This course aims at providing students knowledge of and insights into the development, function and meaning of witchcraft and paganisms in western culture, both historical and contemporary. The scholarly inquiry into the diversity of religious expressions is interdisciplinary in nature and demonstrates changes in the religious landscape leading to an increasing religious pluralism in our times.
The study of these various groups and communities, in most cases fluid and ambiguous, but highly dynamic and mutable, not only provides us with knowledge about people’s changing beliefs but also about the wider society in which they manifest themselves. It also reveals what these spiritual traditions have in common: a feeling for ‘the sacred’ that is non-monotheistic, based on relationship rather than revelation and scripture, and often includes an immanent dimension for landforms, plants and animals.
Onderwijsvorm
*
<div class="MsoNormal" style="\"MARGIN:"><span style="\"FONT-SIZE:"><font face="\"Times" new="" roman="">Weekly meetings (12 × 2 hours = 24 hours)<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = \"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office\" /?>
</font></span></div> *
<div class="MsoNormal" style="\"MARGIN:"><span style="\"FONT-SIZE:"><font face="\"Times" new="" roman="">Weekly reading assignments: (12 × 4 hours = 36 hours)</font></span></div> *
<div class="MsoNormal" style="\"MARGIN:"><span style="\"FONT-SIZE:"><font face="\"Times" new="" roman="">Presentation (20 hours)</font></span></div> *
<div class="MsoNormal" style="\"MARGIN:"><span style="\"FONT-SIZE:"><font face="\"Times" new="" roman="">Term paper (40 hours)</font></span></div> *
<div class="MsoNormal" style="\"MARGIN:"><span style="\"FONT-SIZE:"><font face="\"Times" new="" roman="">Monthly seminar meeting ‘C.P. Tiele Society’ (20 hours)</font></span></div>
<span style="\"FONT-SIZE:"><font face="\"Times" new="" roman=""> </font>
</span><span style="\"FONT-SIZE:"><font face="\"Times" new="" roman="">Total: 140 hours</font></span>
Toetsing
<span ar-sa="" en-us="" font-family:="" mso-ansi-language:="" mso-bidi-language:="" mso-fareast-font-family:="" mso-fareast-language:="" new="" roman="" style="\"FONT-SIZE:">Presentation, term paper, and participation in class.</span>
Literatuur
*J.B.Russell, A History of Witchcraft. Sorcerers, Heretics and Pagans (Londen, 1982) * P. Burke, History and Social Theory (Cambridge, 2005). *J. Barry, M. Hester & G. Roberts (eds.), Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe. Studies in Culture and Belief (Cambridge, 1996). *K. Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic (Londen, 1971) *N. Cohn, Europe’s Inner Demons (Londen 1975) *P.J.Stewart & A. Strathern, Witchcraft, Sorcery, Rumours and Gossip (Cambridge 2004). *R. Hutton, The Triumph of the Moon. A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft (Oxford,1999) *J. Blain, D. Ezzy & G. Harvey (eds.), _Researching Paganism_s (Oxford, 2004). *J. Pearson, Wicca and the Christian Heritage. Ritual, Sex and Magic (Londen, 2007). *S. J. Tambiah, Magic, Science, Religion, and the Scope of Rationality (Cambridge 1990) *R.J. Wallis, Shamans/Neo-shamans: Ecstacy, Alternative Archeologies and Contemparary Pagans (London, 2003).
Toelating
In addition to the general rules set for admission to the master program Religious Studies, students are expected to have basic knowledge of Anthropology and Sociology of Religion, and of the history of Western Europe. A working knowledge of the English language, and a basic training in writing essays and performing presentations is necessary. This course is elective for all students who pursue a MA track ‘Comparative Religion’ or ‘Religion in Contemporary Society’. Other MA students are also welcome to participate in this course.
Opmerkingen
*Working language will ben English. *Prospective students of this course are advised to contact the instructor at least one month before the program will start. email: w.hofstee@religion.leidenuniv.nl