand and analyze their ideological background.
Key topics
  • 1. Introduction to the main aims of course
  • 2. Typology and taxonomy in the context of human cognition
  • 3. Basic principles of creating of typological systems
  • 4. The term "religion" as a example of selective classification
  • 5. Evolutionist typology of religion
  • 6. Sociological typology of religion I - sociological delimitation of religion
  • 7. Sociological typology of religion II - religious groups
  • 8. Phenomenological typology of religion
  • 9. Genealogical typologies of religion
  • 10. Monothetical versus polytetical classifications
  • 11. Ideology and typology of religion
  • 12. Classification and ethnocentrism
  • 13. Final summary
Study resources and literature
  • PADEN, William E. Bádání o posvátnu. Náboženství ve spektru interpretací. 1st ed. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2002, 179 pp. ISBN 80-210-2977-3. info
  • Guide to the study of religion. Edited by Willi Braun - Russell T. McCutcheon. London: Cassell, 2000, xii, 560 s. ISBN 0-304-70176-9. info
  • SMITH, Jonathan Z. Drudgery divine : on the comparison of early Christianities and the religions of late antiquity. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1990, xiii, 145. ISBN 0-226-76362-5. info
  • SMITH, Jonathan Z. Imagining religion : from Babylon to Jonestown. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982, xiii, 165. ISBN 0-226-76358-7. info
  • LÉVI-STRAUSS, Claude. Myšlení přírodních národů. Praha: Československý spisovatel, 1971, 399 s. info
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Contents of the semester:
Lectures, class discussions, student presentations, oral exam.
Requirements for the exam:
Final project and its oral presentation. Oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Information on completion of the course: Studenti religionistiky povinně ukončují zkouškou.
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku ja podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2006, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Spring 2019, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2008, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2008/RLA69