Anthropology

Religion, Ritual & Global Transformation

Module code: L6072
Level 5
15 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Lecture, Seminar
Assessment modes: Essay

This module is for you if you have knowledge of anthropological approaches. It helps you develop an understanding of religion and ritual, and their transformations in the modern world. It introduces main theoretical debates in the field of anthropology of religion and ritual, fostering historical awareness of how religion and ritual have affected global economic, political and socio-cultural transformations.

We’ll confront broad assumptions made about modern life, progress, rationality and even science through ethnographic texts and discussion. We ask ‘What is religion?’ and ‘What is the secular?’, exploring:

cultural taboos on clothing
totemism in contemporary politics
elements of belief in science
witchcraft in economics
magic in daily practice
animism in environmental contexts.

Module learning outcomes

To demonstrate knowledge/understanding of anthropological approaches to understanding religion and ritual.
To analyse/evaluate/assess main theoretical debates in the field of anthropology of religion and ritual, and an awareness of the history of these debates and how specific theoretical trends have developed over time.
To relate theory to specific ethnographic contexts of religious and ritual practice.
To evaluate/compare strengths and weaknesses of anthropological theory that has been developed and deployed to understand actual practices.