Objectives and competences
• Acquaintance with basic theoretical perspectives within the psychology of religion
• Understanding personal backgrounds of religiosity
• Understanding psychological fonctions of religiosity
• Acquaintance with world's most important religious traditions
• Understanding the complexity of relationship between religion and politcs on concrete examples
• Ability of critical thinking and opinion formation regarding the questions of religiosity.
Content (Syllabus outline)
• Religion at present time: secularization, new age spirituality and fundamentalism
• Psychological foundations of religiosity.
• Characteristics and interpretations of religious experiences.
• Religion and (mental) health.
• Relationship between religion and politics
• Comparative analyses of world's most important religious traditions from the point of view of Sociology, Psychology and Politology.
Learning and teaching methods
• Lectures, seminars, reading and comprehension of sources, individual work, cooperative learning, project work, reflexive teaching/learning.
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
• Studend has a deeper understanding of the role of religion in contemporary society.
• Student is capable of critical debate about religious phenomena through a combination of sociological, psychological and politological approaches.
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
• Ability to carry out tasks in explanation and illumination of religion, types of religion in the contemporary era.
• Capability of individual research and use of different sources, collecting information by using sociological methods, representing the findings by using different technologies, critical analysis of read sources, cooperation in groups, written and oral skills, including the use of English language.
Readings
Flere (2005): Religija, družba, posameznik, Maribor: Pef.
Smrke, Marjan (2000): Svetovne religije. Ljubljana: FDV .
Hood, R. W. Jr , Spilka, B, Hunsenberg, B. in Gorusch, R. (2018): The Psychology of Religion, An Empirical Approach: Fifth Edition. New York: Guilford Press.
Lavrič, M. (2016): Gradivo za predmet Religija, družba, posameznik. Maribor: Filozofska fakulteta.
Radeljić, B. and Topić, M. (2015). Religion in the Post-Yugoslav Context. N. Y.: Lexington, Rowman and Littlefield Group.
Additional information on implementation and assessment • Midterm exam -40%
• Seminar paper with presentation -40%
• Attendance and active collaboration -20%
