Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

Are Australians spiritual, religious or what? Is Australia Christian, Monotheist, Secular or Polytheist? Why are Islam, Buddhism and Witchcraft growing? Is there a future for the churches? Does it make any difference? Focusing on religion in Australia, this unit examines the problem of religious meaning, the emergence and maintenance of religious systems of meaning, and the interaction between religion and other aspects of society.

Objectives

Students completing this subject successfully will encounter the diversity of spirituality in religiously plural Australia, become sensitive to the ways in which spiritualities and modes of interacting with the transcendent are socially organised, understand the complex interplay between religion and society, appreciate the social underpinning and structuring of religious belief and the ways in which religious belief shapes society, become aware of the sociological perspectives on spirituality and religious belief, practice and organisation in Australian society.

Assessment

Research paper (3500 words) : 75%
Class Test (1 hour ) : 25%

Contact hours

2-hour lecture per week + 1-hour tutorial per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Sociology
Religion and theology
Indonesian studies
Anthropology

Prerequisites

A first-year sequence in Sociology or permission

Prohibitions

SCY 3290, RLT2/3290, COS2290/3290