JAPANESE 308

Religion in Modern Japanese Society

Description

The aim of this course is to understand the role of religious beliefs, practices and institutions in modern Japanese society.

The first part of the course will review sociological and historical approaches to the study of religion and consider the "layers" of tradition. The second part of the course will examine religion during Japan’s century of modernisation and the third part will focus on several key issues that have been the topic of critical public debate in recent decades, focusing on religion and violence, neonationalism, and religious responses to disaster.

Learning outcomes:

At the end of this course, you should:

• Be able to demonstrate knowledge of key terms and sociological perspectives used in the study of Japanese religions
• Have acquired a broad knowledge of the key characteristics and distinctive features of representative religious traditions in modern Japanese society
• Be able to provide an extended analysis of the significance of organised religions in relation to contemporary religion-state issues.

Assessment

Coursework only

Availability 2021

Semester 1

Lecturer(s)

Coordinator(s) Professor Mark R. Mullins

Reading/Texts

Readings will be available through CANVAS/Talis via Modules.

Points

JAPANESE 308: 15.0 points

Prerequisites

ASIAN 100 and 30 points at Stage II in Asian Studies or 45 points in Stage II BA courses, including one of the following: ANTHRO 250, JAPANESE 240, 241, 243, 270, THEOLOGY 201 OR THEOREL 201, SOCIOL 213

Restrictions

ASIAN 708, JAPANESE 292