Overview
An overview of the study of religions as cultural phenomena, with an emphasis on scientific explanations for what religions have in common and for the differences between them.
Religious rituals and supernatural concepts are found in all known human societies. This includes ritual practices like exorcism, blood sacrifices and going to church, as well as supernatural concepts like karmic forces, creation accounts, and mischievous demigods. This paper uses ethnographic and empirical studies to answer three big questions about human behaviour and religion. First, why does the content and importance of religious systems vary so much across societies? Second, are there general rules that explain human behaviour across societies, or can human behaviour only be understood within specific cultural contexts? Third, what are the religious systems of future societies likely to look like? Topics covered include sacrificial rites, social conflict, economic exchange, social control, and revitalization movements.
About this paper
| Paper title | Religion and Human Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Subject | Religious Studies |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2
(Distance learning)
Semester 2 (On campus) |
| Delivery mode | The Distance Learning offering of this paper is taught and assessed remotely |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,103.10 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 36 points
- Restriction
- RELS 338
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Theology
- Eligibility
Open to all students who are curious as to why humans are religious, why religions are different, and where religion is headed in the future.
May not be credited together with RELS 338.
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the Religion website: www.otago.ac.nz/religion
- Teaching staff
Dr Usman Afzali
- Teaching Arrangements
Weekly lectures are presented on campus and telecast simultaneously for Distance students. Lecture recordings will be available afterwards. Tutorials are held in person and via Zoom simultaneously according to the course outline.
- Textbooks
Readings for this paper consist of journal articles that are provided electronically.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Interdisciplinary perspectives, Scholarship, Critical thinking, Communication, Ethics, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.- Learning Outcomes
By the end of this paper, 200-level students will be able to:
- Understand the universal features of religions and be able to describe some of the patterned variability of religions across cultures
- Know the major theories used to explain religions and their place in human societies
- Understand the changing role of religion in human societies up to the modern period
- Write a clear, persuasive and original commentary about an evidence-based argument