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Comparative Studies of Religion and Mythology of the Region SYLLABUS

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Comparative Studies of Religion and Mythology of the Region SYLLABUS VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL STUDIES AND ETHNOLOGY Comparative Studies of Religion and Mythology of the Region SYLLABUS Prepared by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dalia Senvaitytė Kaunas, 2013 Translated and edited by UAB “Lingvobalt” Publication of the syllabus is supported by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Project title: “Renewal and Inter- nationalization of Bachelor Degree Programmes in History, Ethnology, Philoso- phy and Political Science” (project No.: VP1-2.2-ŠMM-07-K-02-048) © Dalia Senvaitytė, 2013 © Vytautas Magnus University, 2013 Table of Contents Introduction . 5 Preliminary Calendar Plan of the Course . 7 Content of Lectures . 10 Homework Tasks . 20 Recommended Literature . 22 Annexes . 24 Sample Cover Page of a Homework Paper . 25 Official Description of the Course . 26 Introduction This handbook of the course is intended for students of Vytautas Magnus University studying the subject Comparative Studies of Re- ligion and Mythology of the Region (subject code – BRK 3002). The subject aims at introducing ancient religious tradition and my- thologies of the region and contemporary situation of religion and religiosity in the Baltic Sea Region. It also seeks to present contemporary situation of religion and religiosity. The subject also discusses Christianisation and the role of Christianity in the region. Particular attention is given to the discussion of pre-Christian religious traditions and mythologies. Ancient religious mythological tradition of the Balts is compared to the religious mythological tradition of the ancient Germanic, Slavic and Baltic Finnic peoples. The subject familiarizes with both sources of these traditions and scientific (re)constructions of pantheons, myths, cult, and sacred places, and compares them. It also discusses modern-day attempts at reviving old religious traditions. Upon completion of the subject students are awarded 6 ECTS cred- its. This means that the subject will be studied in detail both in lectures and in seminars and during students’ individual work. Stu- dents should consider allocating between 150 and 180 hours for the studies of this subject. 60 hours out of the said number will be class work (lectures and seminars). 90–150 hours should be allocated for student’s individual work. This number includes studies of recom- mended literature, preparations for seminars, intermediary and fi- nal examinations, and writing of a homework paper. This means that a student should allocate around 6 to 8 hours of individual work for the studies of the subject. 5 Comparative Studies of Religion And Mythology of The Region Attendance at lectures is recommended; attendance at seminars is compulsory. If a student is unable to attend a lecture for justified reasons, the student needs to study a particular topic individually. This handbook provides a preliminary calendar plan for studies of the subject. Topics are listed in succession by study weeks. Please be advised that the succession of topics may slightly change in the course of studies. Each topic is accompanied by a list of main related literature in English. There is a separate list of literature a student needs to study to prepare for a specific seminar. Please also note that the list of litera- ture for seminars includes the source to read in both the Lithuanian language and the original one and the review of the source itself. The material will be reviewed by focusing on how a selected mytheme is presented in one or another source (see homework tasks). The preliminary calendar plan of studies provided in this handbook for students is followed by a detailed description of the topics to be studied during the course. This description should provide guid- ance to students on what one or another topic will focus on and what things students should pay attention to while preparing for assessments. For those wishing to familiarize with the subject studied better, there is a list of additional recommended literature at the end of this handbook. This literature may be in the Lithuanian, English, or Russian languages. A sample cover page of homework paper and the official descrip- tion of the course are provided at the end as annexes to this hand- book. 6 Preliminary calendar plan of the course WEEK CONTENT OF OF THE MATERIAL STUDIED THE LECTURE SEMESTER 1. The concept The Nature of Religion – Concise Introduction to World of religion Religions, p. 3–25. What is “religion”? – http://www.religioustolerance.org/ rel_defn.htm Study – http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/ topic/497151/study-of-religion Seminar Sources of Baltic Religion and Mythology. Volume I, p. 113– 203 2. Religion/ Religion – The Baltic Sea Region: Cultures, Politics, Societies, religions in p. 152–164. the Baltic Secularism and Modernity – Encyclopaedia of Religious Sea Region Freedom, p. 433–437. individual Religiosity – http://www.gallup.com/poll/142727/ states in the religiosity-highest-world-poorest-nations.aspx Region Seminar Sources of Baltic Religion and Mythology. Volume I, p. 204– 315 3. The concept Introducing “Myth” – Csapo E. Theories of Mythology, p. 1–9. of mythology What is Myth? – http://www.faculty.de.gcsu. and myth edu/~mmagouli/defmyth.htm Myth – http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/ topic/400920/myth Seminar Sources of Baltic Religion and Mythology. Volume I, p. 316– 473 4. Features of Creation myth – http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/ mythical topic/142144/creation-myth/33953/Additional-Reading thinking Hanging on the World tree – Old Norse Religion in Long – Term Perspectives, p. 68–73. Time – Handbook of Norse Mythology, p. 39–45. Seminar Sources of Baltic Religion and Mythology. Volume I, p. 473– 617 5. Ancient Lithuanian religion and mythology – http://ausis.gf.vu.lt/ religious eka/mythology/relmyth.html traditions and Old Norse religion – Old Norse Religion in Long–Term mythologies Perspectives, p. 11–15. of the region Introduction – Handbook of Norse Mythology, p. 1–38. The Germanic People – A History of Pagan Europe, p. 111– 137. Late German Religion. – A History of Pagan Europe, p. 138– 164. Finno-Ugrian paganism – A History of Pagan Europe, p. 178–183. Seminar Sources of Baltic Religion and Mythology. Volume II, p. 9–198 7 Comparative Studies of Religion And Mythology of The Region WEEK CONTENT OF OF THE MATERIAL STUDIED THE LECTURE SEMESTER 6. TEST 7. Sources The Character of the Sources of Baltic Religion and of ancient Mythology – Baltų religijos ir mitologijos šaltiniai, I, p. 50–78. religious The Genesis of Kalevala – Pentikainen J. Kalevala Mythology, traditions and p. 14–28. mythologies Primary Sources – Handbook of Norse Mythology, p. 333–336. Seminar Sources of Baltic Religion and Mythology. Volume II, p. 199–389 8. Studies of Vėlius N. Senosios lietuvių religijos ir mitologijos tyrimo ancient metmenys – Lietuvių mitologija, I, p. 7–31. religious Beresnevičius G. Lietuvių mitologijos tyrimai XX a. II pusėje – traditions and Lietuvių mitologija, III, p. VII–LXIV. mythologies Mythology: important studies – Handbook of Norse Mythology, p. 337–339. Seminar Sources of Baltic Religion and Mythology. Volume II, p. 390- 498 9. Reconstruc- Lithuanian religion and mythology – http://ausis.gf.vu.lt/ tions of the eka/mythology/relmyth.html old pantheon Germanic religion and mythology – http://www.britannica. com/EBchecked/topic/231102/Germanic-religion-and- mythology/65401/The-gods Slavic religion – http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/ topic/548484/Slavic-religion/65460/Principal-divine-beings Seminar Sources of Baltic Religion and Mythology. Volume II, p. 499–690 10. Mythical Lithuanian and Prussian Gods and Spirits: From Ritual creatures to Superstitions. – Balsys J. Lietuvių ir prūsų dievai, deivės, and the most dvasios, p. 403–433. popular Germanic religion and mythology – http://www.britannica. mythical com/EBchecked/topic/231102/Germanic-religion-and- imagery mythology/65401/The-gods Slavic religion – http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/ topic/548484/Slavic-religion/65460/Principal-divine-beings Seminar Sources of Baltic Religion and Mythology. Volume III, p. 9–99 and p. 324–378 11. Ancient Lithuanian religion and mythology – http://ausis.gf.vu.lt/ myths eka/mythology/relmyth.html and their Creation myth – http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/ reconstruc- topic/142144/creation-myth/33953/Additional-Reading tions Vėlius N. The World of Mythological legends. – Lithuanian Mythological Tales, p. 11–18. Seminar Sources of Baltic Religion and Mythology. Volume III, p. 100–323 8 Preliminary calendar plan of the course WEEK CONTENT OF OF THE MATERIAL STUDIED THE LECTURE SEMESTER 12. Reconstruc- Lithuanian religion and mythology – http://ausis.gf.vu.lt/ tions of the eka/mythology/relmyth.html ancient cult Ritual and religious practice – Old Norse Religion in Long– Term Perspectives, p. 74–103. Seminar Sources of Baltic Religion and Mythology. Volume III, p. 379–546 13. Ancient The Alkai: Research in to Baltic Sacred Places. – Vaitkevičius sacred places V. Alkai, p. 257–278. Pagan and supranormal elements in Scandinavian place- names – http://germanic.zxq.net/heathenplace1.html Seminar Sources of Baltic Religion and Mythology. Volume III, p. 547–715 14. Revivals Introduction – Handbook of contemporary Paganism, of ancient p. 1–12. religious Reception and Present Day Use – Old Norse Religion in traditions and Long–Term Perspectives, p. 377–412. mythologies Introduction: Paganism old and New – A History of Pagan in the region Europe, p. 1–4. Paganism reaffirmed – A History of Pagan Europe, p. 196–220. Seminar Sources of Baltic Religion and Mythology. Volume IV, p. 7–245 15. EXAMI- NATION Content of Lectures TOPIC 1. The concept of religion The term religion and its etymology. The problem of Lithuanian term “religion”. The old name of religion in the languages of the region. A variety of definitions of religion. The problem of defini- tion of religion. The problem of a single definition of religion. Disci- plines defining religion. Anthropological, sociological, psychologi- cal, philosophical, theological, autonomic and other definitions of religion and religions. Religion and phenomena similar to it. Religion and science. Components of religion.
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