Course Name : Academic Study of Religion
Course Code : SPSAG6103
Units : 3

The main objective of this course is to stimulate critical thinking about religion and the study of religion in the academic context. What does it mean to study religion? How do we locate religion or the religious? Following recent discussions among scholars of religious studies, we will problematize the very category of “religion”. The course will pay special attention to the role of power in shaping what we understand as religion as well as particular religions. Among the main issues discussed are the political and academic constructions of religion, of which concrete examples will be taken from recent history of religions in Indonesia as well as cases from other countries. To stimulate critical self-reflection, the course will also look at the issue of (scholars’) identities in the study of religion.