SX1017: GLOBAL ISSUES, GLOBAL RELIGIONS (2015-2016)

Religions are entangled with almost every issue of importance in the contemporary world. In an era of rapid globalization and growing interconnectedness, different peoples and cultures are constantly coming into contact with each other in new ways. This overlapping of peoples is particularly evident in the conflicts and tensions that impact on religious traditions when, as a result of globalisation, local communities are exposed to other cultures and different competing faiths. This course studies the many ways this phenomenon is experienced by different communities and traditions, and how this dynamic impacts on various spheres of modern culture, society, and politics. The course explores these issues from a variety of academic disciplines and methods, and asks questions such as the following: Should religious reasoning be permitted in public? Will secularization eventually make religions obsolete? Is being religious good for your health? Can you be a scientist and also be religious?

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

View SX1017 Timetable

More Information about Week Numbers

First attempt: Two reflection papers (800 words - 25% each); Poster presentation (with 500 word explanation - 50%).
Resit: Resubmission of course work

Student discussions during class time will allow opportunities for peer-interaction, and tutorials will provide on-going opportunities for receiving feedback from academic staff. A (non-assessed) general knowledge quiz will be conducted in class in the first three weeks of the course.

Students will receive written feedback on all summative assessment exercises. Tutorials will also provide peer-feedback, as will the post-presentation.

• It is expected that by the end of the course students will be able to:

  ... understand and evaluate the challenges that global shifts present to local communities, traditions, and religions.
  ... enhance their cultural competencies and knowledge of a number of the world?s religions,
  ... be knowledgeable of general approaches to clashes between moral positions, worldviews, and cultures.
  ... be exposed to the variety of academic disciplines and methods that can be used to explore such issues.

  Students will developed enhanced skills in critical thinking, personal self-understanding, and the benefits and responsibilities of active citizenship