Sample Syllabus. Course Number: REL 502

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1 Disclaimer: This is an indicative syllabus only and may be subject to changes. The final and official syllabus will be distributed by the Instructor during the first day of class. The American University of Rome Master s Program in Religious Studies Department or degree program mission statement, student learning objectives, as appropriate Course Title: Religious History of Rome, Italy and Europe Course Number: REL 502 Credits & hours: 6 credits Pre/Co Requisites: Enrolment in the MA Program in Religious Studies Course description The course is designed to provide students with a systematic knowledge and understanding of religious topography and religious history of Rome, Italy and Europe in modern (post Medieval) times. The course embraces the period from the Protestant Reformation to the present. The course explores topics related to the role of religion in modern, secular societies, and complex interactions between religion, culture and politics in modern and post modern times. It course helps students to choose corresponding elective courses, which enables them to design their own academic profile to suits their research interests and future careers. Required Textbook (subject to change) Primary Sources: Englender, David, et al. (Eds.). Culture and Belief in Europe An Anthology of Sources. Oxford: Blackwell, Feuerbach, Ludwig. The Essence of Christianity. London: Trübner & Co Williams, David (Ed.). The Enlightenment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Secondary Sources: Arnal, William, McCutcheon Russell T. The Sacred Is the Profane: The Political Nature of Religion. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Aupers, Stef, Houtman Dick (Eds.). Religions of Modernity: Relocating the Sacred to the Self and the Digital. Leiden: Brill, Blackford, Russell. Freedom of the Secular State. Malden, MA: Wiley Blackwell, Cumper, Peter, Lewis Tom. Religion, Rights and Secular Society: European perspectives. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, Gaukroger, Stephen. Science, religion and modernity, in: Critical Quarterly. Winter 2005, Vol. 47 Issue 4, Gentile, Emilio. Politics as Religion. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Gorski, Philip, et al. (Eds.). The Post Secular in Question: Religion in Contemporary Society. New York: New York University Press, Habermas, Jürgen, Ratzinger Joseph. The Dialectics of Secularization: On Reason and Religion. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2005.

2 Hinnells, John (Ed.). Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion. New York: Routledge, Metz, Johann Baptist. A Passion for God: The Mystical Political Dimension of Christianity. New York: Paulist Press, Pecora, Vincent P. Secularization and Cultural Criticism: Religion, Nation, and Modernity. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, Safran, William (Ed.). The Secular and the Sacred: Nation, Politics. London: Frank Cass, Schmitt, Carl. Political Theology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, Sigmund, Paul E. Theology at the Crossroads. Democracy or Revolution? Oxford: Oxford University Press, Ward, Graham. The Blackwell Companion to Postmodern Theology. Malden, MA: Blackwell, Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. New York: Reoutledge, Recommended Readings (subject to change) Casanova, Jose. Public Religions in the Modern World. Chicago: The University of Chicago, Charlton, Donald Geoffrey. Secular Religions in France, Oxford: Oxford University Press, Dingley, James. Sacred Communities: National Identities, in: National Identities, Vol. 13, No. 4, December 2011, Farrarotti, Franco. Faith Without Dogma: The Place of Religion in Postmodern Societies. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, Nynas, Peter et al. (Eds.). Post Secular Society. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, Schottroff, Luise, Rogerson John. Liberation Theology: Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Willms, Gerald. Scientology: Modern Religion or Religion of Modernity? Oxford: Oxford University Press, Wilson, Erin K., Steger Manfred B. Religious Globalisms in the Post Secular Age, in: Globalizations, Jun 2013, Vol. 10 Issue 3, Yip, Ching Wah Francis. Capitalism as Religion? A Study of Paul Tillich s Interpretation of Modernity. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, Course Learning Objectives At the end of the course, students will be able to: 1. demonstrate a profound knowledge of the religion in the cultural, social and political context of Rome, Italy and Europe in modern (post medieval) times 2. discuss complex relations between religion and major social, cultural, and political processes in modern and post modern world 3. critically assess the role of religious narratives and religious institutions in the modern world, and be able to critically assess modern secular ideological narratives that use religious methodologies and ideas 4. demonstrate their analytic skills and critical approach to religious phenomena 5. produce a graduate level paper which prepares them for the MA thesis

3 Course Learning Activities In class analysis and discussions: Each week students will read the scheduled texts in preparation for class discussion. Students will be asked to participate in class discussions and to present their responses to scheduled texts and particular topics during the class. They will be expected to answer orally to questions stemming from the assigned readings and the topic for that week. On site classes: Students are expected to be prepared for on site classes. Students are also expected to participate actively in on site class by discussing the topic of the class. Research paper: Students will write one short research paper during the course on any topic related to the course and course materials, with prior approval of the professor. All written work should have students' name and the topic of the paper clearly written on the front page. Papers should be approximately 10 pages long, written in 12 point plain type (Times New Roman), be formatted with 1.5 spaced lines. Pages should be numbered. Images should be appropriately captioned (e.g., name of the artist, date and location). Papers are expected to: show knowledge and deep understanding of the scholarly books and articles relevant to the topic; ability to conduct a research and analyze various sources; address the topic directly; present a lucid thesis and a persuasive argument in its defense; use correct grammar, punctuation, and sentence construction; weave together thesis and argument, quotations and interpretations; reveal thoughtfulness, originality and insight. Oral presentations: Students will make an oral presentation on one of the course topics. Oral presentations can be made in form of power point, poster or other appropriate presentations, in consultation with professor. Students are expected to make a well structured and organized presentation, which should be minutes long, followed by discussion. The purpose of this presentation is to expand students' understanding of a particular topic, and to teach them how to structure their oral presentations and how to establish links between knowledge they obtained during the classes, class readings and their preparations for the presentation, and, on the other hand, clear articulation of their thoughts and presentation of main points to the audience. Oral presentation also prepares students for oral defense of their MA thesis. Assessment tools Participation in class discussions 40% Paper 40% Oral presentation 20%

4 COURSE SCHEDULE Week Topic Brief Description Readings Remark I II III Reformation and Protestantism the birth of modern individuality modern secular state Protestant reformation and its impact on the birth of modern socio economic system. Critique of religion and Church institutions. Enlightenment, reason and the birth of modern subjectivity. Romanticist ideas and the rise of modern nationalisms in post 1789 Europe. nationalism. IV Faith and Reason Modern science and religion. Critique of Christianity. Darwin s revolution. Attempts to reconcile religious worldviews and science. V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII Modern political theology theology after the Holocaust The phenomenon of secular religions The Second Vatican Council and the 1968 movements postmodern culture Post modern theology globalization Modern religious reflections on state and political order. Theological articulation of democracy and pluralism. modern authoritarian systems. The role of the Roman Catholic Church in the WWII. The new political theology of Metz. Statism, Nationalism, modern secular authoritarianisms (Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany and Bolshevik Russia) Reform of the Roman Catholic Church. Positive approach to modern society. Liberation theology. Ecumenism. Religiously based critique of modernity. Religion in popular culture: movies, literature. New and old forms of spirituality. New Age. Main ideas and spectrum of topics in the post modern theology. Critical responses. Reinterpretations of our traditions. Religious, national, ethnic, sexual identities in the age of global integrations. Religious views on the position of minority groups women. The concept of the post secular age. New significance of religion. Luther, selected writings, in: Englender, Culture and Belief in Europe Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. 3 52; Denis Diderot, Citizen, in: Williams, The Enlightenment Aupers, Religions of Modernity: Relocating the Sacred to the Self and the Digital Blackford, Freedom of the Secular State David Hume, Of the First Principles of Government, in: Williams, The Enlightenment Blackford, Freedom of the Secular State ; Cumper, Religion, Rights and Secular Society Feuerbach, The Essence of Christianity. (chapter 1) Gaukroger, Science, Modernity. (selected chapters) Habermas, The Dialectics of Secularization: On Reason and Religion. 3 34; Arnal, The Sacred Is the Profane: The Political Nature of Religion. Chapter 1 2. Schmitt, Political Theology Metz, A Passion for God ; ; Gentile, Politics as Religion Hinnells, Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion. Chapter 20. Sigmund, Theology at the Crossroads ; 32 78; Aupers, Religions of Modernity: Relocating the Sacred to the Self and the Digital Pecora, Secularization and Cultural Criticism: Religion, Nation, and Modernity Ward, Postmodern Theology. 3 23; ; Religious fundamentalism and the post secular society Oral presentations Pecora, Secularization and Cultural Criticism: Religion, Nation, and Modernity Gorski, The Post Secular in Question: Religion in Contemporary Society. 1 22; ; lecturer lecturer: Johan B. Metz lecture lecture: Graham Ward (Oxford)

5 ATTENDANCE POLICY AUR s attendance policy requires that students attend a minimum of 70% of required course meetings in order to receive a passing grade. Failure to attend 70% of the course will result in an F grade. In order to maintain the academic integrity of the Master s programs and to meet the learning objectives, students are expected to attend all classes, meet all deadlines and be present for examinations. Absences will undermine the focus of class discussions and student interaction. Absences may be excused in exceptional circumstances, on permission of the instructor. Socially accepted standards of civility are expected in class. Grades GRADE GPA A Excellent points A pts B+ Very Good B Good B C C Satisfactory C Less than Satisfactory D Poor F Failing AUDIT (AU) Only possible when the student registers for a course at the beginning of the semester as an audit student Students can obtain no more than 3 C grades (including C+, C and C ) on all courses. Students with four or more C grades will not qualify for submitting their M.A. thesis and completing the program. They will be allowed to repeat a course in order to qualify. Students must obtain at least B for their M.A. thesis in order to complete the M.A. program.