RCT1002 World Religions in London Dates: Three sessions, 4, 11 and 21 July (plus two to three visits each week to different locations around London) Times 9.30am to 1pm Fridays and 2pm to 5pm Monday Credits: 15 Lecturer: Dr. Simonetta Calderini Prerequisites: None Assessment: Coursework (100%) – 2 (1000 word) visit reports; 1 self-reflective diary (2000 words) Pass/Fail – all to be submitted by 4 August Aims: This module aims at introducing you to the world religions by exploiting London as a rich resource for religious studies. The module is centered around a number of visits designed to enable you to familiarize yourself with the main features of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam by exploring, through experience, aspects of the interrelation among the world faith as featured across the London landscape. The module will also serve as a tool to appreciate the way in which religion affects continuity and change among diverse cultures and communities. Programme outline: Week One: Friday 4 July 9.30 -13.30: In class: Plenary introductory lecture: Module Guidelines The World Religions; introduction to multiculturalism in the UK World Religions in London (Indian traditions); the 2001 and 2011 censuses In your own time between 5 July and 10 July Visit to Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Hindu Temple), Neasden, London Attend Hindu evening by the CMS Hindu Network and Multicultural Network (bhajans, lectures etc). Attend one of the Sikh lectures (on Sikh art, on Sikhism) by EY Sikh group Visit Buddhist Monastery and Temple, Margaret Street, London. Week Two: Friday 11 July 9.30 -13.30: In class: Plenary lecture: World Religions in London (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) In your own time between 12 and 20 July: Visit to the Jewish Museum, 129-131 Albert St, Camden, London and, optional, its exhibition “For King and country? The Jewish experience of WW1” Visit the British Museum: you could attend one of the free guided tours (by topic or geographical area: Indian, Islamic room etc) or/and the exhibition on ancient Egypt “Ancient lives, new discoveries” Extra activity South London Inter-Faith walk Or Tour the City of London by visiting its Churches (see route in attached guidelines), best during week-days. Week Three: Monday 21 July 14.00 -17.00: In class: Plenary lecture: World Religions in London: theoretical issues on the study of religion Class discussion: top religious stories in London July 2014 Is multiculturalism in the UK working? In your own time between 21 and 27July: Visit: St Sophia, Greek Orthodox Church, Queensway, London. Or St Sava, Serbian Orthodox Church, Ladbroke Grove, London. and The Liberal Synagogue, St John’s Wood, London. Or Holocaust Exhibition, Imperial War Museum, London. MUST attend activity on Sunday 21 July (date tbc) Participate at fixed event Sunday 21 July from 14.30 onwards: Procession of the Madonna of Mt Carmel, Roman Catholic festival in Italian Clerckenwell, London. Week Four: In your own time between 22 and 27 July Visit: London Central Mosque, Regents Park, London and Islamic Art Collection, John Addis room 34, The British Museum Or Room 42, the Jameel Gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Extra activity (any time) Take ‘interfaith’ bus no 254 from Holloway Road to Aldgate, strolling through ultra orthodox Jewish and ultra orthodox Islamic London (preferably on Saturday late morning!). Week Five: In your own time between 28 July to 31 July Complete your coursework And attend a very “British” choral evensong Choral Evensong, at St. Paul’s Cathedral – Every day “You don’t have to be religious to enjoy a choral service at St. Paul’s Cathedral. We recommend visiting during the daily Evensong, which combines a traditional mass with a choir. During term-time Evensong will be sung by the Cathedral Choir, but during the holidays a visiting choir may take their place”. Or Choral Evensong, at Westminster Abbey – Every day (except Wednesday) “You don’t have to be religious to enjoy a choral service at Westminster Abbey. We recommend visiting during the daily Evensong, which combines a traditional mass with a choir. The pews are arranged in the North and South Transept, with the golden altar and Quire to either side. If you get a seat near the front then you will have a fine view of the famous Cosmati pavement”. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF COURSEWORK: 4 August 2014 16.00 Learning material: Class handouts Recommended Readings: Brown, C., 2006, Religion and Society in Twentieth-Century Britain , London: Longman. Bauman, G., 1996, Contesting Culture: discourse on identity in multi-ethnic London , CUP. Bruce, S., 1995, Religion in Modern Britain , OUP Cohn-Sherbock, D., 2003, Judaism: History, Belief and Practice , London, Routledge. Davie, G., 1994, Religion in Modern Britain since 1945 –believing without belonging , Oxford: Blackwell. Flood, G., 2001 Introduction to Hinduism. Grimes, R L, 1982, Beginnings in ritual studies , Washington: University Press of America Hinnells, J.R., A New Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin (any edition). Holm, J.& Bowker, J., 1994, Sacred Places , London, Pinter. Klostermaier, K, 1999, Buddhism, Oxford: One World. Morton, R., 2000, One Island, Many Faiths , London: Thames& Hudson. Parsons, G. (ed.), 1993, The Growth of Religious Diversity- Britain from 1945, vol.1 , London: Routledge. Rippin, A., 2001, Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices , Routledge. Weller, P., 1997, Religions in the UK: A Multi-faith Directory , Multi-Faith Centre, University of Derby Weller, P., 2008, Religious Diversity in the UK: contours and issues , London: Continuum . .