Download course outline department of sociology college

COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE OUTLINE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
COVENANT UNIVERSITY, OTA.
COURSE CODE: SOC 315
COURSE TILE: Sociology of Religion
LECTURER: Suleiman Barnabas ([email protected] / 08033263677)
TEXT: Giddens, A. (2009): Sociology, 6th ed. (Pages 676-719)
Module 1: Introduction
Overview of the Course
What is religion?
Module 2: Sociological Analysis of Religion
Key elements of religion
How sociologists think about (or consider) religion
Module 3: Contributions of the Founding fathers of Sociology to the Sociology of Religion:
 Emile Durkheim: Elementary Forms of Religious Life
 Karl Marx
 Max Weber
Module 4: The Role of Religion in Societies
Social Class, Politics, and Religion
Gender, Sexuality, and Religion
Religious fundamentalism, pluralism, globalization and secularization
Module 5: Religious Organizations and the religions of the world:
Christiaity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, African
traditional religion, etc., etc.
COURSE AIMS
The general aim of this course is to introduce students to exactly how religion is involved in all
aspects of societal life. During this course students will be learning the meaning of sociology of
Religion, the nature of Religious beliefs, elements of religion, issues in sociology of Religion,
the importance of Religion to society, Religion and violence in Nigeria as well as the role of
Religion in politics. Also issues relating to Religion and culture as well as religion and social
change will be examined.
Specifically, the course aims at:
(i) Introducing students to the basic issues and concept in Sociology of Religion
(ii)
Describe the relationship between Religion and society
(iii) Understanding the role of religion in politics and development
(iv) Present an understanding the place of religion in violence in Nigeria
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
(i) Define Sociology of Religion. (ii) Explain the concepts of Religion and society. (iii)
Describe the nature of Religious beliefs. (iv) Outline and explain the elements of Religion (v)
Discuss the theories of Religion and society (vi) Explain the relationship between Religion and
society
(vii) Outline the importance of Religion to society (viii) Discuss Religious
fundamentalism, secularism, pluralism and religious violence in Nigeria.
TERM PAPER (deadline for submission is 17th of September, 2013)
In what way does the religious economy approach to religion provide an understanding of the
process of secularization?
OR
Examine the role of spirituality in human affairs, using the ‘religious economy approach.’
GRADING:
Term paper: 15%; Mid-semester: 15%; Examination: 70%
GRAND RULES: Punctuality. Minimum of 75% class attendance. No eating, disturbing (e.g.
facebooking, etc). Comply with CU rules and regulations as contained in the student handbook.
COURSE OUTLINE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
COVENANT UNIVERSITY, OTA.
COURSE CODE: SOC 315
COURSE TILE: Sociology of Religion
LECTURER: Suleiman Barnabas ([email protected] / 08033263677)
TEXT: Giddens, A. (2009): Sociology, 6th ed. (Pages 676-719)
Module 1: Introduction
Overview of the Course
What is religion?
Module 2: Sociological Analysis of Religion
Key elements of religion
How sociologists think about (or consider) religion
Module 3: Contributions of the Founding fathers of Sociology to the Sociology of Religion:
 Emile Durkheim: Elementary Forms of Religious Life
 Karl Marx
 Max Weber
Module 4: The Role of Religion in Societies
Social Class, Politics, and Religion
Gender, Sexuality, and Religion
Religious fundamentalism, pluralism, globalization and secularization
Module 5: Religious Organizations and the religions of the world:
Christiaity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, African
traditional religion, etc., etc.
COURSE AIMS
The general aim of this course is to introduce students to exactly how religion is involved in all
aspects of societal life. During this course students will be learning the meaning of sociology of
Religion, the nature of Religious beliefs, elements of religion, issues in sociology of Religion,
the importance of Religion to society, Religion and violence in Nigeria as well as the role of
Religion in politics. Also issues relating to Religion and culture as well as religion and social
change will be examined.
Specifically, the course aims at:
(i) Introducing students to the basic issues and concept in Sociology of Religion
(ii)
Describe the relationship between Religion and society
(iii) Understanding the role of religion in politics and development
(iv) Present an understanding the place of religion in violence in Nigeria
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
(i) Define Sociology of Religion. (ii) Explain the concepts of Religion and society. (iii)
Describe the nature of Religious beliefs. (iv) Outline and explain the elements of Religion (v)
Discuss the theories of Religion and society (vi) Explain the relationship between Religion and
society
(vii) Outline the importance of Religion to society (viii) Discuss Religious
fundamentalism, secularism, pluralism and religious violence in Nigeria.
TERM PAPER (deadline for submission is 17th of September, 2013)
In what way does the religious economy approach to religion provide an understanding of the
process of secularization?
OR
Examine the role of spirituality in human affairs, using the ‘religious economy approach.’
GRADING:
Term paper: 15%; Mid-semester: 15%; Examination: 70%
GRAND RULES: Punctuality. Minimum of 75% class attendance. No eating, disturbing (e.g.
facebooking, etc). Comply with CU rules and regulations as contained in the student handbook.