Program Overview

Exploring Religion: Past and Present

Course Overview

This course introduces the academic study of religion, considering the subject from a variety of perspectives, including historical, anthropological, textual, and psychological approaches. Key themes for analysis include:

• religious identity
• secularism
• sacred texts
• religious law
• religious authority
• sacred places

Learning and Teaching

The course consists of nine units, each comprising a two-hour face-to-face session. These sessions will include lectures, class discussions and debates, pair-work and group-work, source analysis activities, and exercises to develop academic skills. There will also be a strong emphasis on learning outside of the classroom, facilitated by the university's Virtual Learning Environment.

Coursework and Assessment

The course has three short pieces of assessed work, totaling 1500 words. These pieces of work are designed to help develop the skills and approaches needed to study successfully. The assignments include:

• A piece to practice putting ideas into words in an academic form
• A piece to develop skills of analysis
• A short essay

Reading Suggestions

Recommended readings include:

• Michael Argyle, Psychology and Religion: An Introduction (Abingdon, 2000)
• Fiona Bowie, The Anthropology of Religion: An Introduction (Oxford, 2000; second edition, 2006)
• Dominic Corrywright and Peggy Morgan, Get Set for Religious Studies (Edinburgh, 2006)
• John Hinnells (ed.), The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion (Abingdon, 2010)
• Hilary Rodrigues and John S. Harding, Introduction to the Study of Religion (Oxford, 2009)
• Ninian Smart (ed.), Approaches to the Study of Religion (London, 1999)

Library and Computing Facilities

Students on this course are entitled to join and use the University's library and computing facilities.

Accessibility

The university aims to provide a confidential advice and support service for any student with a long-term medical condition, disability, or specific learning difficulty. Support includes one-to-one advice, material in alternative formats, and arrangements for accessible courses.

Part-time Courses for Adults

The university offers a range of part-time courses in humanities, languages, business, computing, politics and law, science and environment, and social studies.