Studies in Religion

Introduction
Why Study Religion at UNE?
Courses
Units
Careers
Partnerships, Networks and Industry Links
Facilities
Contacts

Introduction

Studies in Religion is concerned with the diversity of religious experience and expression across all civilisations, ancient and modern, and all racial and ethnic backgrounds.

In Studies in Religion we look at the circumstances under which religions come into being, their founders, their sacred writings and stories, the structures of believing communities, and how the most important features of these religions develop within different societies. Our main focus is on the study and comparison of features of the five great world religions: Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam, though we also look at a wide variety of other belief systems during the course of the major.

An awareness of world beliefs is essential to any student of the Humanities. Through a study of world religions we learn to understand others and ourselves and gain valuable insight into the ways in which individuals and nations have been shaped by changing religious concepts and the doctrines, rituals, and writings of their own and other civilizations. Throughout history, religious beliefs have continuously affected the dynamics of nations and societies, reflected people's strongest needs, fears and hopes, and divided as well as united societies. For millennia, religion has played a central role in national identity for most of the world's people, and it continues to play a major role in the creation of national and self-identity today.

In Australia, we are both citizens in a multi-cultural world and part of a multi-racial nation. Through exploring the role that religious beliefs and behaviours play and have played in the lives of individuals and communities we learn to respect and value those religious beliefs and practices, both within and outside of our own community, which are very different from our own. This ability to evaluate other points of view and approach issues from a variety of perspectives will remain one of the most essential elements in all forms of successful cross-cultural communication throughout the twenty-first century.

Why Study Religion at UNE?

Studies in Religion at UNE comprises a multidisciplinary subject area with a national and global scope. Such a subject area is central to any study within the Humanities. The study of our own and others’ religious values, beliefs, and practices sheds light on the sources of some of humankind's perennial questions and problems. It encourages us to ask, and even attempt to answer, some of the questions about the meaning of life, and teaches us to appreciate and respect the views of different cultures, so that we are able to identify with each other across religions, classes, cultures and continents.

Many courses and awards in Australia and overseas tend to be strongly centred on Christianity. Yet given the present international climate, it is understandable that there is a great deal of popular and academic interest in religion as it relates to different social and political groups and forces. For NSW alone, Studies in Religion is currently the third most popular subject at HSC. At UNE we approach Studies in Religion from a non-confessional viewpoint, distancing ourselves from personal meaning systems or belief systems in order to appreciate and respect those of others. We draw together skills and knowledge from a wide range of disciplines by which students can focus on the study of religion across cultures and civilisations (ancient and modern).

The first year units focus on the five major world religions. At advanced level, students have the choice of undertaking study in areas such as Islam, Buddhism, early Judaism and Christianity and their scriptures, the Crusades, ancient Mediterranean religions (Greece, Rome, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Canaan and others), issues in modern church history, women and world religions, philosophy, and more. All units of study encourage a critical and open attitude to all religions; offer a breadth of methods drawn from history, philosophy, sociology, political and literary theory; are concerned with both traditional and contemporary expressions of religion; and focus on the part religions play within social and political life nationally and internationally.

Courses

Units

RELS181     World Religions: An Introduction
RELS182     World Religions Today
RELS300     New Religions, Cults & Popular Spiritualities
RELS381     Chinese and Japanese Religion: A History
RELS382     Philosophy of Religion: East and West
RELS384     Religions of the Ancient Near East
RELS385     Women, Gender and the World's Religions
RELS386     Buddhism: A History
RELS387     Earliest Christianity: Social Context and Sacred Text
RELS388     The Pagan Religions of Ancient Greece and Rome
RELS392     Meditation in Eastern Religions
RELS401H   Studies in Religion Hons Coursework
RELS402H   Studies in Religion Hons Dissertation
RELS580     World Religions: Introductory Overview
RELS581     Chinese and Japanese Religion: A History
RELS582     Philosophy of Religion: East and West
RELS584     Religions of the Ancient Near East
RELS585     Women, Gender and the World's Religions
RELS586     Buddhism: A History
RELS587     Earliest Christianity: Social Context and Sacred Text
RELS588     The Pagan Religions of Ancient Greece and Rome

Careers

Studies in Religion provides a solid grounding in some of the world's most significant literatures, ideas, and belief systems. It aims to create a multidisciplinary critical skills base in the area of religion for those in training for, or active within, professions that engage with the religious aspect of multicultural societies—law, teaching, social work, counselling, journalism, public service, business, marketing, defence, and foreign service, to name but a few. In particular, it provides a breadth of expertise for those wishing to teach Studies in Religion courses in secondary schools. It also provides a suite of offerings for those simply wishing to investigate the place of religion within ancient and contemporary national and international societies and politics.

International perspectives are incorporated within all the units, including the core units which cover the major world religions. Indigenous Australian perspectives are also explicitly incorporated in the units at first-year level. Communication skills, research methods and critical thinking are embedded in every unit and these enhance the ability of students to work effectively in a variety of diverse and cross-cultural environments and in all kinds of employment.

Indeed, all offerings within the School of Humanities are designed to help you to acquire the skills of critical analysis, clear oral and written communication, and independent research. These are all in demand in the workplace and suit all students for employment in a wide variety of jobs.

Partnerships, Networks and Industry Links

History Council of NSW www.historycouncilnsw.org.au

Journal of Australian Colonial History www.une.edu.au/humanities/jach/

Facilities

All units have an online component and are offered to both on and off-campus students.

Contacts

For further information about study in Religion at UNE please contact:

Lynda Garland
lgarland@une.edu.au
Ph: +61 2 6773 2794
Fax: +61 2 6773 3520


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