Course Religion and Modernity
The purpose of mastering the discipline:
Formation of students’ understanding of the role of religion in the modern world, as well as the dependence of most people in decision-making on various formats of religion in society.
Religion is like medicine: it can be useful or harmful, depending on how it is used.
Is religion a relic of the past, or does it continue to play an important role in the modern world?
This is a question that has been discussed for centuries.
At first glance, it seems that religion is in decline. The level of secularization is growing in the world, and people are increasingly moving away from traditional religious beliefs. However, if you take a closer look, you will see that religion still plays an important role in many areas of life.
We will talk more about this and many other fascinating topics in our course.
We offer you a comprehensive study of the role of religion in the modern world. You will learn about the different forms of religion, the reasons for its popularity and influence, and how it can affect social and political life. We will talk about how religion influences political processes, how it shapes social values, and how it affects people’s personal decisions.
This course will open the door to the world of cultures, values, ideas and opportunities!
- Duration: 7 lectures
- Price: 2300 UAH.
ABOUT THE COURSE
To teach students the principles of the nationalist-hermeneutical analysis of intelligence and intelligentsia.
The course is designed to help students better understand the role of religious organizations and ideologies in contemporary social and political life, as well as ways in which religious groups respond to the secularization trends of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
In particular, considerable attention will be paid to cases in which religious values, symbols, and slogans are instrumentalized within political ideologies that oppose the Western modern worldview.
Religion in the modern world is represented in several formats that have a wide range of features and often oppose not only the secular agenda but also each other.
We will consider the main forms of religion in the modern world, in particular:
- Modern religious movements that emerge within classical religious traditions as a response to the challenges of the times.
- Counter-secularism as an ideology that aims to oppose the dominant secular ideology.
- Neoreligions that emerged in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
- Parody religions, which are a response to the clash of religious and secular worldviews.
- Modern esoteric movements that include both traditional and new trends.
We will also consider the reasons for the popularity and influence of religion in the modern world as an alternative worldview.
The reasons and effective cases of involving religious rhetoric and symbolism in political activities to mobilize supporters of a political program will also be considered.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The goal is to form students’ understanding of the role of religion in the modern world, as well as the dependence of most people in decision-making on different formats of religion in society.
WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?
This course will be useful for anyone interested in the role of religion in the modern world.
- Students of religious studies, theology or other humanities. This course will help them better understand the basics of religion and its role in society.
- Journalists who write about religion. This course will help them to better understand religious language and symbolism, as well as different religious views.
- Politicians working with religious communities. This course will help them better understand the religious needs and interests of their constituents.
- People who work with social issues. This course will help them better understand how religion can be used to address these issues.
- People who are looking for meaning and direction in their lives, strive for self-development and self-discovery, and want to live a more harmonious and fulfilling life.
Of course, these are just a few examples. This course can be useful for people with different interests and professions. For anyone interested in the role of religion in the modern world.
It will give you a unique insight into how religion affects our lives and help you form your own opinion on this important issue and better understand the world around you.
WITH THIS COURSE YOU WILL GET
- A deeper understanding of the role of religion in the modern world. You will learn how religion influences political processes, how it shapes social values, and how it affects people’s personal decisions.
- Expanding their knowledge of different religious traditions and beliefs. You will learn about the basic principles of different religions and the diversity of religious practice.
- Development of critical thinking about religion. You will learn to analyze religious language and symbolism, as well as different religious views.
- Ability to form one’s own opinion about the role of religion in the modern world. You will learn about different points of view on the role of religion and be able to form your own opinion based on this information.
- You will be able to define basic religious terms and concepts.
- You will be able to understand different religious perspectives on political, social, and cultural issues.
- You will be able to form your own arguments in support or against religion.
- This course will also help you develop your critical thinking, analysis, and argumentation skills. These skills will be useful in any area of life where you need to analyze information and form your own opinion.
Lecturer:
Ruslan Khalikov
D. in philosophy, religious studies, and philosophy.
Member of the Board of the Ukrainian Association of Religious Studies.
Research interests:
- Western esotericism, counter-secular religiosity, traditionalism, new religious movements, church-state relations in Ukraine and the world.
Active public figure, author of books and founder of a publishing house of books on religious studies and Western esotericism.
Content of the discipline:
The “Great Return of Religions” in the Twenty-First Century
- Religious picture of the modern world, trends of 2050.
- Types of church-state relations in the world and Ukraine.
- Religious factor in conflicts, instrumentalization of religion in political ideologies.
Value alternatives to modernity and projects of alternative globalization
- Christian globalization projects
- Islamic globalization projects
- Eastern globalization projects
Neo-religions and new movements within classical religious traditions
- Neo-religions and new religious movements: similarities and differences
- Secularism and counter-secular religiosity.
- Fundamentalism, traditionalism, restorationism, and other isms.
New Age and modern mystical and esoteric movements
- Spirituality instead of religion. Specific features, time and geographical boundaries of New Age movements.
- The Theosophical Society, occultism, and other harbingers of the New Age movement.
- Synthetic and syncretic newly formed religions.
Parodying the latest movements
- Bokonism, Discordianism, Pastafarianism, and other parody religions of our time.
- The Church of the Great Duck as a Ukrainian parody religion.
- Jediism and other fictional religions that have spread in the real world.
SIGN UP FOR A COURSE OF LECTURES
"Religion and Modernity"
Duration: 7 lectures
Price: 2300 UAH.
Lecturer: Ruslan Khalikov