RELIGION OF CONTEMPORARY SOUTHEAST ASIA

"Affine o integrativo" course for the B.A. program in Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and North Africa (India and Southeast Asia).

Learning goals within the area of culture and humanities.

Knowledge and understanding:

- The religious panorama of contemporary Southeast Asia
- Key anthropological approaches to the study of religion in contemporary Southeast Asia

Applying knowledge and understanding:

- Enhance one’s knowledge of the societies and cultures of contemporary Southeast Asia via the study of religion
- Improve one’s analytical and logical skills via the study of religious phenomena
- Familiarize with the conventions and methodologies of academic debating and writing
- Articulate one’s opinions critically and with reference to the relevant scholarship

An interest in the religions, societies and cultures of Southeast Asia.

Good knowledge of English, both spoken and written.

This course introduces students to the anthropology of religion in contemporary Southeast Asia. As scuh, it privileges social and cultural over scriptural approaches.

The course is mainly based on ethnographies from the region, complemented by multimedia materials. It covers topics including the relationship between religion and politics, religion and economy, as well as booming phenomena such as divination, mediumship, and spirit possession. The course presents religion as a key lens for exploring the complex and dynamic socio-cultural realities of Southeast Asia.

The teacher will provide all readings (academic articles and chapters from edited volumes) on a weekly basis via Moodle.

In-class written exam. The exam, which lasts one hour, consists in a multiple choice test followed by one or several open questions.

The same kind of exam applies to students who attend as well as to students who do not attend classes.

written

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

Grades will be assigned according to the following criteria:

A. Grades in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of: Sufficient knowledge and applied comprehension of the program;
B. Grades in the 23-26 range will be awarded in the presence of: Fair knowledge and applied comprehension of the program;
C. grades in the 27-30 range will be awarded in the presence of: Good or excellent knowledge and applied comprehension of the program;
D. Honors will be awarded in the presence of extraordinary knowledge and applied comprehension of the program.

Frontal teaching and debates.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development