This module explores religions from around the world. Students will be provided with the tools required for the academic study of religion, and each week a new faith will be introduced and used to frame wider questions surrounding sacred texts, religious practices, religious authority, and identity. Emphasis will be placed on the diversity within religious traditions, noting how historical, cultural, and social factors influence the way religion is practiced across the globe. The course will take a range of approaches to the study of religion, beginning with a largely historical examination of early Christianity, and moving on to anthropological, sociological, and psychological perspectives to explore religions such as Islam and Jainism. Throughout the module, the course will consider the main issues that religion faces in the modern day, such as migration, technology, secularisation, and the emergence of ‘new religions’.

Knowledge and Understanding:

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the ways in which religion is studied from a range of disciplinary perspectives including history, anthropology and psychology.
• Demonstrate understanding of how different types of source material are categorized and employed for the study of religion.
• Demonstrate a broad understanding of how religious identities are constructed and perpetuated.
• Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the underlying concepts, principles and approaches associated with the study of religion.
• Demonstrate understanding of the influence which the past has on the present in respect of religious studies.

Academic skills

• Engage critically with relevant source materials for the study of religion.
• Assimilate and understand the arguments of modern scholars.
• Understand and critique arguments.

Transferable/employability Skills:

• Present views and arguments clearly.
• Structure a piece of writing effectively.
• Argue a point with supporting evidence.

The module will be taught through nine two-hour sessions incorporating lectures, seminars and workshops. These sessions will consist of a one-hour lecture followed by class discussion and group work on specific topics relating to the module. The discussion and group work will enable students to think critically and to contribute to the debates and topics presented during the lectures. The discussion-led sessions and the lectures will be supplemented by resources available to students via Learning Central.

• The ability to communicate ideas and arguments effectively, whether in class discussion or in written form.
• The ability to work effectively with others in groups and to learn collaboratively through discussion and interaction, showing respect for others’ reasoned views.
• The ability to think critically, analyse sources, evaluate arguments, and challenge assumptions.
• The ability to formulate and justify arguments and conclusions and present appropriate supporting evidence.
• The ability to locate relevant resources in the library and online and use them appropriately in academic work.
• The ability to use a range of information technology resources to assist with information retrieval and assignment presentation.
• Time management skills and an ability to independently organise their own study methods and workload.

Assignment 1 (Academic writing exercise)  10% Exact nature of task will vary from year to year. 300 words  Weeks 3-4

Assignment 2  (Source analysis)   30% Exact nature of task will vary from year to year. 500 words Week 6

Assignment 3  (Essay) 60%  Exact nature of task will vary from year to year.  700-1000  words  End of course

1. What is Religious Studies?
2. Practising and Studying Religion
3. An Introduction to Greek and Roman Religious Traditions
4. An Introduction to Early Christianity
5. An Introduction to Islam
6. An Introduction to Buddhism
7. An Introduction to Jainism
8. An Introduction to Hinduism
9. New Religious Movements and Contemporary Religion