Module THEO3461: EMOTION AND IDENTITY IN RELIGION

Department: Theology and Religion

THEO3461: EMOTION AND IDENTITY IN RELIGION

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To introduce the issues of emotion, states of mind and embodiment in relation to religion and identity.
• To consider selected social scientific perspectives upon experience in relation to religion and identity.
• To develop a competence in developing an interdisciplinary approach to emotion, identity and social organization.

Content

• The module is grounded in a brief historical account of approaches to emotion and experience in religion.
• It provides a focus on anthropological interests on emotion, with particular attention to aspects of cognitive anthropology as related to the interplay of individual identity, the culture classification of values, and the social organization of ritual and ethics.
• To study the above theoretical issues and interdisciplinarity through a focus on specific groups or topics, particularly Mormonism, death and bereavement.

Learning Outcomes

• An introduction to the historical development of diverse methods of approach to emotion and identity in sociology, anthropology and psychology.
• An introduction to issues of religious experience in relation to conversion, ecstasy and mysticism.
• An engagement with key theories of grief in relation to the cultural management of bereavement exemplified in several societies.
• An engagement with selected rites and doctrines of Mormonism in relation to that group's prime values and preferred pattern of emotional response.

• Direct competence in religious studies through evaluating diverse theories related to identity and emotion in religion.
• Acquisition of detailed knowledge of topics that may be selected for detailed treatment such as death and Mormonism.

• The acquisition of a competence in interdisciplinarity.
• The capacity to relate theory and empirical data against historical and cultural contexts.
• Skills in managing diverse forms of knowledge and presenting the results of analytical work in written form.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures convey information and exemplify an approach to the subject-matter, enabling students to develop a clear understanding of the subject and to improve their skills in listening and in evaluating information.
• Seminars enhance subject-specific knowledge and understanding both through preparation and through interaction with students and staff, promoting awareness of different viewpoints and approaches.
• Through small-group discussion, tutorials provide feedback on student work and the opportunity to discuss specific issues in detail, enhancing student knowledge and writing skills.
• Examinations assess subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the structured presentation of information in written form under time constraints.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Preparation for seminars.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University