soc3srs secular, religious, spiritual
SECULAR, RELIGIOUS, SPIRITUAL: WAYS OF BEING MODERN
SOC3SRS
2016
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
What can contemporary expressions of religious life and spiritual experience tell us about ourselves, the societies we live in and the nature of social change in our world? In this subject students examine how contemporary orientations to faith, piety, spirituality and the search for self-transcendence connect to broader debates and transformations across the globe. Students in this subject are given the opportunity to develop their conceptual, self-reflexive and critical abilities as they investigate the personal, local and global implications of religious life and spirituality. Who said modernization would be the death of religion, and why? Can religious claims and secular criticisms co-exist? What explains the success of global religious movements? Does the soul have a body? Are religion and spirituality forms of social critique? These questions will be addressed on the basis of case studies drawn from western, non-western, developed and developing countries.
SchoolSchool of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorWendy Mee
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 3 - UG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites 15 credit points of any first year sociology subject and 15 credit points of any Humanities and Social Sciences subject, or subject coordinator's approval.
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjects SOC2SRS
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Evaluate the key conceptual and theoretical approaches in the sociology of religion and secularity
- Activities:
- Class based exercises, preliminary essay and research essay
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
02. Independently research, summarise and synthesise contemporary secular religious and spiritual practices from a range of different perspectives and geographical locations
- Activities:
- Class based exercises, preliminary essay and research essay
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
03. Produce a well-documented, clear, cogent and sophisticated written argument about the place of secularity, religion and spirituality in contemporary society
- Activities:
- Research essay
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
04. Work with a tutorial group to compile and present critical reflections on issues relevant to the study of secularity, religion and spirituality in a range of countries
- Activities:
- Class based exercises
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
05. Work with a tutorial group to critically apply knowledge of sociology of religion concepts and theories to the analysis of contemporary societies from a global perspective
- Activities:
- Class based exercises
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
Subject options
Select to view your study options…
Bendigo, 2016, Semester 2, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorWendy Mee
Class requirements
WorkShopWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.0 hours workshop per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via blended.
"9 x 2-hr online lecture/seminar & 1-hr online tutorial, and 3 x 3-hr face-to-face workshop across the semester."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class based excercises (1,600-word equivalent) | 40 | 01, 02, 04, 05 | |
| one 2,400-word research essay | 60 | 01, 02, 03 |
Melbourne, 2016, Semester 2, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorWendy Mee
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 31 - 43
One 2.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
TutorialWeek: 31 - 43
One 1.0 hours tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class based excercises (1,600-word equivalent) | 40 | 01, 02, 04, 05 | |
| one 2,400-word research essay | 60 | 01, 02, 03 |