2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

THEO2250 Sociology of Religion I

20 creditsClass Size: 150

Module manager: Dr Philip Mellor
Email: P.A.Mellor@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

Throughout much of its history, sociology, more than any other academic discipline, encouraged us to believe that the world was becoming an increasingly secular, less religious, place. Today, this belief looks mistaken: religion has not disappeared, and has, if anything, tightened its grip upon the hearts and minds of people throughout the world. This does not mean that sociology is no longer important for the study of religion, however. In fact, if we return to the 'classical' founders of the discipline, we can see that their interest in religion is more complex, sensitive and thorough than that of many of their later followers. Furthermore, it is also clear that, for many of them, the idea of a world without religion makes no sense at all, and that sociology, the study of society, must also, necessarily, be the study of religion. Consequently, the aim of this module is to look at these classical theorists again, in the light of present reassessments of religion, and rethink what sociology might offer to the contemporary analysis of religion, culture and society.The module is taught through lectures and seminars, and students do not have to have a background in sociology. Assessment is through one 5-6000 word essay.

Objectives

The objectives of this module are to introduce a broad range of theoretical and methodological issues central to the sociological study of religion; to assess the significance of recent developments in social theory for the study of modern religion; and to enable students to reflect critically on the interrelationship between religion and society in the context of modernity. A major concern of the module is to explore how a number of influential theories of religion are related to broader theories of society, particularly with regard to debates about the indispensability of religion to the construction and maintenance of social orders, and counter-arguments about the secularisation of modern societies. The module is concerned principally with the place and character of religion in the theories of the major 'classical' figures in sociology.

Syllabus

1. Introduction: Modernity and the Sociology of Religion
2. Auguste Comte: Positivism and the Religion of Humanity
3. Emile Durkheim: The Elementary Forms of Religious Life
4. Emile Durkheim: Suicide
5. Georg Simmel: Religion and the 'tragedy' of modern culture
6. Max Weber: Rationalisation and Charisma
7. Max Weber: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
8. Talcott Parsons: Normative Functionalism
9. Peter Berger: The Sacred Canopy
10. Durkheim, Giddens and Bauman: Modernity and Morality
11. Durkheim, Postmodernity and the Return of the Sacred

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Tutorial	1	1.00	1.00
Private study hours			177.00
Total Contact hours			23.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Preparation for lectures
Preparation for seminars
Essay preparation

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Monitoring of attendance and participation in lectures and seminars
Reading of draft essays
Informal conversation and email correspondence

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	5-6,000 words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 01/05/2009

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