Sociology of Religion

Overview

This course on Sociology of Religion is as old as human societies have been in some form or the other; and human beings have reflected on the nature of religion for thousands of years. Human's quest for understanding nature and its forces with effects on his pursuits both in the positive and negative dimensions which have been a part of his ways of feeling, thinking and acting for centuries. These have been worked upon elaborately and processes of religious practices developed in various forms. The understanding of religion that it has to do with the esoteric, the other worldly and with that which is not primarily material in nature, indicates that symbolism, representations and abstract thinking, all of which are necessary for anything like religion to exist were present in humans from the very beginning. It also provides an account of the major criticisms on religion. Religion as it has the potential to play a key role in social institution, this course may help the readers to develop skills in interacting with different kinds of people from various society, cultural background. Thus this course will enable the students to learn as well as create the new platform in scientific approach in the study of religion.

Syllabus

Week - 1
1. Sociological Understanding of Religion2. Intellectual Theories of Religion3. Religion in Pre-Modern Societies
Week - 2
4. Religion and Magic - I5. Religion and Science6. Religion, Economy and Power
Week - 3
7. The Protestant Ethics8. Spirit of Separatism and Idea of Secularism9. Religion and Magic - II
Week - 4
10. Debate - Science and Religion11. The Domain of the Profane12. Sacred Religion
Week - 5
13. Sacred Magic14. Myth and Story15. The Role of Myth in Life
Week - 6
16. Community and Political Emancipation17. Emancipation and Equality18. Judaism19. On the Jewish Question
Week - 7
20. Emancipation and Counter Emancipation21. Bhakthi Tradition22. Sufism23. Bkakthi and Sufism Comparison
Week - 8
24. Notion of the Sacred25. Myth26. Origin of Ritual27. Myth and Ritual as Coexistence
Week - 9
28. Significance of Religion in Society29. Remembrance in Religious Activities30. The Concept of Sacred Groves31. Sacred Groves in History
Week - 10
32. Time - Practice and Structure33. Space - Practice and Structure34. Symbolism and Phenomenology35. Relation and Constants
Week - 11
36. Religion and Culture37. Totemism38. Religion and the World39. Notion of Magic in Society
Week - 12
40. Magic as Meaningful Performance41. Religion in Modern Science42. Multiple Orderings of Reality43. Oral Tradition
Week - 13
44. Folk Religion and Rituals45. Prayer46. Shamanism
Week - 14
47. Witchcraft and Religious Activities48. Characteristics of Right and Left49. Body as Sacred
Week - 15
50. Kinship and Religion51. Regional Influences and Religious Practices52. Gender and Religion