MA in Jewish Studies



TH 9090, Method and Theory in the Study of Religion


Credits:  				30

Course Lecturer:  	Dr. Alan Williams 

e-mail:					Alan.Williams@man.ac.uk

Course Aims::

The aims of this course unit are to consider the competing theories of interpretation and methods of approach to the study of religion; including sociological and anthropological, theological, historical and 'phenomononlogical' approaches. By the end of the course, students will normally be able to engage in informed discussion about both theoretical and practical aspects of the challenges facing academic researchers in the field of religion and theology.

 

Reading:

B. Morris, Anthropological Studies of Religion

W. Paden, Interpreting the Sacred

E.J. Sharpe, Comparative Religion: A History

J.Z. Smith, Drudgery Divine: On the Comparison of Early Christianity and the Religions of Late Antiquity

J.Z. Smith, Imagining Religion: From Babylon to Jonestown

Weekly					Fridays 10-1 (A104)

Taught in: 			Semester 2

Assessment:			2 x 4000 word essays



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The Centre for Jewish Studies
The Department of Religions and Theology
University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9PL
United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0)161 275 3614; Fax +44 (0)161 275 3613

e-mail: Bernard.Jackson@man.ac.uk