TRS5742 - Rites, Rituals and Religious Quests

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate a sympathetic understanding of ritual practices in the study of religions;
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the links between religious communities and their worship practices;
Demonstrate an ability to apply different theoretical approaches to religious behaviours and practices and to evaluate their relative merits;
Demonstrate an ability to conduct research into religious behaviours and practices, using print and online resources.

Content:

This module will explore of the varieties of ways in which participants engage in religious traditions (mainly Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim).
Students will explore the following key themes (indicative examples are added below, but students may identify and select appropriate examples of their own):
1. Rites of passage – e.g. initiation, marriage, burial
2. Pilgrimage and sacred sites – e.g. Makkah, Lourdes, sacred springs and mountains
3. Prayer and worship – e.g. Eucharist, mantra, liturgy, music and art
4. Mysticism – e.g. Christian, Sufi, meditation
Religious traditions will be opened by exploring the living forms of various religions through investigation of collective religious behaviours, such as prayer and pilgrimage, and can include different mystical and shamanistic traditions.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The course will be taught in plenary sessions which will make use of a blend of teaching and learning methods. These will normally include: lecture-style presentations by the tutor; seminar-style discussion of a particular topic; informal prepared presentations by students, followed by discussion; other exercises as appropriate to material and group.

Guidance on reading in preparation for each session and activity will be given; learning will be supported where appropriate by VLE and other electronic resources. Guidance on research and writing will be embedded in the learning and teaching process throughout the module.

Directed activities and formative work may include small written assignments and presentations. These will help prepare students for the summative assessments.

Lecture
Hours: 16

Seminar, group work, tutorial, etc
Hours: 16

Guided independent study
Hours: 168

Further details relating to assessment
Both assessments must include academic discussion of the topic, but address the phenomena discussed from different perspectives.
Assessment 1: Presentations can be done individually or in pairs and will address the learning outcomes through consideration of pilgrimage and places.
Assessment 2: The essay will address the learning outcomes through consideration of rites, rituals and worship practices.

Assessment:

001 Presentation 10 minutes mid sem 1 50%
002 Essay 1 x 2000 words end of sem 1 50%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Dr Suzanne Owen
Level - 5
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered -

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