Sociology of Religion: Idea of the Sacred (RELN3003)
Course level
Undergraduate
Faculty
Humanities Arts Social Science
School
Historical & Philosophical Inq
Units
2
Duration
One Semester
Class hours
Lecture 2 Hours/ Week
Tutorial 1 Hour/ Week
Incompatible
RELN2000
Recommended prerequisite
RELN1000
Assessment methods
Essay, Tutorial Participation, Diary, Work Integrated Learning Task
Course enquiries
Dr Tom Aechtner
Study Abroad
This course is pre-approved for Study Abroad and Exchange students.
Current course offerings
Course offerings | Location | Mode | Course Profile |
Semester 1, 2024 (19/02/2024 - 15/06/2024) | External | External | Course Profile |
Semester 1, 2024 (19/02/2024 - 15/06/2024) | St Lucia | In Person | Course Profile |
Please Note: Course profiles marked as not available may still be in development.
Course description
RELN3003 explores the sociology of religion, including its key theories and research practices. It seeks to introduce students to the nature and function of religious beliefs, practices, and institutions, as well as the socially constructed nature of religion and its impact on societies. Students will learn how religion has been interpreted by sociologists in the past, and how evolving perspectives shape both the way academics perceive religion and how they study it. They will learn how religion permeates and affects virtually every domain of human culture and social interaction. RELN3003 will examine what the sociology of religion reveals about the nature of secularisation, violence and terrorism, sexuality, scripture, class, gender, inequality and power, the spiritualities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, rituals, politics and religion, notions of purity, as well as beliefs about where the universe came from. These perspectives can help us to better understand the world that we live in, and the presence of certain religious phenomena across human societies.
Archived offerings
Course offerings | Location | Mode | Course Profile |
Semester 1, 2023 (20/02/2023 - 17/06/2023) | External | External | Course Profile |
Semester 1, 2023 (20/02/2023 - 17/06/2023) | St Lucia | In Person | Course Profile |
Semester 1, 2022 (21/02/2022 - 21/06/2022) | External | External | Course Profile |
Semester 1, 2022 (21/02/2022 - 21/06/2022) | St Lucia | Internal | Course Profile |
Semester 1, 2021 (22/02/2021 - 19/06/2021) | External | External | Course Profile |
Semester 1, 2021 (22/02/2021 - 19/06/2021) | St Lucia | Flexible Delivery | Course Profile |