RLBcB021 Religion and Politics

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. David Václavík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. David Václavík, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Matouš Vencálek
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable of Seminar Groups
RLBcB021/Kombi: Fri 10. 3. 10:00–11:40 G25, Fri 14. 4. 10:00–11:40 G25, Fri 12. 5. 10:00–11:40 G25
RLBcB021/Prez: Thu 14:00–15:40 G23
Prerequisites (in Czech)
( RLA01 Introduction to Religion || RLKA01 Introduction to Religion || RLBcA001 Introduction to Religion || RLBcKA001 Introduction to Religion ) && ( RLA13 Introduction to Research || RLKA13 Introduction to Research || RLBcA013 Introduction to Research || RLBcKA013 Introduction to Research ) && ! RLB21 Religion and Politics
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 4/50, only registered: 0/50, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course focuses on the basic definition of the relationship between politics and religion and the analysis of the transformation of key concepts and concepts related to the given issue. Attention will be paid in particular to the role of religion in the process of legitimizing political structures, the influence of religion on the formation of political ideologies, the comparison of the relationship between power and religion in traditional and modern society, and last but not least, the problems associated with religious fundamentalism and the process of desecularization.
Learning outcomes
Student will be able to:

  • to identify the main issues of the relationship between politics and religion;
  • critically reflect the key features of modern society toward religion and religious systems;
  • analyze and interpret important concepts and concepts defining the relationship between politics and religion in modern society;
  • describe and interpret the differences in the most important legislative arrangements concerning the activities of religious groups.
    • Syllabus
    • Basic definition of the relationship between religion and politics I. - Criticism of the selective concept of religion; Basic definition of the relationship between religion and politics II. - the so-called secularization thesis and its critique; Religion as a tool for legitimating social reality; Religion and Political Structure I - Sacralization of sovereign and state, ethnicity and nation; Religion and Political Structures II - Sacralization of social and political change; The process of social and political differentiation in modern society; Concept of so-called political religions; "Clash of civilizations": a theoretical concept or a political tool; Religious nationalism and religious fundamentalism in the modern world.
    Literature
      required literature
    • DAVIE, Grace. Výjimečný případ Evropa : podoby víry v dnešním světě. Translated by Tomáš Suchomel. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury (CDK), 2009, 207 s. ISBN 9788073251925. info
    • HUNTINGTON, Samuel P. Střet civilizací :boj kultur a proměna světového řádu. Vyd. 1. Praha: Rybka Publishers, 2001, v, 447 s. ISBN 80-86182-49-5. info
    • BARŠA, Pavel. Západ a islamismus :střet civilizací, nebo dialog kultur? 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2001, 188 s. ISBN 80-85959-96-8. info
    • ASAD, Talal. Genealogies of religion :discipline and reasons of power in christianity and islam. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993, 335 s. ISBN 0-8018-4632-3. info
      recommended literature
    • BERGER, Peter L., Grace DAVIE and Effie FOKAS. Religious America, secular Europe? : a theme and variation. Aldershot, England: Ashgate, 2008, 168 s. ISBN 9780754660118. info
    • HLOUŠEK, Vít. Evropa, Amerika, náboženství a politika (Europe, America, Religion, and the Politics). In HANUŠ, Jiří and Jan VYBÍRAL. Evropa a její duchovní tvář. 1st ed. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2005, p. 268-270. ISBN 80-7325-071-3. info
    • HANUŠ, Jiří. Náboženství a jeho vitalita. Náboženství a politika podle Jacoba Burckhardta. Praha: Dingir, 2003. ISBN 1212-1371. info
    • DAVIE, Grace. Religion in modern Europe : a memory mutates. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000, viii, 218. ISBN 0198280653. URL info
    Teaching methods
    Lectures, class discussions, reading of texts, homeworks (conspectus).
    Assessment methods
    Final test (70%); active participation in lessons (30%)
    Language of instruction
    Czech
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    Study Materials
    The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
    The course is taught once in two years.
    Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
    The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021.
    • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2023/RLBcB021