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2020/21 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

THEO2900 The Sikh tradition

20 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Jasjit Singh
Email: j.s.singh@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module offers a critical study of the Sikh tradition in context focusing on its historical background and development, its encounter with colonialism and its emergence as a world religion. As almost a fifth of the global Sikh population now live outside India, this module will focus on Sikhs living both in India and in the diaspora examining what it means to be a member of a religious minority in Britain today.

Objectives

This module offers a critical study of the Sikh tradition in context focusing on its historical background and development, its encounter with colonialism and its emergence as a world religion. As almost a fifth of the global Sikh population now live outside India, this module will focus on Sikhs living both in India and in the diaspora examining what it means to be a member of a religious minority in Britain today. Issues explored will include attitudes to Sikh identity including the 5Ks, the development of the Sikh community in Britain and religious transmission among young British Sikhs. The impact of the storming of the Golden Temple in 1984 on British Sikhs will be examined as will the challenges facing the Sikh community in general and young British Sikhs in particular in a post 9/11 world. As well as focusing on the Sikh community, the module will allow students to explore the teachings of the Sikh Gurus to outline how rather than dwelling on theological and metaphysical issues, the Sikh Gurus focused on the way in which individuals construct ideas about themselves and of notions of reality.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will:
1. have developed their understanding of the foundations and evolution of the Sikh tradition;
2. have begun to consider the relationship of the Sikh tradition to other religious traditions in India
3. have developed an understanding of the British and global Sikh community and an awareness of some of the issues faced
4. have developed skills in independent learning and discussion.

Skills outcomes
Students will develop skills in:
1. Critical reading and interpretation of primary and secondary texts; note-taking; producing written assignments to deadlines; presentation of oral arguments; collaborative work in small groups; use of library and internet resources.
2. This module will also enable students to develop analytical and methodological approaches essential to the study of religion in particular and other social sciences and humanities subject areas more broadly.

Syllabus

 Introduction: Sikhism and its historical context
 Sikh Gurus: Guru Nanak and the 10 Gurus
 Sikh Scriptures: Guru Granth Sahib
 Sikh Identity: Turban, Khalsa and codes of conduct
 Sikh Institutions: Sikhism, Gurdwaras and authority
 Modern Sikhism: 1984, gender, caste and other faiths
 The Sikh Diaspora: Sikhism outside India
 The Future of Sikhism: The religious lives of young British Sikhs

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 preparing for each lecture (= 33 hours)
4 hours preparing for each seminar (= 40 hours)
106 hours preparing for assessment.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Attendance monitoring of lectures and seminars
Monitoring of contribution to seminar discussion

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	Set essay 1,500 words	40.00
Essay	Research essay 2,000 words	60.00
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: 10/08/2020 08:44:12

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