RLB213 Magic in Medieval Christianity

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2010
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Iva Doležalová (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. David Václavík, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Lucie Čelková
Timetable
Wed 13:20–14:55 zruseno D21
Prerequisites (in Czech)
( RLA06 Christianity I || RLKA06 Christianity I ) && ( RLA07 Christianity II || RLKA07 Christianity II )
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 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/50, only registered: 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
- Christian view on magic during Middle Ages
- understand the magic within its social context
- critical analysis of sources repesenting the different opinions on magic and providing various views
The attention is focused not only on official Church understanding of magic and learned picture of it, but also on not official/lived level of medieval Christianity where magic was really practiced.
Problems of methodology are also an important part of the study of magic and its changes. Especially anthropological theories are applied on this historical topic.
Students acquaint terminology and concepts used in the study of magic which changed during medieval times, learn the critical analysis of historical sources and rules for interpretation of those sources.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introductoin to the study of magic: Christianity against magic
  • 2. Definitions of magic, Christian cultural framework and cultural anthropology on magic
  • 3. Magic in Christian religion/culture and its roots. Ancient times and pre-Christian religions of Europe. Ancient Christianity
  • 4. Magic in aristocratic and folk milieu. Demonisation of heretics
  • 5. 1st seminar discussion: Magic as a crossroads
  • 6. Persecution of witchcraft. Social, cultural, climatic and other impulses to reorientation of attentiveness to the topic of witchcraft
  • 7. Intstitutionalisation of means of persecution. Typology of medieval magic
  • 8. 2nd seminar discussion: Maleus maleficarum - sources and its critical analysis
  • 9. The sect of devil witches. A Woman: witch and witness. Gender aspects of anti-witch views and there legal framework
  • 10. Magic practises in the documents of Inquisition: reality and representation
  • 11. Witch Sabath
  • 12. 3rd seminar discussion: Stereotypes in the picture of witch sabath: confrontation of folk and learned culture
  • 13. Magic/witchcraft in the beginning of the Modern Times: Witch-hunts
Literature
  • KIECKHEFER, Richard. Magie ve středověku. Translated by Kateřina Jirsová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Argo, 2005, 252 s. ISBN 8072036602. info
  • DINZELBACHER, Peter. Světice, nebo čarodějky? : osudy "jiných" žen ve středověku a novověku. Translated by Petr Babka. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2003, 283 s. ISBN 8070216506. info
  • Witchcraft in Europe, 400-1700 : a documentary history. Edited by Edward Peters - Alan Charles Kors. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2001, xiv, 451. ISBN 0812217519. info
  • JOLLY, Karen Louise, Catharina RAUDVERE and Edward PETERS. Witchcraft and magic in Europe : the middle ages. Edited by Bengt Ankarloo - Stuart Clark. 1st pub. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2002, xiv, 280. ISBN 0812217861. info
  • The witchcraft reader. Edited by Darren Oldridge. 1st pub. New York: Routledge, 2002, xiii, 448. ISBN 0415214939. info
  • LEHMANN, Arthur C. and James E. MYERS. Magic, witchcraft, and religion :an anthropological study of the supernatural. 2nd ed. Mountain View, Calif.: Mayfield Publishing Company, 1989, xi, 482 s. ISBN 0-87484-898-9. info
Assessment methods
Lecture, seminar
Colloqium
Requests for colloqium:
- active participation in seminar discussions based upon reading and written comments on the given text
- written test
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučující.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2007, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2010, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2010/RLB213