ATS2371 · Magic, science and religion

Overview

The unit enables you to gain understanding of what magic, ritual and spiritual beliefs means to people in the modern world. It also introduces first year students to some of the contributions that anthropologists and sociologists of magic and religion have made to knowledge of human societies. Case studies provide a comparative understanding of rituals and associated cosmologies in a variety of sociocultural settings, from both the developing world and post-industrial settings and examine critically the cultural borders established between the fields of science and spiritual belief. Topics include: magic's rationalities; teenage magic in the west; witchcraft in the non-west; materiality and faith; embodied experience and spirituality.

Areas of study: Anthropology

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Describe and explain what magic, ritual and spiritual beliefs mean to people in the modern world;
2. Appraise the contributions that anthropologists and sociologists of magic and religion have made to knowledge of human societies;
3. Employ case studies of rituals and associated cosmologies in a variety of sociocultural settings to examine critically the cultural borders established between the fields of science and spiritual belief.
4. Read, think and respond reflectively and critically to global issues and challenges;
5. Utilise developing academic qualitative research skills to locate, link, critically analyse and communicate theory and evidence.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.