THEOREL 201

Religions in New Zealand

Description

Auckland has the highest levels of religious affiliation and diversity of any city in New Zealand. This course is intended to help students make sense of this diversity.

It addresses the following questions. What exactly is religion? Can we find a definition of religion that fits both the pre-Christian Maori world-view, post-contact Maori religion and the immigrant religions like Christianity, Hinduism or Islam, which have taken root in New Zealand? Does sport meet the definition of a religion? Have immigrant religions had to change in order to adjust to life in New Zealand? Is New Zealand religiously tolerant? What does it mean to be secular? How should we understand the rapidly growing number of people who claim to have "no religion"?

 

Assessment

Coursework only

For full course information see the Digital Course Outline.

Digital Course Outlines will be refreshed around November/December.

Availability 2025

Semester 1

Lecturer(s)

Coordinator(s) Dr Nicholas Thompson

Points

THEOREL 201: 15 points

Prerequisites

30 points at Stage I from the BA Schedule

Restrictions

THEOREL 320