Many Faces of Religious Fundamentalism in the Americas 4219-SB051
One of the defining features of our time is the intense public debate around religious and political fundamentalism and its impact on the public sphere. The extent and depth of this debate cannot be over-estimated and it affects primarily our own self-identity. It is also a source of growing of religious and political polarization of American society
There is a reason to think, therefore, about fundamentalism in the USA and also in 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 these fundamentalistic tendencies.
Type of course
Mode
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 religious fundamentalism. 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 religious fundamentalism, knows basic terminology connected with the history of religions, has an in-depth knowledge of the place and meaning of different schools and methods connected with the study of liberation theology, 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 religious fundamentalism, 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 religious fundamentalism and the way how it is understood in the United States, critically analyzes and interprets various proposition concerning religious fundamentalism, 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
Each of the lesson units is an independent whole, although they are closely related. Participants are expected not only to read the provided material, but also to actively and critically participate in the classes. Activity in the classroom, the ability to critically analyze the proposed texts and creativity in proposing additional materials will be assessed.
Exam in form of final presentation
Bibliography
Robert D. Putman, David Campbell, American grace. How religion divides and unites us, 2012.
Thomas Frank, What's the matter with Kansas? How conservatives won the heart of America, 2005.
Religion and the New Atheism, 2010.
The Power of Religion in the Public Sphere, 2011.
Religious Fundamentalism and Political Extremism, 2004.
Freedom to do God’s Will, 2002.
Is There a Culture War? 2006.
Global Pentacostalism 2010.
B. Tibi, Political Islam,
Pippa Norris, Radical Right, 2005.
B. Tibi, Politica Islam, 2008
- Islamism and Islam, 2012.
The Fundamentalism Project (1991-95): https://www.britannica.com/topic/fundamentalism#ref883247
R. Scott Appleby, The Ambivalence of the Sacred: Religion, Violence, and Reconciliation, 2000.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: