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Undergraduate Course Details
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Assessments
RELN1000 INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS
Introduction to primal religions, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese & Japanese religions.
Aims: To familiarise students with the basic principles of many of the world’s religions (lectures given by all staff members of the department).
Assessment: Two essays of 1500-2000 words (20% each), one tutorial presentation (20%), tutorial participation (5%), final take-home exam covering whole course (35%).
Texts: BUSH, R.C. et al. The Religious World: Communities of Faith, 1993 RELN1001 BELIEF & UNBELIEF Mr. Paul Murray Consideration of religious and non-religious alternatives in the global, multicultural community: addresses issues of atheism, materialism, faith, free-will, alienation and meaning.
Aims: To explore the question of whether to believe human life has meaning and purpose, and if so, can these be affirmed by the material world alone, or does such affirmation require reference to a non-material reality such as affirmed in the world’s major religions.
Assessment: One 2500 word essay (45%), one take-home exam (45%), one tutorial assignment of 250 words (10%).
Texts: FREUD, S. The Future of an Illusion RELN1100 THE SOCIAL SCIENCES & RELIGION A/Prof. R. Hutch Humanistic approaches to study of religion & religions, according to contemporary theoretical trends in anthropology, sociology, psychology and the study of political economies.
Aims: To engage students in recent literature in the field, to introduce them to key thinkers and texts and to help them create an intelligent personal view about the nature and purpose of religious belief and practice in daily life.
Assessment: One in-class quiz (30%), one research assignment (60%), tutorial participation (10%).
Texts: PALS, D.L. Seven Theories of Religion RELN1200 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION Prof. P. Almond Introduction to philosophy of religion & philosophical discussion of such topics as the nature of religion, religious experience & language, existence of God, relationship between philosophy & theology.
Aims: To enable students to scrutinise religious beliefs critically and gain a broad understanding of classical problems in the philosophy of religion.
Assessment: One mid-semester 200 word essay (30%), one final 2500 word essay (50%), tutorial participation (20%).
Texts: POJMAN, L. Philosophy of Religion: An Anthology (3rd ed.) RELN1300 MEDITATION IN EASTERN RELIGIONS A/Prof. R. Bucknell Examination of systems of meditative practice taught in Hinduism & Buddhism & contemporary practical applications of various techniques.
Aims: Enabling students to gain an intellectual understanding of meditation and an ability to consider critically the issues it raises; allowing appraisal of meditation techniques currently available.
Assessment: One 200 word essay, one take-home exam (5 x 350 word responses), one tutorial paper (20%), tutorial participation (10%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN1401 THE WORLD OF JESUS & THE EARLY CHRISTIANS Dr. R. Strelan Introduction to the world of the New Testament, especially its understanding of Jesus.
Aims: To become familiar with the literature and basic issues of scholarship in the New Testament and think critically about N.T. texts.
Assessment: Two 2500 word essays (70%), one 1000 word tutorial paper (15%), tutorial attendance & participation (15%).
Texts: New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (Catholic edition) RELN1402 THE BIBLE: FACT OR FICTION? A/Prof. E. Conrad Examination of attempts to credit and discredit historical basis of events such as the Exodus and the figure of Jesus.
Aims: Assists students to understand the debate in current biblical scholarship about how or if a history of Israel or a history of Jesus can be written.
Assessment: One 2500 word tutorial assignment (40%), one final 1500 word essay (30%), one tutorial paper (20%), tutorial participation (10%).
Texts: Nil RELN1500 BIBLICAL HEBREW A A/Prof. E. Conrad Introduction to language of the Hebrew Bible: systematic grammar & elementary reading of text.
Aims: To enable students to read biblical Hebrew and make elementary translations of selected texts.
Assessment: Three quizzes (50%), one final exam (50%).
Texts: WEINGREEN, J. A Practical Grammar for Classical Hebrew RELN1501 NEW TESTAMENT GREEK A Dr. R. Strelan Introduction to language of the New Testament; systematic grammar & elementary reading of text.
Aims: To enable an understanding of the basic grammar and syntax of NT Greek and facilitate reading & understanding of Greek as a language.
Assessment: Three revision exams (60%), three vocabulary tests (15%), a workbook of parsing & sentence structure (25%).
Texts: http://sunsite.unc.edu/koine/greek/lessons RELN1502 CLASSICAL SANSKRIT A Ms. T. Ditrich Introduction to script, elementary grammar & lexicon of classical Sanskrit.
Aims: To enable students to learn the standard Devanagari script of Sanskrit, the basics of Sanskrit grammar and a rudimentary vocabulary as contained in the first ten lessons of the text.
Assessment: Two examinations, one mid-term covering lessons 1-5, one final covering lessons 1-10.
Texts: COULSON, M. Sanskrit: An Introduction RELN1503 INTRODUCTION TO PALI Dr. P. Pecenko Introduction to language of the Pali Buddhist canon; elementary grammar and lexicon; basic translation.
Aims: To provide students with a grasp of the basic grammar and syntax of Pali, enabling translation of selected Pali texts.
Assessment: Weekly exercises(40%), 2 tests (50%), participation.
Texts: WARDER, A.K. Introduction to Pali (3rd edition) RELN2000 THEOLOGY IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE A/Prof. R. Reat Symbols & conceptions of ultimate reality in world religions. Notions of otherness: finite & infinite, temporal & eternal, conditioned & unconditioned.
RELN2001 MYSTICISM IN THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS Prof. P. Almond Role of mystical experience in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism & Hinduism.
Aims: To enable students to develop a framework for analysing various traditions of mystical discourse, and to acquaint them with issues and debates in modern studies of mysticism.
Assessment: One 2000 word essay, two 2000 word seminar papers (each 30%), seminar participation (10%).
Texts: HAPPOLD, F.C. Mysticism: A Study & an Anthology (Penguin). RELN2002 RELIGION AS A SOCIAL INSTITUTION A/Prof. R. Hutch A sociological & psychological study of mythic, ritual & communal expressions of religious belief & practice in contemporary Australian life.
Aims: To consider how religions place on the Australian national agenda their various visions of the future, from idealistically utopian to grimly dystopian, with realistic spiritual challenges somewhere in the middle.
Assessment: One 200 word essay (40%), one 3000 word research assignment (60%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN2003 ABORIGINAL & MELANESIAN RELIGIONS Dr. L. Hume & Dr. R. Strelan Examination of aboriginal & Melanesian world-views and spiritualities pre-contact and post-contact.
Aims: To give insight into Aboriginal & Melanesian spirituality and to develop a broad understanding of current issues in both societies.
Assessment: Three short written pieces (50%), one assignment (60%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN2004 WOMEN IN WORLD RELIGIONS Dr. L. Hume Concentrates on the perception of women in world religions, including the rebirth of goddess religions & the rise of feminism.
Aims: To enhance students’ ability to discuss and debate controversial topics in relation to women & religion.
Assessment: Group presentation (20%), 1000 word summary (20%), final 2,500-3000 word essay (50%), participation (10%).
Texts: Nil. RELN2005 GODS & GODDESSES, PAST & PRESENT A/Prof. E. Conrad Subject will look at god and goddess figures in contemporary culture (such as Elvis & Princess Diana) and seek their roots in past religious traditions.
Aims: To gain an insight, using figures from contemporary culture, into how god and goddess figures have been created in the major world religions.
Assessment: One 100 word essay (20%), one 2,500 word essay (40%), one take-home exam (40%)
Texts: Nil. RELN2100 RELIGIOUS LIFE-WRITING A/Prof. R. Hutch Comparative study of individual lives through examination of letters, diaries, fiction, autobiographies & biographies. Emphasis on life cycle theory & typological & chronological approaches to personal self-reflection.
Aims: To engage students with recent literature in the field, to train them in the use of psychobiographical approaches for studying lives and to help them create an individual spiritual narrative in workshop sessions.
Assessment: One essay (40%), one research paper (60%), journal workshops.
Texts: To be advised. RELN2101 PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION A/Prof. R. Hutch History & current trends in cross-cultural perspective. Functions of religion in the life of an individual.
Aims: To familiarise students with the lived experience of religious belief and practice in the life of the individual.
Assessment: In-class quiz (40%), one 3-4000 word essay (60%)
Texts: To be advised. RELN2102 SAINTS & SINNERS A/Prof. R. Hutch Case studies of saints & their destructive counterparts in mainstream & marginal groups.
Aims: To gain insight into how religious leaders emerge and their effect on religious organisations, including so-called “cults”.
Assessment: One seminar presentation (40%), one assignment (60%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN2103 DEATH & DYING A/Prof. R. Hutch Exploration of contemporary ethical, religious & psychological aspects of dying and the nature of death. Field trips.
Aims: To engage students with recent literature in the field, to introduce them to medical, legal, hospice, religious and funeral professions as these address human issues of death, and to help students create a personal stance towards their own mortality.
Assessment: One 1500 word assignment (40%), one 3500 word research report (60%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN2104 HEALTH & HEALING A/Prof. R. Hutch Fundamentals of alternative & complementary medicine in spiritual perspective.
Aims: To engage students with recent literature in the field, introduce them to complementary and alternative medicine in contemporary Australia and help them create a personal stance toward holistic health.
Assessment: Exercise on reading material (40%), research report (60%)
Texts: To be advised. RELN2105 FREUD, JUNG & RELIGION A/Prof. R. Hutch A systematic reading of classics in depth psychology and the application of recent works to the study and practice of religion. Developing personal spirituality. (A third hour will be available for use by the class, at the discretion of the lecturer following on from the second hour.)
Aims: To introduce students to classic works in depth psychology and bring the application of recent neo-Freudian and neo-Jungian works to the study of world religions.
Assessment: One 2000-3000 word essay (35%), one 3000 word research assignment (65%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN2106 RELIGION & THE THERAPIES A/Prof. R. Hutch Exploration of relationships between various religio-cultural world-views & systems of psychotherapy & healing in primal, eastern & western contexts. Emphasis on traditions of meditation, spiritual growth & consciousness studies.
Aims: To show that whether one draws from the languages of religion or psychotherapy, facing up to the human condition is what counts, and making the most out of it!
Assessment: One autobiographical declaration(40%), one research assignment (60%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN2107 RELIGION & SEXUALITY Mr. M. Carden Subject explores the intersections of religion, gender variance, erotic minorities and homophobia in the light of lesbian/gay and queer theory. It also focuses on the implications of contemporary sexual liberation movements for religion today.
Aims: To offer a broad understanding of issues of religion and sexuality from a comparative and cross-cultural perspective, and gain an understanding of the religious experience and aspirations of erotic minorities.
Assessment: One 3000 word essay (50%), 2 short responses (20% each), participation (10%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN2108 RELIGION & THE DECORATED BODY Dr. L. Hume Throughout centuries the body has been used as an artscape for religious beliefs. This subject takes a crosscultural approach to the worldviews which lead to the decorated body.
Aims: To broaden students’ understanding of religion by moving beyond the written texts and to encourage students to present their own research material in a class situation.
Assessment: One major essay, two shorter written and oral assignments.
Texts: Nil RELN2109 CULTS, SECTS & ALTERNATIVE SPIRITUALITIES Dr. L. Hume Examination of the beliefs, practices and historical background of new religious movements, especially those which stress the experiential.
Aims: To enable students to extend their knowledge of new religious movements in general and to promote a broad understanding of the issues involved in researching these movements.
Assessment: Two 1000 word essays (20% and 30%), one 3,500 word essay (40%), one in-class presentation (10%).
Texts: Nil. RELN2110 WITCHES, PAGANS & THE NEW AGE Dr. L. Hume Historical & phenomenological approaches to old & new forms of Paganism, with emphasis on beliefs & rituals & their modern developments.
Aims: To examine diverse ways in which people in contemporary cultures are re-examining traditional concepts of religion and reviving what they see as ancient forms of spirituality.
Assessment: Two essays (40% and 50%), one short response (10%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN2200 ATHEISM IN THE MODERN WEST Prof. P. Almond Recent history of atheistic thought. Contemporary secular attitudes to religion, theology & theism. Accommodation & opposition in 20th century religious thought.
Texts: To be advised. RELN2201 JESUS CHRIST IN MODERN CHRISTIAN THOUGHT Prof. P. Almond History of contemporary interpretation of christological & soteriological theories.
Aims: To examine sources & methods used in the study of Jesus; to introduce students to the classic doctrinal understanding of the person & work of Jesus & to present contemporary interpretation of these doctrines with the problems surrounding them.
Assessment: Three seminar papers of 1500-2000 words (90%) seminar participation (10%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN2202 CHRISTIAN THOUGHT - UNITY & DIVERSITY Prof. P. Almond Expressions of fundamental belief found within forms of Christianity and the historical reasons for agreement and divergence.
Aims: To introduce students to a series of central conceptual issues in Christianity and provide them with a framework within which they can locate various aspects of the Christian tradition.
Assessment: One 2000 word essay (40%), one 1500 word essay (30%), one take-home exam (30%).
Texts: No set text. RELN2203 HEAVEN & HELL IN WESTERN THOUGHT Prof. P. Almond History of Western ideas about life after death & the end of the world.
Assessment: Two 1500 word essays (25% each), one 2500 word essay (40%), seminar participation (10%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN2300 HINDUISM Ms. T. Ditrich Study of history & literature of Hinduism from pre-Vedic times to modern reform movements.
Aims: To explore Hinduism as one of the old living traditions, as a religion and world view and as a comprehensive way of life.
Assessment: One 3-4000 word essay (50%), one 1500-2000 word seminar paper (50%).
Texts: HOPKINS, T. The Hindu Religious Tradition RELN2301 BUDDHISM Ms. T. Ditrich Study of the origin, doctrinal development & geographical expansion of Buddhism.
Aims: To provide a comprehensive survey of Buddhism from its beginnings to the present day.
Assessment: One essay 3-4000 words (50%), one seminar paper (50%).
Texts: HARVEY, P. An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History &
Practice RELN2302 BUDDHIST MEDITATION IN THEORY & PRACTICE Dr. R. Bucknell An in-depth examination of the doctrinal & practical aspects of meditation within the major Buddhist traditions.
Aims: Concentrating exclusively on Buddhism, the student learns to appraise classical accounts of meditation in the light of practical meditative experience and the teachings of contemporary masters.
Assessment: Discussion paper (20%), essay (25%), take-home exam (45%), participation (10%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN2303 PSYCHOLOGY IN ASIAN THOUGHT A/Prof. R. Reat Examination of Eastern theories of consciousness in the light of Western transpersonal psychology based on contemporary psychological literature and selected Hindu and Buddhist texts.
RELN2304 CHINESE RELIGION Dr. R. Bucknell Religion in China from early historical times to present day.
Aims: To develop an understanding of the religious life of the Chinese people in all its variety, its historical development & present-day practice.
Assessment: One 1500 word essay (20%), one 2000 word essay (30%), one take-home exam (50%).
Texts: DEBARY, T. Sources of Chinese Tradition, Vol. 1 RELN2305 JAPANESE RELIGION Dr. R. Bucknell Study of the various religious traditions in Japan from early times to present. Includes consideration of social & political factors.
Aims: To give students an appreciation of the nature & role of religion in contemporary Japan and an adequate knowledge of the doctrinal features and historical background of the more important traditions.
Assessment: Two essays (20% and 30%), one take-home exam (50%).
Texts: EARHART, H. B. Japanese Religion: Unity & Diversity, 3rd ed. RELN2306 ISLAM NOT 2001 History & development of Islam from its origins to modern times.
RELN2400 PROPHETS, SEERS & VISIONARIES A/Prof. E. Conrad A study of role & place in ancient Israelite society & the significance of prophetic books as canonical literature.
Aims: To introduce students to prophets in Ancient Israel & relate that to comparative studies of seers in other religious traditions.
Assessment: One discussion paper (30%), one assignment (30%), one take-home exam (30%), participation (10%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN2401 THE JESUS CULT Dr. R. Strelan The worship of Jesus and Christology in the New Testament.
Aims: To pursue the question of how we can account for the early worship of Jesus, looking at ways in which some early Christians thought of Jesus.
Assessment: Three essays of 2000 words each (30%, 30%, 40%).
Texts: The Bible - New Revised Standard Version RELN2402 JESUS IN THE GOSPELS Dr. R. Strelan Aspects of life & ministry of Jesus as selected & interpreted by the Gospel authors.
Aims: To identify issues in the study of the Gospels and follow the history of scholarly approaches to the Gospels.
Assessment: Three essays c. 2000 words each (30%, 30%, 40%)
Texts: The Bible - New Standard Revised Version RELN2403 THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS Dr. R. Strelan Students will be introduced to these early Jewish documents which have recently attracted as much attention as they did in the 1950s after their discovery in caves near Qumran.
Aims: To stimulate interest in reading translated texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls; to explore their context and become familiar with the issues of scholarship involved with the Scrolls.
Assessment: Three essays (25%, 25%, 40%), participation (10%).
Texts: VERMES, G. The Dead Sea Scrolls in English, 1995 (Penguin) RELN2404 MAGIC & ASTROLOGY IN JEWISH & CHRISTIAN LITERATURE Dr. R. Strelan Study of the significance of astrology & magic in the literature of Jews & Christians in the Graeco-Roman world.
Aims: To determine the extent of magical & astrological beliefs & practices among Jews & Christians of the Second temple period.
Assessment: Either three 2000 word essays (30%, 30% & 40%) or two 3000 word essays (50% each).
Texts: The Bible (other texts photocopied & distributed). RELN2405 DREAMS, VISIONS & REVELATIONS IN ANCIENT JEWISH & CHRISTIAN LITERATURE Dr. R. Strelan Examination of the literature (primary & secondary) from Jewish & Christian authors in the Graeco-Roman world dealing with modes & content of revelation & the person of the revealers.
Aims: To examine the significance of various forms of revelatory experiences as indicated in ancient Jewish & Christian texts..
Assessment: Three essays of 1750-2000 words each (30%, 30%, 40%).
Texts: The Bible (RSV Common Bible with apocrypha, or Jerusalem Bible). RELN2406 RELIGIONS IN THE GRAECO-ROMAN WORLD Dr. R. Strelan This subject examines Manichaeism, Mandaeism, Gnosticism, the Corpus
Hermeticum & Mystery religions, as well as various aspects of Platonism, Hellenistic Judaism & Roman religion.
RELN2407 CONTROVERSIES IN BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION A/Prof. E. Conrad How is the Bible to be interpreted? Is it creation science? history? myth? secret code? patriarchal propaganda? Competing ways of interpreting the Bible will be explored.
Aims: The subject is designed to acquaint students with the variety of readings of the biblical literature as they are applied to current contentious political, intellectual & cultural issues.
Assessment: One discussion paper (30%), one assignment (30%), one take-home exam (30%) participation (10%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN2408 BIBLE & FEMINIST INTERPRETATION Dr. E. Moores/A/P E. Conrad Contemporary feminist readings of the Bible, particularly the Old Testament.
Aims: To acquaint students with current discussions at the intersection of feminist theory, literary theory and biblical scholarship.
Assessment: One 2-3000 word essay (50%), one 1000 word response
paper(30%), one summary report of 500 words(10%), participation (10%)
Texts: Nil RELN2500 BIBLICAL HEBREW B A/Prof. E. Conrad Further explication of language of Hebrew Bible with emphasis on ways & means of critical study of biblical text & related Hebrew literature.
Assessment: Five quizzes (50%), one exam (50%)
Texts:Hebrew/English lexicon of the Old Testament RELN2502 NEW TESTAMENT GREEK B Dr. R. Strelan Further explication of language of New Testament with emphasis on ways or means of critical study of New Testament text & related literature.
Assessment: Three revision exams (60%), workbook (40%)
Texts: Greek New Testament RELN2504 CLASSICAL SANSKRIT B Ms. T. Ditrich Further explication of all important grammatical features of Classical Sanskrit, to enable students to proceed to critical study of Sanskrit texts.
Assessment: Weekly exercises (40%), two tests (25% each) participation (10%)
Texts: As for RELN1502 above. RELN2506 INTERMEDIATE PALI Dr. P. Pecenko Further explication of grammatical features of Pali; reading and translation of selected canonical Pali texts.
Assessment: Weekly exercises (40%), 2 tests (50%), participation(10%)
Texts: As for RELN1503 above. RELN2501 ADVANCED HEBREW SCRIPTURES A/Prof. E. Conrad Reading of selected texts in Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) along with related ancient sources & versions. Text criticism, linguistic analysis & interpretation.
Assessment: Notebook (50%), Assignment (50%).
Texts: As for RELN2500 above RELN2503 ADVANCED GREEK CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES Dr. R. Strelan Reading of selected texts in New Testament. Historical & philological analysis & religious interpretation.
Assessment: Three revision exams (45%), workbook (55%).
Texts: As for RELN2502 above. RELN2505 ADVANCED SANSKRIT Ms. T. Ditrich Practical reading experience in Sanskrit texts.
Assessment: Weekly exercises (40%), two tests (25% each) participation (10%).
Texts: As for RELN1502 above. RELN3502 PALI LEVEL IV Dr. P. Pecenko Reading of selected texts.
Assessment: Tests (50%), submitted project (50%).
Texts: As for RELN2506 above. RE3500/1/3 ADVANCED STUDY OF RELIGIOUS TEXTS A/B/C/D (by arrangement with lecturer & Head of Department) Advanced study of selected texts in any of Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, Coptic, Biblical Aramaic, Sanskrit, Pali or Chinese.
RELN3401 TRENDS IN BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP A/Prof E. Conrad & Dr. R. Strelan Current approaches to biblical scholarship and their place in the history of the discipline.
Assessment: One major paper (50%); one oral presentation (25%), active seminar participation (25%).
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