INDIGENOUS RELIGION*

概要

In the traditional study of religion where the great “world religions” such as Christianity, Islam and Buddhism receive the central focus, so-called “indigenous” religions are often treated marginally and received little attention. The history of the discipline, however, indicates that indigenous religious traditions provided important resources for theorizing “religion” as a subject of an academic study. Furthermore, “revivals” of indigenous religions have been witnessed in the recent years as the world is becoming more globalized. In this course, we will first closely examine the texts that delineate such indigenous religious traditions and explore common threads that run through them. Secondly, we will also look into modern/contemporary expressions of “indigenous religion” and explore its new meaning in our globalized world.

目標

Students will familiarize themselves with “indigenous” beliefs and practices of the various cultures of the world so that they will have a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of those cultures. At the same time, students will also develop critical perspectives on the idea of “indigenous religion” as they explore its significance in the context of the methods and theories of the study of religion.

授業外の学習

1) Read the assigned texts and prepare questions for class discussion (120 minutes). 2) Review the materials from class lecture/discussion and prepare for quizzes (70 minutes). .

所要時間: 190 minutes