Teacher(s)
Language
French
Main themes
In order to achieve these aims, the seminar will - address one or more thematic issues taken every year within the framework of a different religion (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism) - identify, in that particular religion and in Christianity, the deeper structures and essential motives, in order to compare them and analyse what these two traditions may mean to each other - include periods of magisterial teaching, short papers by students, and team work.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| 1 | - understand the methods of comparative study, as well as the prerequisites of the historical, theological and socio-anthropological approachs. - Approach a theme issue from one of the major traditions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism), in a comparative study with the Christianity, from a rigorous scientific approach and aware of its limits. |
Content
Based on the collection and analysis of contemporary religious expressions of Muslim and Catholic ascendance, considered from an interdisciplinary perspective that draws on theology and the humanities (such as comparative approaches, anthropology, sociology, and history), the activity seeks to identify the underlying structures and key drivers that may impact individual and collective behavior in relation to ecology. Each religious tradition develops unique conceptions of humanity and its relationship with the environment; these are likely to constitute levers or obstacles to engagement, which must be analyzed using social science tools, including theories, concepts, and comparisons to better understand their respective scope.
Teaching methods
The seminar introduces students to a concrete socio-anthropological research approach which, based in particular on interviews with people of Catholic and Muslim ancestry, will attempt to identify the concrete ways in which they take the environment into account, in relation to the discourses developed by their respective religious institutions, which will then be considered from a comparative perspective. This exploratory study of the contemporary experiences of believers, to be understood in relation to the transformations of religion and its place in contemporary societies, constitutes a practical introduction to the challenges of research and its difficulties, i.e., a set of knowledge, skills, know-how, and interpersonal skills that can be mobilized well beyond the specific research situation, in everyday life but also, among other things, in the management of intercultural situations.
The seminar will include lectures to provide a framework for the main disciplinary approaches used (sociology, comparative approach, and analysis of contemporary religious discourse) and the chosen theme. Above all, it will involve students in individual and group research projects (not so much bibliographic research and hypothesis building, but above all an introduction to/deepening of listening skills and interview techniques, thematic analysis, and exposure to certain sociological concepts and theories, including the sociology of practices), as well as student presentations and critical debates on the work carried out.
The seminar will include lectures to provide a framework for the main disciplinary approaches used (sociology, comparative approach, and analysis of contemporary religious discourse) and the chosen theme. Above all, it will involve students in individual and group research projects (not so much bibliographic research and hypothesis building, but above all an introduction to/deepening of listening skills and interview techniques, thematic analysis, and exposure to certain sociological concepts and theories, including the sociology of practices), as well as student presentations and critical debates on the work carried out.
Evaluation methods
Assessment is based primarily on individual and group work carried out throughout the year and the presentation of research findings at the end of the year. Students are encouraged to take ownership of this topic and become the driving force behind this collective research project.
Other information
The theme for the 2025-2026 academic year: Contemporary religiosities and ecology — practices between religious frameworks and life ethos, between routines and bifurcations.
Online resources
Scientific and documentary resources are provided on the Moodle platform.
Faculty or entity
