Religious Conflict and Dialogue in the US 4219-SB145
It seems that the clash of civilizations and its outcomes (conflicts, divisions, wars etc.) are the natural state of humanity – claims Samuel Huntington In his book, The clash of Civilizations. Accepting this state of things had led and leads to the confirmation of historical divisions. However, lately emerged other theories, which enable to overcome persistent conflicts and to regain the lost unity. Such theories are suggested by Walter Ong, Abraham J. Heschel, Martin Luther King and others. There have also been works that directly relate to the concept of the clash of civilizations and expose its weaknesses. These include books by Fred Halliday, or Jeffrey Haynes. One important factor which contributes to overcoming conflicts is appropriate use of language, and therefore, the importance of cognitive linguistics (e.g George Lakoff). The purpose of the lecture is to compare these two visions, and the attempt to understand their intellectual background.
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to analyze anthropological texts, recognize their cognitive values, hidden ideological assumptions, persuasive strategies. Besides, he will acquire the ability to look critically at the language of public media, explain political discourse and religious language, especially its functioning in the public space. He will be able to establish partnerships at the international level on sensitive topics judged differently, depending on the national and cultural context. In this way, he will build a space for dialogue and understanding between nations and cultures.
a) knowledge
Upon completion of this course, the student has knowledge of the basic issues related to the problems of civilizational conflicts and ways to overcome them, and is familiar with advanced and in-depth literature on the subject. He is familiar with the complex diverse perspectives on the issue in the US and around the world. Knows advanced research methods and tools to describe the state of research and major theoretical positions. He understands the role of history and ways of remembering it in American culture.
b) Skills
Upon completion of this course, the student is able to search and analyze information to learn about different ways of understanding civilizational conflicts, has advanced interdisciplinary analysis skills and is able to use them to prepare an essay or presentation, detects and recognizes relationships between ideological choices and ways of understanding the past, is able to critically use memory theories and concepts to recognize specific theoretical positions, and critically analyzes and interprets various proposals about the past. With this, he formulates arguments of criticism on topics related to history and has the ability to prepare for discussions on different ways of understanding the past using solid arguments and has the ability to prepare a defense of positions on different choices using the literature on the subject.
c) Social competencies
Upon completion of this course, the student is able to interact and work in a group while performing and preparing various theoretical works, is able to plan and undertake research steps accordingly, and understands the importance of sound preparation for life for a citizen of a democratic state understands and appreciates the role of knowledge for understanding the past and functioning in the United States, and understands the importance of reflection and discourse for the functioning of various institutions in the United States. The student engages in discussion of the broader culture and actively participates in it, understands the need for continuous learning in various cultural theories, completes and improves his knowledge of history and how to understand it, and shows respect for different views.
Assessment criteria
Each of the lesson units is a self-contained whole, although they are closely interrelated. Class participants are expected not only to read the prescribed material, but also to participate actively and critically in class. Evaluation will be based on class activity, ability to critically analyze the proposed texts and creativity in proposing additional materials.
Final essay or presentation 80%
attendance and activity in class 20%
Bibliography
D. L. Eck, A New Religious America
The Four Horsemen
F. Halliday, Islam and the Myth of Confrontation
J. Haynes, From Huntington to Trump
J. Haynes, Trump and the Politics of Neo-Nationalism
D. Hollinger, Postethnic America
S. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations
M. L. King, I Have a Dream
G. Lakoff, Don’t think of an elephant
W. Ong, Orality and Literacy
P. Phan, Multiply Religious Belonging
R. D. Putnam, American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: