REL, Magic, Occultism and Esotericism in European Contexts (F25)
Course content
This course will explore Europe’s rich landscape with a focus on the religious ideas and traditions, which at times have been categorized as either ‘esoteric’, ‘magical’, ‘occult’, ‘mystical’ ‘irrational’ or ‘superstition’, such as the occult arts, including divination and ritual magic and traditions related to Kabbalah, witchcraft, Hermeticism and Theosophy.
The aim of this course is to analyze the historical, cultural and discursive mechanisms behind the construction of categories such as ‘the occult’ and ‘magic’ and to read the related traditions into their larger historical, artistic and philosophical contexts.
Based on current research within the field, this course will historically focus on the pluralistic European landscape and on the role magic has played in the many exchanges and debates that have taken place between the major religious traditions and popular culture. Developments in science, technology and philosophy will also be discussed, as well as the relationship between orthodoxy and heterodoxy, reuse of ideas from antiquity, and the continued influence on popular culture. This course will also examine the specific religious beliefs, knowledge types, polemical discourses and practices that have characterized magical ideas in their interaction with other traditions. Particularly how such ideas have filtered into and shaped several discourses fundamental to the emergence and development of 'the modern world'.
Engaged participation is expected. There will also be discussions throughout the semester. This module allows you to write your exam essays in a variety of relevant topics related to the course theme.
Fagstudieordning Bacheloruddannelsen i religionsvidenskab, 2019
Fagstudieordning Bachelordelen af sidefaget i religionsvidenskab, 2019
Fagstudieordning Bachelortilvalg i religionsvidenskab, 2019
Fagstudieordning Kandidattilvalg i religionsvidenskab, 2019
BA 2019-ordning
Valgfrit område (aktivitetskode HRVB00151E)
Valgfrit område med sprogudprøvning (aktivitetskode HRVB00171E)
Bachelorprojekt (aktivitetskode HRVB00181E)
BA Sidefag 2019-ordning
Valgfrit område med sprogudprøvning (aktivitetskode HRVB10151E)
BA Tilvalg 2019-studieordning
Valgfrit område (aktivitetskode HRVB10231E)
KA Tilvalg 2019-studieordning
Frit valgt emne (aktivitetskode HRVK13001E)
Exchange student BA
Individually Studied Area (acitvity code HRVB10231E)
Exchange student MA
Free Topic 1 (activity code: HRVK13001E)
Lectures, discussions, collective reading of texts, presentations
All material will be available online in Absalon or via links to the Royal Library.
In order for students at the BA or BA sidefag program in Religious Studies to use the exam code for Valgfrit område med sprogudprøvning (HRVB00171E or HRVB10151E), students must have passed their mandatory foreign language courses, alternatively be engaged in preparing their final language exam.
Self Service at KUnet
Er din kandidatstudieordning fra 2019 eller senere?
Du skal tilmelde dig kandidattilvalg i Selvbetjeningen.
Er du studerende fra et andet fakultet/universitet?
Find vejledning og ansøgningsskema her.
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Other
Criteria for exam assessment
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Other
Criteria for exam assessment
Academic targets
At the examination, the student can demonstrate:
Knowledge of:
a delimited subject area or complex within the study of religion.
the most important basic sources for the selected field.
theoretical and methodological issues and relevant key concepts.
Skills in
applying and reflecting on theories and methods in the study of religions in connection with a well-defined area on one’s own.
managing academic literature and source material in complex argumentation.
formulating a relevant problem within the study of religion in the form of a clear and coherent analysis.
identifying sub-issues in relation to challenges in the study of religion.
Competencies in
planning and carrying out an analysis in the field of the study of religion on one’s own.
identifying and assessing key research positions in the area studied.
arguing in favour of one’s choice of theory, method and source material.
formulating and communicating subject matter related to the study of religion clearly and intelligibly.
Syllabus
The student compiles his/her own syllabus of 1,000 standard pages of historical and specialised literature as well as source material of 50 standard pages as a rule. The scope may vary from 20 to 200 standard pages depending on the nature of the sources, however. The syllabus must be approved by the examiner. See deadlines and rules for the submission of the syllabus to the Student Counselling Centre under Examination - Find time and place and Examination - Exam form and rules - Syllabus.
Teaching and working methods
Class instruction with student participation or self-study with individual supervision.
Exam provisions
Form of exam: Take-home assignment, optional subject.
Scope: 16–20 standard pages.
Assessment: Internal exam with a single examiner with assessment based on the 7-point grading scale.
Regulations for group exams: The exam can be taken individually or as a group (max. 3 students) with individual assessment. If several students work together on an assignment, each individual contribution must constitute a distinct unit that can be identified and assessed separately. The joint part must not exceed 50% of the total.
Group exam: 2 students: 24–30 standard pages. 3 students: 32–40 standard pages.
Exam language(s): Danish.
Permitted exam aids: All.
Make-up exam/resit: Conducted in the same manner as the ordinary exam.
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Other
Criteria for exam assessment
Academic targets
At the examination, the student can demonstrate:
Knowledge and understanding of
a selected topic in the sociology of religion or the history religion and how to identify, explain and discuss this topic.
Skills in
explaining the sociological or historical aspects of religion relating to the problem chosen
communicating one’s knowledge and reflections in writing and orally in a well-structured manner and with linguistic proficiency, precision and clarity.
Competencies in
reflecting critically on various theoretical and methodological approaches to the field
Syllabus
The student compiles his/her own syllabus of 1,200 standard pages of historical and specialised literature as well as source material of 50 standard pages as a rule. The scope may vary from 20 to 200 standard pages depending on the nature of the sources, however. The syllabus must be approved by the examiner. See deadlines and rules for the submission of the syllabus to the Student Counselling Centre under Examination - Find time and place and Examination - Exam form and rules - Syllabus.
Teaching and working methods
The instruction alternates between lectures, seminars, text discussions and student presentations.
The subject element consists of specialised studies of a topic or a small group of topics, determined by a historical period, a religious belief, a religious institution, a religious phenomenon, a population group, a religious text or text group, the material culture of religions culture or the like.
Exam provisions
Form of exam: Take-home assignment, optional subject.
Scope: 21–25 standard pages
Assessment: Internal exam with a single examiner with assessment based on the 7-point grading scale.
Regulations for group exams: The exam can be taken individually or as a group (max. 3 students) with individual assessment. Each individual’s contribution must constitute a distinct entity that can be identified and assessed individually. The participants’ joint part must not exceed 50% of the total assignment.
Scope of take-home assignments for group exams: 32–38 standard pages (2 students) or 42–50 standard pages (3 students).
Exam language(s): Danish or English.
Permitted exam aids: All.
Make-up exam/resit: Conducted in the same manner as the ordinary exam.
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 84
- Preparation
- 328,5
- English
- 412,5
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- HRVB0114FU
- ECTS
- See exam description
- Programme level
- Bachelor
Bachelor choiceBachelor’s minor subjectFull Degree Master choice
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Spring
- Schedulegroup
-
See link below
- Studyboard
- Study Board of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies
Contracting department
- Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Humanities
Course Coordinator
- Tim Rudbøg (10-7c71757a7d6c6a776d6f48707d7536737d366c73)
Teacher
Tim Rudbøg, timrudboeg@hum.ku.dk
Harald Toksværd
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