Empire of Religion – How to study religion and on whose terms?

Dozent/in	Anne Beutter, MA
Veranstaltungsart	Hauptseminar
Code	FS181130
Semester	Frühjahrssemester 2018
Durchführender Fachbereich	Religionswissenschaft
Studienstufe	Bachelor Master
Termin/e
Umfang	2 Semesterwochenstunden
Turnus	wöchentlich
Inhalt	The study of religion(s) (Religionswissenschaft) is an inherently comparative project. Unfortunately, one of a somewhat dubious ancestry: Like in neighbouring disciplines a critical look at the theories of its ‘founding figures’ shows that not only did the discipline co-evolve with power structures of the global imperial enterprises, evolutionist and modernist ideologies of the late 19th and early 20th century but the study of ‘other religions’ was explicitly promoted by colonial policies to generate knowledge in order to more efficiently dominate and marginalize their adherents. In how far does this history still contribute to what we analyse as ‘Religion’, how do we we categorise and compare? Is it possible and better to do away with the comparative project to instead focus on the knowledge system we happen to be born into? Or does this only perpetuate the inherited error? These questions we seek to tackle in this course. Drawing on D. Chidester’s account of the Empire of Religion as seen from the ‘periphery’ of African religions in the mirror of prominent theories of the early discipline we shed light on the provenience and subtle connotations of certain of our modes and categories of thinking. So as to enable us to engage in conscious, critical and creative knowledge production in the contemporary study of religions. These precautions are not only indispensable when learning about concepts and practices of distant places and times but they are equally relevant in understanding the shifting religious landscape right at our doorstep and the way we scientifically account for it.
Lernziele	Students… … get to know a critical approach to theories in and the history of the study of religions; … get insights into religions in southern Africa; … reflect on their use of categories, theories and comparisons; … train skills in presenting as well as in giving and receiving feedback.
Voraussetzungen	Please be present in the first session. The course will be taught in English and/or German (depending on the participants). Either way participants may contribute in German. Intensive reading and preparation of the syllabus are required as well as active participation in discussion, oral, and written assignments during the course.
Sprache	Bilingue - Deutsch / Englisch
Leistungsnachweis	parallel to the course
Abschlussform / Credits	Active involvement in the course, oral presentation, written contribution; min. 80 % participation in class / 4 Credits
Hinweise	The course will be taught in English and/or German (depending on the participants). Either way participants may contribute in German.
Hörer-/innen	Ja
Kontakt	anne.beutter@unilu.ch
Literatur	Chidester, David (2014) Empire of Religion, Imperialism and Comparative Religion. Further reading to be announced in the course.