ASCL 55.02 Religion in a Global South Asia

What are the social and political functions of religion? How does religion shape our everyday experiences and the way we make meaning of the world? What is the relationship between religion and structures of power? This course travels to South Asia to tackle these questions. South Asia is home to large populations of the world’s major religions as well as many local and syncretic religious traditions, making the region an illuminating site for investigating religion from a sociological perspective. The semester will begin with the theoretical interventions from classical social theorists like Marx, Weber and Durkheim. We will then move to critical perspectives on the social functions of religion, which will be based on empirical material and analysis that is rooted in the context and experience of post-colonial societies in South Asia. Students will have the opportunity to develop critical perspectives on different facets of religion and their intersections with structures of power, including imperialism, colonialism, class, gender, and race. 

Degree Requirement Attributes

Dist:SOC; WCult:NW

The Timetable of Class Meetings contains the most up-to-date information about a course. It includes not only the meeting time and instructor, but also its official distributive and/or world culture designation. This information supersedes any information you may see elsewhere, to include what may appear in this ORC/Catalog or on a department/program website. Note that course attributes may change term to term therefore those in effect are those (only) during the term in which you enroll in the course.

Department-Specific Course Categories

Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages