History of Religions of the contemporary world

According to the Dublin descriptors, students, at the end of the course, will demonstrate:

 

1)  an understanding of advanced themes and problems of the discipline on the theoretical (typological classifications) and historiographical (methods and schools) levels.

 

2) the necessary tools to deal with issues with methodology proper to the discipline to argue competently on the topics and problems covered.

3)  adequate stimuli to build autonomy of judgment, critical analytical skills, synthesis of new ideas, to be used as possible keys to deal with case studies.

 

4)  a method to be able to formulate research hypotheses, interpret data and elaborate possible theses; communicate with technical language and competence.

 

5) pointers for independently acquiring new and specialized knowledge, using the tools provided - on the historiographical and methodological level - during the course.

In addition to lectures, the course includes two seminars on case studies or specific topics given by specialists and a guided tour places of worship in Catania (monastery, mosque).

Basic knowledge of modern and contemporary history and the history of philosophy.

Optional, in presence

The course proposes a path of study on the reconstruction of the historical- cultural dimension of religious facts as a criterion for understanding the contemporary world. The first module (A) will cover typological classifications and a brief history of studies on religious phenomena. A deepening will be dedicated to the Motherhood between tradition and dissent in the different religious traditions of the Islamic East and the Asian Continent (mod. B). Some suggested readings will provide other perspectives for study on the topics of the course (mod. C).

A. (2 ECTS): Religions and History

Books:

 

-  G. Filoramo, Che cos'è la religione. Temi metodi problemi, Einaudi, Torino 2004, cap. V (pp. 173-214).

 

-  G. Filoramo, M. Massenzio, M. Raveri, P. Scarpi, Manuale di Storia delle religioni, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1998 (2015¹⁹), parte seconda (capp. XI-XII-XIII, pp. 173-269) e parte quarta (capp. II-III-IV-V, pp. 447-549).

 

B. (2 ECTS): "What is a mother?" Motherhood in the religious traditions of the Islamic East and the Asian continent

Book:

 

- M. Ferrara, L. Karami (edd.), Madri d’Oriente fra tradizione e dissenso, Jouvence, Milano 2020, pp. 274.

 

C. (2 ECTS): Reading Proposals

Books (one choice):

 

-  L. Karami, R. Rossi (edd.), Donne violate. Forme della violenza nelle tradizioni giuridiche e religiose tra Medio Oriente e Sud Asia, Società Editrice Fiorentina, Firenze 2021, pp. 208.

-  R. Pepicelli, Femminismo islamico. Corano, diritti, riforme, Carocci 2010, pp. 160.

-  C. Gianotti, Donne di Illuminazione. Dakini e Demonesse, Madri Divine e Maestre di Dharma, Astrolabio -Ubaldini, Roma 2012, pp. 235.

 

 

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

All the books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.

Two intermediate tests are available to all (attending and nonattending students): a written test (with both multiple and free answers) relating to module A and a didactic test relating to module B, which involves the preparation of a lecture to be given in the classroom to the other course participants on a specific topic chosen by the student in agreement with the lecturer. The assessment criteria for these tests will concern: competence acquired in specific content, expository and synthesis skills, originality in the choice of an autonomous research pathway.

Passing these tests enables the student to consider as acquired the parts of the syllabus on which he/she has already measured him/herself and to access the final examination, consisting of an oral interview, presenting one of the texts of choice from module C. The final mark will be the average of the marks obtained in the three tests taken.

 

Students who do not wish to take part in the scheduled in itinere tests will be assessed in the final examination consisting of an oral interview on all the topics in the syllabus.

    
 

X Written test (test) [Mod. A].

X Oral test (interview) [Mod. C].

X Practical test (didactic test) [mod. B]

 

 

For the assessment of the examination, account will be taken of the candidate's command of the content and skills acquired, linguistic accuracy and lexical propriety, as well as his or her ability to argue.

- What is meant by monotheisms?

- What are the characteristics of fundamentalisms?
- The history of religions: schools and teachers (scholars and methods)