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| Unit name |
The Body, Gender and Religion |
| Unit code |
THRS10042 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
C/4
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Professor. Muessig |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
Department of Religion and Theology |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
Gender and the human body are key aspects in understanding ritual and devotion in Christianity. They are evident in images of the divine or in a religion’s refusal to depict the divine; in the control and maintenance of the body through asceticism, sexual regulations, dietary restrictions, and other practices; in questions of clothing and leadership; and in many other areas. This unit will explore these issues by focusing on early and pre-modern Christianity; but contemporary Christianity as well as other religious traditions will be considered.
Aims:
- To introduce students to the main elements of religious asceticism and its relation to gender.
- To provide a framework for analysing and evaluating critically a wide range of arguments advanced by historians and theologians relating to asceticism and gender
- To develop critical interaction with primary and secondary materials.
- To develop oral and written presentation skills through the course assessment.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit students will have
- a clear understanding of what are the main elements of religious asceticism and its relation to gender
- acquired the knowledge and skill to access critically a wide range of arguments advanced by historians and theologians relating to asceticism and gender
- acquired skills through essay writing and examination, in presenting, analysing and evaluating complex ideas and arguments in written form.
Teaching Information
1 lecture + 1 seminar per week
Assessment Information
One summative coursework essay of 1500 words (50%) and one unseen examination of two hours comprising 2 questions out of 6 (50%). Both elements will assess ILOs (1) and (2). The coursework essay in particular will offer students the opportunity to demonstrate ILOs (3).
Reading and References
- P. Brown, The Body and Society: Men, Women and Sexual Renunciation in Early Christianity, 2nd (London: Faber and Faber, 2008).
- C.W. Bynum, Holy Feast and Holy Fast: the Religious Significance of Food to Medieval Women (Berkeley: University of California Press,1987)
- G. Flood, The Ascetic Self: Subjectivity, Memory, and Tradition (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004)
