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2022 unit information
Unit delivery will be in line with the most current COVIDSafe health guidelines. We continue to tailor learning experiences for each unit to achieve the best possible mix of online and on-campus activities that successfully blend our approaches to learning, working and research. Please check your unit sites for announcements and updates.
Last updated: 4 March 2022
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Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.
1 x 1-hour class per week (recordings provided), 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week
Religion was catapulted into the public mind at the turn of the 21st Century, following the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Religions have long played a role in promoting both cultures of peace and cultures of violence. Notable examples include religiously inspired social movements such as Gandhi's Satyagraha movement in India, the Civil Rights movement in the USA, and the global multifaith movement. From the 1970s onward, due to processes of globalisation, many societies have also become increasing religiously diverse and everyday religion and spirituality continue to play a role in many people’s lives. All of these factors have led to a questioning of secularisation theory, which had predicted the decline of religious influence from public and political life. More recently, however, the rise of New Atheism, the public scrutiny of religious organisations and an increasing number of people declaring themselves to have no religious affiliation indicates that those who were quick to declare a new post-secular age may have been mistaken. This Unit will explore and critically evaluate the current state of religion in society, and the role of religious movements in social change, both peaceful and violent.
Analyse major sociology of religion theories and concepts on religion and globalisation, religious social movements, religion and the internet, spirituality, religion and terrorism, religion, gender, and the rise of New Atheism
GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
Clearly communicate the findings and analyses of sociology of religion concepts and theories in written and oral formats to a range of audiences
GLO2: Communication
Critically evaluate theoretical approaches to religion and social problems, and current policies and practices of governments at local, state, national and international levels
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving
These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: ASC211 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list.
Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
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