Teacher(s)
Language
French
Main themes
This aim will be achieved through
- an analysis of concepts, such as culture and civilization, helpful towards an understanding of the relations between religions ;
- a study of the historical and contemporary dimensions of the relations between individuals, groups and religious institutions.
- an analysis of concepts, such as culture and civilization, helpful towards an understanding of the relations between religions ;
- a study of the historical and contemporary dimensions of the relations between individuals, groups and religious institutions.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| 1 | place the evolution of the relations between religions within the broader context of contemporary relations between cultures. |
Content
Humans base their societies on social and hierarchical relationships of a political and religious nature. These power relationships find their legitimacy in the collective imaginations that humans share and which give meaning to their existence.
Encounters, exchanges and conflicts have continually transformed these imaginaries and, more generally, what we mean by ‘culture’. These transformations accelerated during European expansion since the 16th century, which was characterised, among other things, by struggles for political, economic and cultural hegemony, territorial occupations, colonisation, emigration, the subjugation and displacement of populations, the spread of technology and the export of capital.
Social change has accelerated further with globalisation, a phenomenon linked to European expansion, which is characterised by cultural homogenisation, the reinvention of local cultures, religious rites and imaginaries, the circulation of the latter, and the reconfiguration of the role of the State, which is no longer strictly associated with a territory and thus promotes social stratification between global elites detached from a territory and working classes confined to the local area.
Initially, this course will seek to define what we mean by ‘religions’, ‘religious facts’, “religiousness” and ‘interculturality’. Each session will then be dedicated to a topic that questions the relationship between ‘religions’ and ‘interculturality’ in our societies and/or in non-European societies, based on readings of key texts from the disciplines of anthropology, sociology, and/or history.
By reading these texts, which have shaped their respective disciplines, we can examine how societies have reinvented their political and religious imaginaries. To what extent has the spread of religions promoted trade, military conquests, control of populations, and religious conversions? What forms did these conversions take? What methods did Europeans use, in the context of colonisation, to convert the populations they subjugated and whose territory they occupied? What forms of resistance did the latter put in place, and what forms of intermingling, creolisation, and syncretism developed between the different populations present?
Encounters, exchanges and conflicts have continually transformed these imaginaries and, more generally, what we mean by ‘culture’. These transformations accelerated during European expansion since the 16th century, which was characterised, among other things, by struggles for political, economic and cultural hegemony, territorial occupations, colonisation, emigration, the subjugation and displacement of populations, the spread of technology and the export of capital.
Social change has accelerated further with globalisation, a phenomenon linked to European expansion, which is characterised by cultural homogenisation, the reinvention of local cultures, religious rites and imaginaries, the circulation of the latter, and the reconfiguration of the role of the State, which is no longer strictly associated with a territory and thus promotes social stratification between global elites detached from a territory and working classes confined to the local area.
Initially, this course will seek to define what we mean by ‘religions’, ‘religious facts’, “religiousness” and ‘interculturality’. Each session will then be dedicated to a topic that questions the relationship between ‘religions’ and ‘interculturality’ in our societies and/or in non-European societies, based on readings of key texts from the disciplines of anthropology, sociology, and/or history.
By reading these texts, which have shaped their respective disciplines, we can examine how societies have reinvented their political and religious imaginaries. To what extent has the spread of religions promoted trade, military conquests, control of populations, and religious conversions? What forms did these conversions take? What methods did Europeans use, in the context of colonisation, to convert the populations they subjugated and whose territory they occupied? What forms of resistance did the latter put in place, and what forms of intermingling, creolisation, and syncretism developed between the different populations present?
Teaching methods
This course is based on active university teaching methods and requires active participation from students (weekly reading and participation in class discussions).
Each class session is devoted to discussing texts that students have read beforehand. Two students are responsible for moderating the discussions. The professor supervises the discussions and is responsible for making conceptual connections with other debates in history, anthropology and sociology.
Depending on the year, activities can be organised outside of course hours (meetings, documentary screenings and debates, exhibitions, etc.).
Each class session is devoted to discussing texts that students have read beforehand. Two students are responsible for moderating the discussions. The professor supervises the discussions and is responsible for making conceptual connections with other debates in history, anthropology and sociology.
Depending on the year, activities can be organised outside of course hours (meetings, documentary screenings and debates, exhibitions, etc.).
Evaluation methods
The evaluation consists of writing a 15-page essay on the concepts covered and discussed during the course. The essay must be submitted on Moodle according to the instructions given during the course (and posted on the Moodle page of the course).
Depending on the year, students may be required to give oral presentations on their essays.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) must be used responsibly and in accordance with the practices of academic and scientific integrity. As scientific integrity requires that sources be cited, the use of AI must always be reported. The use of artificial intelligence for tasks where it is explicitly prohibited will be considered as cheating, in particular for any work requiring the student to do some writing.
Depending on the year, students may be required to give oral presentations on their essays.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) must be used responsibly and in accordance with the practices of academic and scientific integrity. As scientific integrity requires that sources be cited, the use of AI must always be reported. The use of artificial intelligence for tasks where it is explicitly prohibited will be considered as cheating, in particular for any work requiring the student to do some writing.
Online resources
Articles and powerpoints, if any, will be posted on the Moodle page for the course.
Faculty or entity
Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)
Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Master [120] in Anthropology
Master [120] in Sociology
Master [120] in Sciences of Religions
Master [120] in Political Sciences: General
Master [120] of Education, Section 4 : Philosophy and Citizenship
Master [120] of Education, Section 4 : Religion