The Study of Religions
The Study of Religions Department at UCC is the first department of its kind in Ireland. In 2007 we introduced a new subject ‘Religions and Global Diversity’ to the BA Arts degree at UCC; almost 100 students opted for the year 1 course.
The UCC Study of Religions department fosters an academic, non-confessional and non-theological approach to the study of religions. This differentiates it from traditional theology departments which tend to promote one religion rather than study all equally.
The Study of Religions approach allows for an unlimited range of religious issues to be taken seriously. For example a Study of Religions course on ‘religion and politics’ might involve the study of Buddhism’s political role in Sri Lanka or Tibet, freedom of religion in China and the USA or radical Islam in Pakistan or secular-religious debates in Ireland and Europe. The focus is on religion’s role in human life and society; we do not need to know whether religions are ‘true’ to appreciate the powerful influence of religion at a personal, community and international level.
Aims
Rapid globalisation, individualism and increasing intercultural awareness have been transforming Irish society and the process can only intensify. The department is expected to grow rapidly over the next ten years to meet the increasing demand for knowledge and understanding of the world’s many diverse – and changing - religions and world-views.
We aim to foster teaching and research at all levels and in many different areas, from African religions through Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Japanese religions, New Religions and so on up to Zoroastrianism.
Themes such as gender, power, authority, belief and experience, and fundamental questions of academic theory and method such as ‘what is religion?’ and ‘how should religion be studied, understood and explained?’ are also key elements in the department’s agenda.
From September 2011 the Department will have four full-time members of academic staff; Professor Brian Bocking (Head of Department), Dr. Oliver Scharbrodt, Dr. James Kapalo, and a lecturer in Contemporary South Asian Religions, to be appointed shortly. Further staff appointments are planned.
Study of Religions as a discipline
Though new to Ireland, Study of Religions is a well-established and respected academic discipline across the world. There are many flourishing Study of Religions departments in the UK, Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Scholars involved in the Study of Religions belong to international academic networks such as the EASR (European Association for the Study of Religions) and the IAHR (International Association for the History of Religions), as well as specialist scholarly networks devoted to the study of particular religious traditions.
Please contact us if you have any queries about the Study of Religions or our programmes of teaching and research: b.bocking[at]ucc.ie
