Japanese New Religions
- Course Code:
- 15PSRH021
- Status:
- Course Not Running 2012/2013
- Unit value:
- 0.5
- Year of study:
- Any
- Taught in:
- Term 1
The course will evaluate theories and typologies relating to the emergence and development of new religions in Japan from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day, and will foster more detailed study of a selected range of illustrative examples from the multitude of new religions which have taken root in Japan over the last 150 years.
Students will pursue, individually or in a group according to choice, an initial pilot project on a topic or theme central to the course, preparatory to a larger research project focusing on at least one Japanese new religion.
Objectives and learning outcomes of the course
On completion of the course students will have:
- acquired advanced knowledge and understanding of issues relating to Japanese new religions;
- expressed in writing and through on-line communication their knowledge and understanding of these issues;
- acquired broad knowledge of a range of new religions studied in the course;
- studied in depth at least one example of a Japanese new religion;
- developed advanced competence in on-line learning and in evaluation of on-line resources;
- developed advanced transferable skills of research, analysis, academic writing and on-line communication in the area of Japanese new religions.
Scope and syllabus
Examples of research topics and themes might be:
- gender roles,
- power structures in new religions,
- new religions in relation to traditional religions,
- internationalisation of Japanese new religions,
- types of spirituality,
- new religions and the state/law,
- cooperation and conflict among new religions, etc..
It is anticipated that students will have an opportunity to meet and question representatives of some Japanese new religions based in or near London during the course.
