VICM2145 - The Victorians and Religion

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1 demonstrate advanced knowledge of the religious experience of the Victorians, and of selected denominations, movements, and individuals
2 apply a critical awareness of a range of current approaches to the subject, including (for instance) historical, theological, and cultural perspectives, and work with a wide range of primary and secondary sources.
3 Demonstrate high-level understanding of the context within which Victorian religious belief operated, and of its impact on political, social and cultural life.
4 demonstrate self-direction and critical independence in a sophisticated argument that uses appropriate evidence/illustrations and engages with contextual and critical literature.

Content:

The module investigates various aspects of the Victorians and religion including the strength and form of religious observance, a case-study of the history of two leading denominations/ ‘movements’ (for instance, Evangelicalism or Tractarianism) and the personal faith experience and spirituality of specific individuals and/or social classes (for instance, the working classes). The wider impact of Victorian religious belief on certain aspects of political, social and cultural life will also be considered through 2 specific case-studies related to staff specialism (for instance, religious paintings, church-building and space, domestic life/the experience of women). The contribution which other disciplines can make to understanding of religion during the Victorian era will also be considered.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The seminars will make use of a number of teaching and learning methods, including: short presentations by the tutor, exercises in groups, informal presentations by students, and plenary discussions. Students will be set reading to complete before the session and they will be expected to bring their own reflections to bear on the exercises and discussion. The 20-minute individual tutorial may take different forms as appropriate to the individual student (e.g. face-to-face discussion, e-mail consultations). These tutorials are intended to give students some guidance on their choice of essay question and on researching the topic.

Seminars
Contact hours: 2 x 6
Intended Group size: 12

Tutorials
Contact hours: 20 minutes per student

Assessment: