SCY3290

Spiritualities, faiths and religions: society and the transcendent

Gary Bouma

8 points
* 3 hours per week
* Second semester
* Clayton

Objectives Students in this subject will develop an awareness of the impact of religion in society throughout history and in contemporary life; an understanding of the interrelationship of religion and society in such areas as culture, social integration and social change, and the main theoretical perspectives used to interpret and explain this interrelationship; an appreciation of the central role played by different religions in the social construction of human meaning systems and institutions, and in the processes of socialisation and social control; an ability to identify and evaluate views expressed by different authors writing about religion and society; a competence in articulating arguments orally and in written form on a variety of topics in the sociology of religion.

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 option examines the problem of religious meaning, the emergence and maintenance of religious systems of meaning, and the interaction between religion and and other aspects of society.

Assessment Research report (4000 words): 70%
* Short paper (1000 words): 15%
* Class test (1 hour): 15%

Prescribed texts

Bouma G D (ed.) Many religions, all Australia CRA, 1997
Bouma G D Religion: Meaning, transcendence and community in Australia Longman, 1992
Kurtz L Gods in the global village: The world's religons in sociological perspective Forge, 1995

Recommended texts

Beckford J A Religion and advanced industrial society Unwin Hyman, 1989
Bouma G D The religious factor in Australian life Marc, 1986
Beyer P Religion and globalization Sage, 1994
Hughes P Religion: A view from the census CRA, 1993