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Week 1 | Sept. 3 & 5

Week 1 Readings Summary

  • History of Universities

    • Development of academia in Western universities.

    • Impact of Luther and the Reformation: Shifted universities from church control to secular leadership, while churches still retained influence in some institutions.

    • Philip I, Langrave of Hesse (1504-1567): Founded the first modern university, Philips University of Marburg, establishing a new model of English and Western education.

    • Transition from clerical to secular professors.

    • Alcuin (735-804): Notable early scholar amid the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.

    • University of Halle (founded in 1694): Center of Pietism; significance in promoting personal piety beyond simply attending church.

    • Instruction in the vernacular; contrasted to the dominant use of Latin in most European universities.

  • Pietism: Encouraged personal spiritual development emphasizing regular prayer and Bible reading at home.

  • Historical Significance:

    • First university to enroll a black African student in 1727.
    • First university to allow female students (first female medical graduate in 1754).
    • Indian connection: Halle’s missionaries founded a college in India teaching many students until the late 19th century.

  • Latin Requirement: Abolished in universities during the 1960s, focusing on vernacular languages instead.

  • Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835): Founded the University of Berlin in 1810, establishing it as the first entirely secular university.

  • University of Toronto (founded in 1827): Among the early North American universities.

  • University of Calgary (founded in 1966): Secular institution, motto derived from Psalm 121:1-2.

How Universities Work

  • Professors: Hold chairs in specific topics, guiding student education.

  • Qualifications Path:

    • Bachelor's Degree (B.A.) → Master of Arts Degree (M.A., not always necessary for PhD) → Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD).

  • M.A. & Ph.D.:

    • Selecting a supervisor early for thesis support is important.
    • Research interests should align with personal passions for successful engagement.
    • For example, Hexham’s M.A. thesis explored the “hippies” of Glastonbury, pioneering studies on new religious movements.

  • Path to Becoming a Professor:

    • Generally, requires a PhD.
    • Involves teaching, researching, publishing, administration, and public service roles.
    • Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, and tutorials.

Week 2 | Sept. 8-12

What Do We Mean by Religion?

  • Understanding World Religions:

    • First comprehensive textbook on global religions, including African traditions.

  • Scientology:

    • Founded in 1955 by L. Ron Hubbard, initially a science fiction writer.
    • Not recognized as a religion by the German government, affecting tax status.
    • Promoted through Dianetics (1951), requiring significant monetary investment for membership.
    • E-meter: Device used in confession sessions to gauge truthfulness.
    • Claims about humanity's origins involve extraterrestrial mythology.
    • Criticisms from various governments regarding mental manipulation practices.

  • Buddhism:

    • Focused on the cycle of Samsara: liberation from the continuous cycle of rebirth.
    • Lacks a central deity, and traditional practices vary across cultures.

  • Concept of God in Buddhism:

    • Some sects acknowledge divine beings, yet they remain outside the religious core.
    • Emphasis on personal experience and a sense of awe rather than on dogma.

  • Definitions of Religion:

    • Various perspectives attempt to define religion beyond just a belief in deities.
Key Thinkers & Definitions:

  • Henry Fielding (1707-1754): “By religion, I mean Christianity; by Christianity, I mean Protestantism…”

  • Paul Tillich: “Religion is ultimate concern.”

  • Rodney Stark: “Religion refers to systems of general compensators based on supernatural assumptions.”

  • Emile Durkheim: Defined as a unified system of beliefs and practices regarding sacred things.

  • Max Weber: Focused on the societal behaviors associated with religion.

    • Kant's Perspective:

  • Viewed religion as the recognition of divine commands.

    • Jacob Wilhelm Hauer: Emphasized mystical experiences characterizing religious insights.

    • Additional Definitions: Highlighting anthropological, sociological, and philosophical views of religion.

Week 3 | Sept. 15-19

The Origins of Religious Studies

  • Xenophanes: Early writings on religion from an objective light; raised awareness for societal accuracy.

  • Jesuits: Missionaries like Roberto de Nobili and Matteo Ricci studied local religions providing early insight into Asian and Middle Eastern beliefs.

  • Age of Enlightenment: Introduced critical scrutiny of religious frameworks through figures like David Hume who analyzed historical religious trends.

  • Friedrich Max Muller: Emphasized comparative religion but notably excluded African traditions in his studies, showcasing biases in historical religious texts.

Development of Religious Studies Programs:
  • 18th Century Developments: Focused on comparative religion within established universities across Europe and North America.
  • Key Institutions: Details of institutions such as University of Manitoba, University of Edinburgh, etc., emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Week 4 | Sept. 22-26

What Do We Mean by Myth?

  • Everyday Understanding: Myths are often perceived incorrectly as mere falsehoods.

  • Rudolph Bultmann: Argued for demythologizing the New Testament to separate historical truth from mythic narrative.

  • Mircea Eliade: Connected myths to primal realities, indicating their role in linking modern societies to sacred histories.

Political Myth:
  • Kenneth Burke: Challenged traditional rhetoric by emphasizing the need for narratives in social movements to create unified identities and motivate action.
  • Narrative Paradigms: Defined by Walter Fisher as humans comprehend life through ongoing narratives, highlighting the importance of coherence and fidelity in storytelling.

Week 5 | Sept. 29-Oct. 3

Myths in Political and Social Movements

  • Counter-narratives: Developed by figures like David Kramer to critique established societal myths and promote alternative understandings of identity and community.
  • Religious-Historical Context: Examined how religious narratives were utilized and reformed in response to social movements, particularly among marginalized groups.
Ideology & Belief Systems:
  • Karl Marx: Critiqued religion as a mechanism of ideology representing a false consciousness.
Types of Ideological Reflections:
  • Existentialism, classical political ideologies, and the intersection of religion and politics framed through the lens of ideological expression.

Week 6-13 | Additional Weekly Themes & Readings

  • Assignments and readings planned through late November focusing on the evolution of religious studies, perceptions of ideology, mythology, and sociology in the context of religious discourse.

Note:

These notes encapsulate extensive information covering the evolution of universities, the discussion of religion, and related ideological perspectives relevant to the course. Each week builds comprehensive insights into various facets associated with the study of religion, ideology, and their historical contexts.