TRS4012 - Living Religions

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate:
A detailed knowledge and understanding of more than one religious tradition, with reference to primary texts in translation and secondary sources.
Demonstrate an understanding of the history and development of these religions from a reflective, informed position, including their variation and plurality.
Demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts and practices of more than one religious tradition and their interpretations.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the academic study of these traditions and their categorisations.

Content:

This module explores several religious traditions in different cultural contexts, depending on staff expertise, and may include traditions within Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism or Japanese and other cultural traditions. Specific attention is paid to the development of variations and tensions within traditions, and the differing manners in which key texts and tenets have come to be interpreted differently by various groups. In addition, the problem of classifying 'religions' (including their groupings, such as 'Hinduism') is highlighted.

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; and learning will be supported where appropriate by VLE and other electronic resources. Guidance on research and essay-writing will be embedded in the learning and teaching process throughout the module, and may also be supported by tutorial guidance on essay plans if required.

Seminars
Hours: 40
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Guided independent study
Hours: 160

Further details relating to assessment
Directed activities will normally be weekly short assignments, including preparation for other assessments, such as bibliographies, summaries of reading, short research pieces, etc. Students must complete around 75% to gain credit.
The Blog Article is based on student research into a contemporary religious tradition in a Middle/South/East Asian context. Some of them may be posted (after editing) on the TRS blog, if the students permit.

Students may also negotiate their assessment topic with the lecturer.

Assessment:

001 Directed activities; throughout semester 2 10%
002 Essay; 2000 words; mid-semester 2 45%
003 Blog article; 2000 words; end of semester 2 45%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Patricia Kelly
Level - 4
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4S2

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