Undergraduate - UnitATS2629 - Faith in the future: Religion and spirituality in a globalising world

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Organisational Unit	Anthropology
Offered	Caulfield Second semester 2014 (Day) Clayton Second semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Julian Millie

Notes

Previously coded INT2075

Synopsis

Is secularism on the wane, as we witness a significant resurgence of interest in religion? This unit explores new forms of religiosity that are shaping the way many people respond to today's globalising world. Major trends include the rise of fundamentalist streams in the world religions, the proliferation of revitalization movements supporting local religious traditions, and the emergence of post-modern forms of religion such as New Age and eco-spirituality. These value-focused belief systems reinterpret the meaning of contemporary life experience, but they are also concerned about global crises and injustices and propose utopian alternatives to the prevalent ethos of materialism and greed.

Outcomes

On successfully completing this unit, students will be able to:

analyse contemporary and emerging forms of religiosity in historical terms - namely, through an understanding of:

the co-evolution of modern religion, science and capitalist economies in Europe from the Enlightenment period to the mid-20th century
subsequent departures from the project of modernity since WW2

compare and analyse the different, alternative forms of modernity and post-modernity that are currently being created in non-Western countries through new interpretations of Islam, Hinduism and other world religions
define the political circumstances and socio-economic conditions that are leading to a renewed prominence of religion in contemporary political life in general and in relation to particular cases, such as Islamic, Christian and Hindu fundamentalism
characterize the global trend toward a revitalization of local religious traditions and the ways this process can generate not only religious ethno-nationalism and conflicts with immigrant populations, but also avenues for local resistance to disenfranchisement through globalization
articulate the context and identify the causes that have precipitated a globalization of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity and the relative decline of public support for mainstream Christian churches
compare, contrast and identify commonalities among a range of emerging New-Age spiritualities that are advocating a post-modern utopic religious pluralism, based on freedom of individual expression, personal religious experience and a monistic universalism
evaluate contemporary forms of Shamanism, Witchcraft and Paganism as attempts to rediscover and rework pre-modern forms of religiosity for a post-modern world
identify and compare the core values of alternative religious and spiritual movements
critically consider what contribution religion and alternative spiritualities can make to solving some of the most pressing psychological, social, environmental, economic and political problems of a globalising world.

Assessment

Tutorial Participation in Discussion (500 words): 10%; Class Test (short answer) 1000 words: 25%; Book, Website or Documentary Film Analysis (1000 words): 25%; Essay (2000 words): 40%