Confessions, Churches, Diasporas: Religions and Religiosity in Modern Russia

2022/2023

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

5

Кредиты

Кто читает:

Департамент политики и управления

Статус:

Курс по выбору

Когда читается:

2-й курс, 1, 2 модуль

Преподаватель

Красильникова Мария Николаевна

Course Syllabus

Abstract

“Confessions, Churches, Diasporas: Religions and Religiosity in Modern Russia” is a survey course with a conceptual and problem-focused approach. It is based on current Russian and international Religious Studies research. This course allows students to look at the religious map of modern Russia from an interdisciplinary perspective, taking into account insights from geography, history, sociology and philosophy of religion, as well as from contemporary anthropological studies. The course examines religiosity in Russia from a historical angle and explores its manifestations in current Russian socio-political life. It foregrounds questions regarding experience in the religious sphere, and of religious identity and its significance in the contemporary lives of people in Russia.

Learning Objectives

• to provide a general introduction to the field and main concepts for understanding the presence of religions (confessions, churches, diasporas) and religiosity in Modern Russia: historical context and current developments; personal, societal, and institutional dimensions;, influence on social-political life
• to make students aware of interdisciplinary approaches to studying issues concerning religion and religiosity
• to provide skills of updating literary and intellectual background for solving current research tasks concerning confessions, churches and diasporas in Modern Russia

Expected Learning Outcomes

• to formulate the main concepts concerning religions and the position of religions in modern societies
• to describe the presence and intricacies of religions and religiosity in Modern Russia
• to highlight characteristics of "traditional" religions in Modern Russia
• to identify the features of political influence on national and religious problems in Russia
• to identify the influence of religion on personhood, society and politics in Russia

Course Contents

• Religion: concepts and modern interpretations
• The role of religion in the socio-political context of the Russian Federation: de jure and de facto
• “Traditional” religions in Russia
• New religious movements in Russia
• Religious freedom and interreligious dialogue in modern Russia
• The influence of religious factors on Russia’s socio-political life

Assessment Elements

• Essay
• Presentation
  Students have to present the main thesis of their essays for discussion on seminars
• Participation in the lectures and seminars (1 module)
• Participation in the lectures and seminars (2 module)
• Practical assignment (1 module)
• Practical assignment (2 module)

Interim Assessment

• 2022/2023 2nd module
  0.3 * Essay + 0.15 * Practical assignment (1 module) + 0.15 * Participation in the lectures and seminars (1 module) + 0.15 * Participation in the lectures and seminars (2 module) + 0.1 * Presentation + 0.15 * Practical assignment (2 module)

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Carlson, L. F. (2017). The Oxford Handbook of the Study of Religion. Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 85(4), 1155–1157. https://doi.org/10.1093/jaarel/lfx053
• Mikhail Smirnov. (2015). The Sociology of Religion in Russia: two observations. Вестник Православного Свято-Тихоновского Гуманитарного Университета: Серия I. Богословие, Философия, (3), 71. https://doi.org/10.15382/sturI201453.71-80

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Luhmann, N., & Kieserling, A. (2013). A Systems Theory of Religion. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1519312