Post-secularism and Religions in time of Globalization 4219-SB049
One of the defining features of our time is the intense public debate around secularism, religious beliefs and the public sphere. The extent and depth of this debate cannot be over-estimated and it affects primarily our own self-identity. Alongside this debate which affects Europe’s self-image we
Encounter with public discussions about the ‘others’.
Attached to the problem of post-secularism are issues as: the status of European Muslims, global migration, and flows of people seeking admission into the USA or the European Union, and the increased emphasis on religious authority by different brands of Christianity and especially the Catholics.
The public debate about ‘others’ today is dominated by religiously-based ideas of cultural difference.
There is a reason to think, therefore, about a post-secular turn in the USA and the European politics and culture. Similar processes we can observe also in
other parts of the world. The aim of the course is to explore, and discuss
many aspects of this post-secular or anti-secular thought and practice.
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Students gain in-depth and detailed knowledge (including terminology, theory and methodology) in various aspects of cultural anthropology and philosophy, particularly postsecularism and implication of globalization on different religions. Students gain also knowledge of different aspects of presence of religion in public debate. Students learn to construct strategies of dialogue with representatives of different religions.
a) knowledge
Upon completing this course a student has an introductory theoretical knowledge of the problem of postsecularism, knows basic terminology connected with the history of Catholicism, has an in-depth knowledge of the place and meaning of different schools and methods connected with the study of Catholicism, knows advanced methods and research tools used to describe this phenomenon, recognized the dynamics and consequences of changes in understanding of the past, understands the phenomenon of structuring the postsecularism, knows the history of religions in America understands the role of the national history in American culture, recognized the dynamics and consequences of changes in understanding of the past and is aware of the comprehensive nature of the religions not only in America but also in the world.
b) skills
Upon completing this course a student is able to research and analyze different theories, has advanced interdisciplinary analysis skills and is able to use those skills to prepare an academic article or presentation, identifies and recognizes relations between different theories and political choices, formulates research hypotheses and evidences them basing on knowledge, formulates his or her own judgments concerning postsecularism and the way how it is understood in the United States, critically analyzes and interprets various proposition concerning postsecularism, formulates critical arguments on topics related to the way how the Catholicism is understood, has an ability to prepare a debate concerning the history and the way how it is interpreted employing theoretical skills
c) social competences
Upon completing this course a student is able to cooperate and work in a group, performing and preparing the debate, is able to properly plan and undertake research, understand the importance of solid research for a citizen of a democratic country, understands and appreciates the role of collaboration for successful participation in the life in the Unites States, understands the importance of social activity and critical in the USA, demonstrates respect for different opinions and understanding of democratic debate and actively participates in it, understands the need for continuous learning in the area of history und culture, completes and improves his or her knowledge of contemporary life and social development.
Assessment criteria
Participation in class, final presentation or paper 7-10 pages.
Bibliography
Bauman Zygmunt, Globalization, Cambridge 1998.
Bauman Z., Obirek S., Of God and Man, Cambridge 2015.
Bauman Z., Obirek S., On the World and Ourselves, Cambridge 2015.
Dillon Michele, Postsecular Catholicism, Oxford 2018.
Dillon Michele, Catholic Identity, Cambridge 1999.
Eck Diana L., A New Religious America. How a “Christian Country” Has Become the World’s Most Religiously Diverse Nation, San Francisco 2002.
Habermas J. Ratzinger J. (2006) , The Dialectics of Secularization: On Reason and Religion, San Francisco, 2006.
Jenkins Philipp, The Next Christendom. The Coming of Global Christianity, 2002.
Many Globalizations. Cultural Diversity in the Contemporary World, ed. P.L. Berger&S.P. Huntington, Oxford 2002.
Kevin Philips, American Theocracy, New York 2006.
Martin David, On Secularization, Burlington 2005.
Post-Secular Philosophy, London 1996.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: