Anthropology of Religion

Course content

The course deals with religion as an aspect of social-cultural system; recognizing religion as a system of symbols which gives meaning to the “real-world”; social and cultural dynamics of the “Sacred”; the place and role of religion in the worldly/political processes and power struggles; general assessment of theoretical approaches to the nature, origin and functions of religion. The course also aims at studying religion as a social phenomenon and focuses on the cultural bases of religious thought and behavior, comparative assessment of world religions; the ways in which religious activities are organized in a society and mobilize people in common action; comparative and critical analysis of different theoretical perspectives on religion in anthropology and sociology.