Postgraduate Course: Professionals, Revolutionaries and Holy Fools: Power and Authority in Cross-religious Perspective (REST11004)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Divinity |
College |
College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
| Home subject area |
Religious Studies |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/divinity/current-students-staff/postgraduate/handbooks-pg |
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| Course description |
This course has at its centre the question of religious authority/leadership of one person, or a group of persons, over others. Drawing mainly from sociological and anthropological theory, various scholarly models to explain the sources and the functions of religious authority will be discussed. Three sociological $ùideal types&© of religious authority $ú professional (rabbis, priests, ulema), revolutionary (messiahs, millenialists, mahdis), and liminal (holy fools) $ú will be examined in the light of a number of historical case studies. |
Entry Requirements
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites |
|
| Prohibited Combinations |
|
Other requirements |
None
|
| Additional Costs |
None |
Course Delivery Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this class, students will
- have a nuanced understanding of the historical dialectics between charisma and institution across the three Abrahamic traditions;
- show an advanced grasp of the basic characteristics of institutional organization of Judaism, Christianity and Islam in its various historical manifestations;
- handle competently a number of advanced theoretical approaches in the Study of Religion, with a possible view toward further PG work. |
Assessment Information
| Students are required to write a 3,000-4,000 word essay on an agreed topic. |
| Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
| Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr Christian Lange
Tel: (0131 6)50 8781
Email: c.lange@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Ms Karoline Mclean
Tel: (0131 6)50 8952
Email: k.mclean@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:38 am
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