The Anthropology of Religion
RELI 395
Fall 2011 not offered
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| Crosslisting:
ANTH 395 |
This course will introduce students to a cross-cultural, comparative perspective on religious practice and belief. The course will examine a number of religious traditions and anthropological debates while posing an underlying conceptual question: How have anthropologists used the concept of religion to explain--or perhaps, to explain away--seemingly radical forms of cultural difference? How, in other words, have the wildly diverse practices and beliefs of communities throughout the world been subsumed within the category of religion? What is gained and lost in this act of comparison and generalization? |
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Essential Capabilities:
Intercultural Literacy, Interpretation
Students will develop intercultural literacy skills in three ways: first, by examining the religious traditions of diverse communities in West Africa, the United States, and elsewhere; second, by exploring the role of anthropology and religious studies, as scholarly fields, in structuring relationships among diverse communities; third and above all, by conducting independent field research in a local religious community.
Students will develop interpretive skills in two ways: first, by reading and discussing theoretical texts in the anthropology of religion; and second, by documenting and explaining the religious life of the community with which they conduct field research.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS RELI |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (ANTH)(EDST-MN)(EDST)(RELI-MN)(RELI)(STS) |
Major Readings:
J. Body, WOMBS AND ALIEN SPIRITS
D. Chidester, SAVAGE SYSTEMS
S. Harding, THE BOOK OF JERRY FALWELL
D. Holand, IDENTITY AND AGENCY IN CHANGING CULTURAL WORLDS
H. Goldschmidt, RACE AND RELIGION AMONG THE CHOSEN PEOPLE OF CROWN HEIGHTS
A. Kuper, CULTURE: THE ANTHROPOLOGISTS ACCOUNT
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Examinations and Assignments:
Students will write papers on the course readings and write a final research paper based in ethnographic fieldwork. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course fulfills a "Method & Theory" requirement for the Religion Department major. |
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