2018/19 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

THEO3190 Religions and Global Development

20 creditsClass Size: 60

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

What is the relationship between religions and international development? Do religions promote or hinder development? How do religious models of development relate to the secular economics based framework that has dominated international development in the post-world war II period? This module will offer opportunities to study the operation of religion in relation to development theory and action; the nature of religion as resource, obstacle and critical participant in development; particular forms of co-operation between religious communities, religious aid agencies and communities in development; and the relationship of religion, human values and community building. The module will critically reflect upon why religions were ignored/marginalised in development discourse until recently, in the context of broader understandings of the 'resurgence' of religion in public life and the reconfiguration of the secularism debate. The syllabus will include discussion of the views that religious traditions hold about areas key to development debates, including: poverty and debt; welfare and philanthropy; economic; human rights; environmentalism; reproductive rights and gender. Throughout, we will integrate thinking about the policy relevance to different sorts of organizations of research that looks at the relationship between religions and international development.

Objectives

- To examine the complex relationships between religions and global development;
- To understand why religions were ignored/marginalised in development discourse until recently, in the contextof
broader understandings of the 'resurgence' of religion in public life and the reconfiguration of the secularism debate;
- To look at attitudes within the world religions towards key areas, including: poverty and debt; welfare and philanthropy; economics; human rights; environmentalism; reproductive rights and gender;
- To critically evaluate the relevance of religion to development, in particular the nature of religion as resource, obstacle and critical participant in development;
- To study examples of the operation of 'faith-based organizations' working in development (e.g. humanitarian relief, service delivery, advocacy);
- To think about the policy relevance to different sorts of organizations of research that looks at the relationship between religions and international development.

Learning outcomes
- Key theories about secularisation and modernisation and how these relate to the relationship between religions and development;
- Introduction to development concepts and processes;
- Knowledge about the way that religious traditions view key areas within development discourse including: poverty and debt; welfare and philanthropy; economics; human rights; environmentalism; reproductive rights and gender;
- An understanding of the nature, scale and scope of the faith-based sector in development.

Skills outcomes
Independent research and writing skills; presentation skills; ability to organise time; critical thinking skills (e.g. challenging the appropriateness of taken for granted distinctions such as 'secular' and 'religious' as uniform and universally applicable); ability to apply critical theories to practical contexts (e.g. gender theory); to begin to think about ways in which academic research can be translated into policy (impact and knowledge transfer).

Syllabus

The study of religion in society: modernization, secularization and the resurgence of religion; development as a religious concern; the mainstreaming of religion in development; the approaches of different academic disciplines to the intersection of religion and development; religious values and beliefs about development; development theory and practice in major world religions; the nature, scale and scope of the faith-based organization sector; secular versus faith-based approaches to development; religious attitudes to environmental issues in theory and in practice; gender, religion and development.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			179.00
Total Contact hours			21.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

3 hours a week preparing for each seminar (3x10) = 30 hours
5 hours preparation for group presentation
2 hours doing background reading following on from each lecture (2x11) = 22 hours

Remaining for writing reflexive account and 2 x essay preparation and writing = 122 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

1. informal monitoring in the weekly seminars, in terms of student preparation and engagement with the discussion;
2. formal: group presentation; written work (reflexive account of presentation and two essays).

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2.500 words	40.00
Essay	2.500 words	50.00
Presentation	Groups of 2-3 students in weeks 3-6.	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Resit will consist of 2 x 3,000 word essays.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 25/03/2019

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