LNCE10317 Worldviews in Nordic society - past and present (Autumn 2019)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Optional course, relevant to school.

Absolute requirements

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.

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 21st 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 or a Scandinavian language).

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

Examiners

Internal examiners.

Course evaluation

Throughout the course.

Literature

The reading list is last updated June 7th 2019.

*items marked with an asterisk * are included in a digital compendium available on Canvas.

 

*Aarflot, A. (1979) Hans Nielsen Hauge: His Life and Message. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, pp 15-43. (31 pages)

*Andreassen, B.-O. (2014) “Religion Education in Norway: Tension or Harmony between Human Rights and Christian Cultural Heritage?” Temenos - Nordic Journal of Comparative Religion, 49(2), 137-164. Retrieved from https://journal.fi/temenos/article/view/9544 (28 pages)

*Bråten, O. M. H. (2013) Towards a Methodology for Comparative Studies in Religious Education, Waxmann, pp. 83-114 (32 pages)

*Breemer, R. v.d., Casanova, J., and Wyller, T.E. (eds.) (2013) Secular and Sacred: The Scandinavian Case of Religion in Human Rights, Law and Public Space. Research in Contemporary Religion, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, pp. 84-101; 123-151 (47 pages)

Brekke, T. (2016) Faithonomics: Religion and the Free Market. London: Hurst (256 pages)

*Iversen, L. L. (2012) Learning to be Norwegian: A Case Study of Identity Management in Religious Education in Norway. Waxmann, pp. 90-109 (20 pages)

*Iversen, L. L. (2018) “From safe spaces to communities of disagreement” in British Journal of Religious Education, DOI: 10.1080/01416200.2018.1445617 (13 pages)

Jackson, R. (1997) Religious Education: an Interpretive Approach, London: Hodder & Stoughton available at http://eng.theewc.org/Content/Library/Research-Development/Literature/Introducing-Religious-Education-an-Interpretive-Approach (153 pages)

*Leirvik, O. B. (2008) “Tolerance, Conscience, and Solidarity: Globalised Concepts in Ethical and Religious Education” in Stålsett (ed.) Religion in a Globalised Age: transfers and transformations, integration and resistance. Oslo: Novus, pp 105-123 (19 pages)

*Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (2007) «Toledo Guiding Principles on Teaching about Religions and Beliefs in Public Schools» OSCE. På https://www.osce.org/odihr/29154?download=true (129 pages)

*Plesner, I. T. (2004) “Should the State Support Religion? Human Rights and Sociological Perspectives” in Stålsett and Leirvik (ed) The Power of Faiths in Global Politics , Oslo: Novus, pp 56-69 (14 pages)

*Plesner, (2013) “Religious Education in Norway” in Davis and Miroshnikova (eds.) The Routledge International Handbook of Religious Education, London: Routledge, pp. 243-250 (8 pages)

Snorri and Byock, J. (tr.) (2006) Prose Edda: Norse Mythology, Penguin Classics, London: Penguin pp. 1-79 (79 pages)