HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY RELIGIONS

The course aims to provide a theoretical framework and historical information on religious matters. After completing the course, students acquire skills in the interpretation of the relationship between religion and contemporary society.

The course program includes the study of the historical roots of religious traditions as a criterion for understanding the contemporary world. The first step is a reflection on the fundamental issues that unite the different religious traditions: the notion of “religious”, a short history of studies on religious matters, a deepening of the three categories that establish a historical-religious phenomena (myth, ritual, sacrifice) [form A]. A study will be dedicated to the relationship between religion and violence, particularly in the monotheisms, and preferring a historical-anthropological approach [form B]. Further classic books will disclose other disciplinary perspectives of reading the religious phenomenon (eg. psychological, anthropological) [form C].

Form A (2 ECTS)

Introduction to the History of Religions

Book:

• Giulia Sfameni Gasparro, Introduzione alla storia delle religioni, Laterza 2017², pp. 240

   

  Form B (2 CFU)

  Religions and Violence

  Books:

• Jan Assmann, Non avrai altro Dio. Monoteismi e il linguaggio della violenza, Il Mulino 2017, pp.152

• Enrico Comba, Antropologia delle religioni, Laterza 2017, parte IV, pp. 245-312

   

  Form C (2 CFU)

  Perspectives

  Books (one choice):

• Maurizio Bettini, Elogio del politeismo. Quello che possiamo imparare dalle religioni antiche, Il Mulino 2015, pp. 155.

• Mary Douglas, Questioni di gusto. Stili di pensiero tra volgarità e raffinatezza, Il Mulino 1999, pp. 168.

• E. De Martino, Furore, simbolo, valore, Feltrinelli 2002, pp. 190.

• A. Sen, Identità e violenza, Laterza 20114, pp. 219.

• V. Lanternari, Religione magia droga. Studi antropologici, Manni 2006, pp. 248

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

All the books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.