LNCE10317 Worldviews in Nordic society - past and present (Autumn 2017)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Optional course, relevant to school.

Prerequisites

Higher Education Entrance Qualifications.

Applicants with Certificate of Upper Secondary Education from other than the Nordic countries can be granted dispensation from the requirement of proficiency in the Norwegian language on condition of documented proficiency in the English language, cf. Regulations for Admission to Study Programmes at Østfold University College, section 3.
http://www.hiof.no/studies/admission/admission-rules/regulations-for-admission-to-study-programmes-at-ostfold-university-college_#section3

Lecture Semester

Autumn

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge
The student

• has a basic understanding of how worldviews and religion have shaped the Nordic mindset and society
• can recognize the beliefs, values and worldviews in the pre-Christian era in the Nordic countries
• is familiar with the history, beliefs, values and worldviews of Christianity
• has an understanding of how immigration and globalization has introduced Islam and New Age to Western society; their content and praxis.
• has a basic understanding of secular worldviews and organizations in Norway, and how these influence the Norwegian society and politics.
• can recognize how different religions and worldviews coexist in the Norwegian society and how public schools create dialogue and understanding between different worldviews.

Skills
The student

• can teach religion on a basic level
• can moderate and facilitate inter-religious discussions

General competence
The student

• can develope general and basic knowledge about religions and worldviews in western Europe
• can recognize and use adequate language, models, and methods as a tool to analyze, discuss and teach religion and worldview related themes.

Content

Globalization, migration and accelerating secularization in the 21^st century has challenged and established new worldviews and religious systems and brought them into confrontation with each other. In Norway, as in other parts of the western world, this has led to a renewed interest in religion and worldviews. The contents of this course is understanding Nordic religion, past and present, and how scholars can teach and dialogue about religion and worldviews in a modern society. The course is interdisciplinary and addresses teachers, social workers, religious leaders and other professionals engaged in creating understanding and dialogue in a modern western society. During the course, the students will experience both indoors academic lectures and field trips to religious institutions and museums. 

Forms of teaching and learning

Lectures, workshops, projects, assignments.

Groups of varying sizes and individual work.

In and out of classroom, projects in society (in public sector, non-governmental organizations, private sector, schools and religious institutions).

Workload

Approximately 15 hours pr week. May vary throughout the semester.

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

The following required coursework must be approved by teacher before the student can take the exam:

• Approved attendence of minimum 80 %.
• Compulsory participation on a two-day excursion to key institutions of different wolrdviews.
• Individual report from the excursion (approx. 1000 words).

Examination

Individual essay (throughout the semester) on chosen problem formulation on religious practice (approx. 2000 words written in English, French or a Scandinavian language). Internal examiners.

Marks A-F. A indicating excellent and F indicating fail.

Course evaluation

Throughout the course.

Literature

The readinglist may be subject to change before the semester starts.

Pierce Beaver, Jan Bergman, Myrtles S. Langley, Wulf Metz, Arild Romarheim, Andrew Walls, Robert Whitycombe and Canon Wootton (editors) : The World's Religions ; A comprehensive Guide, Oxford:  Lion Publishing. 1991. p.1-46 ; 307-382

Kevin Crossley - Holland: The penguins books of Norse myths: Gods of the Vikings, London: Penguin Books, 2011

Fox, Jonathan. An introduction to religion and politics. Theory and practice. London: Routledge 2013 (215 s.).

Mette Andersson and Anders Vassenden. «Whiteness, non-whiteness and ¿faith information control-. Religion among young people in Grønland, Oslo» Ethnic and Racial Studies 34:4 (2011): 574-93 (19 s.).

Siv Ellen Kraft, Trude Fonneland and James R. Lewis: Nordic Neonshamanisms, New York: Palgrave macmillan, 2015

Leirvik, Oddbjørn: Islam and Christian- Muslims relation in Norway, Edinburg 2014
http://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files//islam_and_christian_muslim_relations_in_norway.pdf