Singapore University of Social Sciences

Religion and Society

Religion and Society (SOC252)

Applications Open: 01 May 2025

Applications Close: 15 June 2025

Next Available Intake: July 2025

Course Types: To be confirmed

Language: English

Duration: 6 months

Fees: $1461

Area of Interest: Humanities and Social Sciences

Schemes: To be confirmed

Funding: To be confirmed

School/Department: School of Humanities & Behavioural Sciences


Synopsis

Religion remains a mainstay of contemporary societies, serving to organize social life and interaction among people. Here, we trace the historical origins of various religions – Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Taoism, and indigenous religions – and use a comparative approach in our discussion of the philosophical, ritualistic, and institutional aspects of the religions. We also take a closer look at how these religions have evolved in the Asian context.

Level: 2
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY REGULAR SEMESTER

Topics

  • Overview of the academic study of religion
  • Approaches to the study of religion
  • Survey of religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism
  • Survey of religions (cont'd): Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Shinto, Indigenous religions, New Religious Movements
  • Religion and society
  • Religion and society (cont'd)

Learning Outcome

  • Distinguish between normative understandings and truth claims about religion(s) and the aims of the academic study of religion in the social sciences.
  • Explain different scholarly approaches to religion and some definitions of religion that flow from these.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with a range of forms of religious life (i.e. traditions, institutions etc.) and their historical and cultural contexts.
  • Examine the relationship between religion and other forms of social life (including identity, gender roles, nation states, globalisation).
  • Question the universal applicability of categories and terms employed in the study of religion and critically discuss key topics and issues involving religions today.
  • Apply cultural relativism, methodological and theoretical pluralism, and think cross-culturally and comparatively about religions.
  • Sketch religious diversity in the contemporary world.
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